Weight gain is significantly associated with having fewer teeth or losing the bone and gums that support teeth, a research team in Brazil has found.
For the study—published in the Journal of Periodontology—researchers at the Federal University of Pelotas followed more than 900 people participating in a long-range health research project based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Memphis, Tennessee. When they entered the project, participants underwent an oral health examination that noted lost teeth and gum disease.
During four years of follow-up, nearly 12 per cent of the participants gained at least five per cent of their body weight. Those with fewer teeth and poorer oral health were more likely to experience weight gain.
Tooth loss can cause people to shun healthy fibre-rich foods like fruits and veggies in favour of softer eats that contain more calories.
In addition, molars that gnash together while chewing play a key role in weight loss risk. People with missing molars had a 17 per cent higher risk of weight gain.
“Loss of functional tooth units, especially molars, were associated with higher odds of weight gain among older adults over four years,” they researchers said.
People hoping to maintain a healthy weight—or even lose some pounds—should include good oral health as part of their strategy, they added.
