High Blood Sugar Levels Increase the Risk of Periodontal Disease: Study
A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology revealed a strong link between high blood sugar levels and periodontal disease in Indonesia, which highlighted the need for integrated approaches to oral and systemic health management.
The research used data from the 2018 Indonesia National Health Survey (Riskesdas), and examined more than 13,000 adults aged 35 years and above. The study explored whether metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its individual components were associated with periodontitis, a severe gum disease that can lead to tooth loss and systemic complications if untreated.
Metabolic syndrome includes abdominal obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia, together increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In this study, 41% of the sampled population were found to have MetS, which illuminates its significant presence among Indonesian adults.
Nearly three-quarters of participants (74.9%) had at least one tooth with bleeding on probing (BOP), a key early indicator of gum inflammation. Also, 40.7% had at least one tooth with a pocket depth (PD) of 4 millimeters or more, and 40.6% had at least one sextant with clinical attachment loss (CAL) of 4 millimeters or more, both signs of advanced periodontitis.
Also, the overall analysis showed no direct association between metabolic syndrome as a whole and the 3 markers of periodontal disease: BOP, PD, and CAL. However, when this study examined individual components of MetS, a clear pattern emerged. Hyperglycemia was consistently and positively linked with all 3 markers of periodontal damage.
The data revealed that individuals with hyperglycemia were 6% more likely to experience bleeding gums, 13% more likely to develop deeper periodontal pockets, and 15% more likely to suffer from clinical attachment loss compared to those without high blood sugar. These findings remained significant even after adjusting for other risk factors.
The implications of these results are substantial. While metabolic syndrome in general may not independently predict periodontal disease, uncontrolled blood sugar stands out as a critical driver of gum health deterioration.
Overall, this study suggest that the biological connection could be related to impaired immune response and increased inflammatory activity in hyperglycemic individuals, making gum tissues more susceptible to infection and damage. This study emphasizes the importance of integrating oral health strategies into broader healthcare programs for chronic diseases in Indonesia.
Source:
Santoso, C. M. A., Bramantoro, T., Kardos, L., Szakács, D. F., & Nagy, A. (2022). Metabolic syndrome and periodontitis among adults: The 2018 Indonesia National Health Survey. Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 49(6), 562–572. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpe.13622
