Epidemiological Evidences for the Association of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders with Oral Diseases

Purpose of Review: Obesity is the underlying cause of many chronic diseases and affects overall health. Obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders, particularly, metabolic syndrome and diabetes, have been recognized to be associated with oral diseases. This review describes the recent evidence from epidemiological studies investigating the effect of obesity and metabolic disorders on oral diseases, including dental caries and periodontal disease in adults. Recent Findings: Longitudinal studies indicate the direction of association that obesity and diabetes affect periodontal disease. Interpretation of causal relationships between metabolic syndrome and periodontal disease remains limited because of the small number of prospective evidence. Longitudinal studies investigating dental caries have not been performed. Summary: Further exploration of the effect of metabolic syndrome on periodontal disease, and that of obesity and metabolic disorders on dental caries in longitudinal studies, is warranted.