Localized stage II/III periodontitis risk varies with metabolic biomarkers in young adults: Study

Periodontitis, also called gum disease, is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and, without treatment, can destroy the bone that supports your teeth. Periodontitis can cause teeth to loosen or lead to tooth loss.

Periodontitis is common but largely preventable. It's usually the result of poor oral hygiene. Brushing at least twice a day, flossing daily and getting regular dental checkups can greatly improve your chances of successful treatment for periodontitis and can also reduce your chance of developing it.

A group of researchers from Taiwan conducted a study to investigate the associations between metabolic risk factors and periodontitis in young adults.

The study included 1,123 participants, aged 19-40 years in Taiwan. Metabolic syndrome components were defined by the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Localized periodontitis was graded to healthy (n =828) and stage II/III (n =295) according to the 2017 criteria of the world workshop. Multiple logistic regression analyses with adjustment for sex, age, betel nut consumption and smoking, were used to determine the associations.

The results of this study are as follows:

· Greater waist circumference, serum triglycerides and serum uric acid were associated with higher localized stage II/III periodontitis risk.

· There were no associations between total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein and blood pressure.

· There was a non-linear association of fasting glucose with localized stage II/III periodontitis, where the turning point was 105 mg/dL.

Thus, the researchers concluded that the risks of localized stage II/III periodontitis vary with metabolic components, in which waist circumference, serum triglycerides and serum uric acid were the risk factors, whereas plasma glucose showed a non-linear relationship in young adults.

Reference:

A study titled, "Associations between metabolic biomarkers and localized stage II/III periodontitis in young adults: the CHIEF Oral Health" study by Tsai K et.a l published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology.

https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpe.13555