A short-term low-calorie diet may help reduce inflammation linked to gum disease and improve oral health, according to a new study by researchers at King's College London.
The findings suggest that lifestyle changes, including temporary calorie restriction, could complement regular brushing, plaque removal and other standard treatments for gum disease.
Published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, the study is believed to be the first to show a link between fasting and reduced markers of gum disease. Previous research had already indicated that fasting can lower inflammation throughout the body.
Lead researcher Giuseppe Mainas said the results indicate that lifestyle changes could play an important role in managing gum disease alongside good oral hygiene practices.
Periodontitis, a severe form of gum disease, affects millions of people worldwide and has been linked to other health problems, including heart disease and diabetes. Current treatments mainly focus on cleaning infected areas around the teeth and controlling plaque buildup.
To examine whether diet could influence gum health, researchers recruited 28 patients from hospitals in Spain and divided them into two groups. One group followed a calorie-restricted diet for five days at a time, while the other continued their normal eating habits.
Participants in the fasting group consumed about 1,100 calories per day for the first two days and 750 calories per day for the following three days. The cycle was repeated three times over six months.
After the study period, researchers found that participants who followed the fasting plan had lower levels of inflammation-related markers in both their blood and gum tissue compared with those in the control group.
They also showed reduced levels of C-reactive protein, a common indicator of inflammation in the body, as well as lower levels of substances directly linked to gum inflammation.
Senior researcher Luigi Nibali said fasting may help by reducing oxidative stress, a process that can damage cells and trigger inflammation. Limiting high-calorie foods and refined carbohydrates such as cakes and biscuits may also contribute to these benefits.
Researchers believe fasting could also positively affect the body's microbiome, although further studies are needed to confirm this link.
The team said fasting-mimicking diets could eventually become a useful addition to conventional gum disease treatments, including professional dental cleaning and oral health guidance.
However, researchers cautioned that fasting may not be suitable for everyone, particularly people with certain medical conditions such as diabetes. They plan to conduct larger studies to better understand the benefits and identify safe approaches for different patient groups.
The findings add to growing evidence that oral health is closely connected to overall health and that dietary habits may play a greater role in preventing and managing disease than previously thought.
Source: Science Daily