Obesity and dental problems in older adults may be directly linked” />
Obesity teeth are essential for chewing, making it difficult to eat healthy foods like raw vegetables and fruits.
“Dentists could address this issue by educating patients on how to use healthier foods to make them easier to eat: peel, chop, cook and mix them,” says Rena Zelig, lead author of the study.
For this study, the researchers analyzed data from 1,765 adults ages 65 to 89 who were treated at Rutgers School of Dentistry between 2016 and 2022. To examine the relationship between the number of teeth and body mass index (BMI), they used statistical methods that accounted for factors such as age, gender, and preexisting health conditions.
Approximately 73% of participants were overweight or obese. The average number of remaining teeth was 20, which was just below the 21-teeth threshold needed for functional chewing. However, 45% of participants had at least 21 teeth.
In addition, each additional missing tooth was associated with a 2% increase in the likelihood of obesity, and each missing pair of opposing molars was associated with a 7% increase in the likelihood of obesity.
Unlike the back teeth, which are more important for chewing, the front teeth are typically used for biting food and do not significantly affect weight. According to the article, no significant association was found between the number of pairs of front teeth and BMI.
“Dentists are also the health care professionals many people see most often, so it makes sense that they would routinely check key health biomarkers like weight and blood pressure and work with patients whose results indicate problems or refer them to other specialists,” says Stephen Singer, a co-author of the study.