Nutrition as a Key Modifiable Factor for Periodontitis and Main Chronic Diseases

Abstract

Nutrition is recognized as an essential component in the prevention of a number of chronic diseases, including periodontal disease. Based on these considerations, a better understanding is required regarding how the diet, and more particularly the intake of macronutrients and micronutrients, could impact the potential relationship between nutrition and periodontal diseases, periodontal diseases and chronic diseases, nutrition and chronic diseases. To overcome this complexity, an up-to-date literature review on the nutriments related to periodontal and chronic diseases was performed. High-sugar, high-saturated fat, low-polyols, low-fiber and low-polyunsaturated-fat intake causes an increased risk of periodontal diseases. This pattern of nutrients is classically found in the Western diet, which is considered as an ‘unhealthy’ diet that causes cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancers. Conversely, low-sugar, high-fiber and high-omega-6-to-omega-3 fatty acid ratio intake reduces the risk of periodontal diseases. The Mediterranean, DASH, vegetarian and Okinawa diets that correspond to these nutritional intakes are considered as ‘healthy’ diets, reducing this risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancers. The role of micronutrients, such as vitamin D, E, K and magnesium, remains unclear, while others, such as vitamin A, B, C, calcium, zinc and polyphenols have been shown to prevent PDs. Some evidence suggests that probiotics and prebiotics could promote periodontal health. Periodontal and chronic diseases share, with a time delay, nutrition as a risk factor. Thus, any change in periodontal health should be considered as a warning signal to control the dietary quality of patients and thus reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases later on.

Progress in Oral Microbiome Related to Oral and Systemic Diseases: An Update

“…Changes in the oral and systemic environments can disrupt the normal symbiotic relationship between the host and its resident microorganisms and increase the risk of disease ( Table 1 ). Various endogenous and exogenous factors, including smoking, alcohol consumption, socioeconomic status, antibiotic use, diet, and pregnancy, affect the oral microbiota ( Figure 3 ) [ 41 , 42 ]. Disruption of the host–microbial mutualism, or dysbiosis, can occur because of significant changes in the oral environment or an individual’s lifestyle that favor the colonization of disease-associated microbiota [ 43 ].…”

“…The change to acidic pH can lead to altered gene expression in sub-gingival bacteria, which favors the growth of pathogenic anaerobes such as P. gingivalis , which have an optimum pH for growth of approximately 7.5 [ 16 ]. Nutrition also affects periodontal bacteria and is considered a key modifiable factor for periodontitis [ 42 ].…”

Periodontal Conditions and Pathogens Associated with Pre-Eclampsia: A Scoping Review

“…As an alternative to the use of Chlorhexidine in mouthwash, which has adverse effects, probiotics represent a significant advance in the prevention and care of periodontitis [ 111 ]. Also, some probiotics are thought to have a function in the maintenance of periodontal health and the treatment of PD [ 112 ]. Probiotic medicine is based on the concept of a normal and healthy microflora [ 113 ].…”

Oral Microbiota: A Major Player in the Diagnosis of Systemic Diseases

“…Also, oral and chronic systemic diseases share nutrition as a risk factor. Even if the role of micronutrients and vitamins remains to date still unclear, any change in oral health should be considered as a warning sign in the prevention of the development of systemic diseases [272]. For example, in in-vivo animal models, Resolvin E1, an endogenous anti-inflammatory lipid mediator derived from Omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid, seems to suppress bone loss and restore systemic levels of IL-1β and CRP, also attenuating the inflammatory signal leading to periodontal destruction with no unwanted side-effects [273,274].…”