Obesity raises the risk of gum disease among young adults

Gum disease is one of those health problems associated with growing older, but new research shows that young people are at risk too, particularly if they are markedly overweight.

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland found that obese adults age 18 to 34 were 76% more likely to have the condition than young adults who are of average weight.

The study is based on data from nearly 14,000 people who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and who had dental exams at the time of the survey.

One likely explanation for the gum disease in obese young people is a change in the American diet that occurred in the 1970s. Young adults now overweight probably grew up eating few fruits and vegetables, a source of vitamin C, and drinking more non-citrus juices than calcium-rich milk. Being overweight is also a cause of chronic stress, say the researchers, which affects blood supply and saliva flow and depresses immunity, all of which could increase the risk.

“Gum disease is cumulative,” says Dr. Mohammad Al-Zahrani, the survey’s lead author. “This is why older people have more gum disease.”

This study was published in the May issue of the Journal of Periodontology.

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Dianne Partie Lange