Periodontal diseases (PD) are multifactorial, chronic and infectious-inflammatory diseases that destroy periodontal attachment tissues and bacterial biofilms. Obesity is a chronic, multifactorial disease in which there is an excessive accumulation of body fat that harms the health and well-being of an individual. Periodontal diseases are important in the context of general health since they may be linked to several systemic diseases, such as obesity. This article aims to highlight the bidirectional relationship between obesity and periodontal disease. Materials and methods: The bibliographic review covered the PubMed, LILACS, and SciELO databases, and comprised studies and articles about the possible correlation between obesity and periodontal diseases between 2017 and 2021. In this context, periodontal diseases and obesity are similarly chronic, multifactorial, inflammatory and complex diseases which may interact with each other. The biological mechanisms responsible for the pathophysiology between periodontal diseases and obesity have not been fully understood. Their possible correlation is based on the production of hormones and cytokines via adipose tissue, altering the inflammatory response and interfering with the immune system. The data from this review demonstrate a lack of clinical studies assessing the role of periodontal diseases as a risk factor and as aggravation of obesity. Moreover, these data may support clinical research in this context.
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