Every piece of food we consume enters our mouth directly, but the impact of diet on oral health extends far beyond that. Factors present in our bloodstream signal the body’s systemic response to the foods we eat, which can indirectly influence the health of our gums and teeth.
Researchers seeking ways to treat severe gum disease (periodontitis) are now examining the issue from a broader perspective, exploring dietary approaches that affect the entire body rather than just the oral cavity.
In their new study, published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, they focused on a fasting-mimicking diet (FMD), which imposes strict limitations on calorie intake over several days.
The connection lies in inflammation, where the immune system reacts too intensely and for too long. Diets like FMD can reduce inflammation throughout the body, and periodontitis is an inflammatory condition.
Could this be a potential method for treating gum disease?
To conduct the study, an international team of researchers recruited 28 patients with periodontitis: half were assigned a strict five-day diet, while the other half were instructed to continue eating and drinking as usual.
After six months, those who followed the FMD showed a reduction in inflammatory markers in their blood and gingival crevicular fluid—the fluid located between teeth and gums.
Both in the oral cavity and the body as a whole, the FMD group experienced a decrease in inflammatory signals.
“Our study suggests that, alongside proper brushing, lifestyle changes may also be important for patients,” says periodontist Giuseppe Mainas from King’s College London.
Those on the calorie-restricted diet were required to consume only 1,100 calories over two days, followed by 750 calories over the next three days. On days six and seven, their prescribed diet returned to normal.
This weekly pattern was repeated three times over three months, with follow-up examinations and blood tests continuing for an additional three months.
For comparison, men typically need 2,500 calories per day to maintain health, while women need 2,000. A single banana contains about 100 calories.
It is worth noting that both groups also underwent a deep cleaning procedure for periodontitis at the start of the six-month study period. The calorie restriction was an additional measure, not the sole treatment.
Deep cleaning, a standard treatment for advanced gum disease, actually triggers spikes of inflammation in the mouth—which is precisely why researchers sought to determine whether diet could help.
It is also important to clarify that both groups showed roughly similar results in terms of curing periodontitis. Ultimately, the use of FMD did not affect the speed or extent of the gum disease’s resolution, but it did reduce signs of inflammation.
This should imply more positive prospects for long-term health—although the researchers did not test this here—as well as a reduced risk that inflammation caused by gum disease will have negative consequences.
Previous research has established that periodontitis is linked to an increased risk of strokes and brain damage, so the problems it can lead to are apparently not confined to the oral cavity.
Researchers suggest there are several reasons why fasting may benefit patients with gum disease.
“Fasting reduces oxidative stress in the body, a common cause of inflammation that can damage cells and DNA,” explains periodontist Luigi Nibali from King’s College London. “Consuming high-calorie foods and refined carbohydrates, such as those in cakes and cookies, can also trigger inflammation, so limiting intake of these foods further reduces oxidative stress in the body.”
These findings align with previous studies that linked a healthy diet to lower levels of inflammation in the body and a reduced risk of gum disease.
Although the researchers aim to conduct longer studies with more participants, there is reason to believe that following specific diets in combination with standard deep cleaning may benefit people with periodontitis.
It may also be possible to find ways to achieve similar anti-inflammatory effects in individuals who cannot restrict calorie intake for various reasons (e.g., those with diabetes).
“The intervention led to changes in local and systemic inflammatory responses; however, these results should be considered preliminary,” the researchers write. “Preliminary biomarker data indicate the need for further investigation in a full-scale clinical trial, though at this stage, conclusions about clinical efficacy cannot be drawn.”
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