Obesity Linked to Increased Risk of Tooth Loss
People who are overweight have a higher risk of losing their teeth as a result of their poor eating habits, a study has revealed.
A Japanese research team studied the eating habits and oral health of 800 university graduates and discovered that people who were overweight or obese had a higher risk of gum disease and tooth loss than people who were a healthy weight or underweight.
The study found that people who ate a lot of fatty foods and had a low intake of vegetables were most likely to experience oral health issues.
The study also found that young people who were overweight but had a healthy diet containing a lot of vegetables were less likely to suffer from gum disease.
Figures suggest that around 1 in 4 young people in the UK are overweight and the figure is increasing year on year.
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said that diet plays a very important role in oral health and added that for many young people, university often means living on ready meals, drinking a lot of alcohol and missing out on fruit and vegetables, which has an impact on oral health, as well as general health.
Dr Carter said that National Smile Month is an ideal opportunity to encourage people to look after their teeth and gums. The national campaign will run from the 20th May until the 20th June.
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