Can fasting fight gum disease? Scientists find surprising link

The study suggests that lifestyle changes could play an important role alongside plaque removal and good oral hygiene in managing gum disease.

Although fasting has previously been linked to reduced inflammation throughout the body, this is the first study to show a connection between fasting and markers of gum disease. The findings add to growing evidence that oral health and overall health are closely connected.

Dr. Giuseppe Mainas, first author of the study from King's College London, said: "Our study suggests lifestyle modifications could be important alongside proper tooth brushing for patients."

Gum Disease and Diet

Periodontitis is a severe form of gum disease that affects millions of people worldwide. The condition has also been associated with other serious health problems, including heart disease and diabetes.

Current treatment typically focuses on cleaning infected areas around the teeth and controlling plaque buildup. However, researchers are increasingly investigating whether dietary changes could help improve treatment outcomes.

To explore this possibility, the researchers recruited 28 patients from hospitals across Spain. Participants were divided into two groups: one followed a five-day calorie-restricted diet, while the other continued eating as usual.

Those in the fasting group consumed 1,100 calories per day for the first two days, followed by 750 calories per day for the next three days. On the sixth day, calories were gradually increased using soft foods before participants returned to their normal diets on the seventh day. This cycle was repeated three times over a six-month period, and participants reported that the diet was relatively easy to follow.

Reduced Inflammation in Blood and Gum Tissue

After six months, researchers analyzed samples taken from participants' blood and gingival crevicular fluid, a liquid found in the small space between the tooth and gum that helps protect the gums and defend against harmful microbes.

Compared with the control group, participants who completed the fasting program showed lower levels of inflammation-related markers in both their blood and gum tissue. They also had lower levels of C-reactive protein, a widely used marker of inflammation throughout the body.

In addition, the fasting group showed reductions in molecules specifically associated with inflammation in the gums.

Why Might Fasting Help?

Senior author Prof Luigi Nibali of King's College London said: "There may be multiple reasons why fasting is beneficial to gum disease patients. Fasting reduces oxidative stress in the body, a common cause of inflammation, which can damage cells and DNA.

"Intake of high calorific foods and refined carbohydrates, for example in cakes and biscuits, can also cause inflammation -- so restricting these foods also reduces oxidative stress in the body.

"It may also be that fasting has beneficial effects on the microbiome -- the body's community of bacteria that help to keep it healthy. However, further research is needed to confirm this relationship."

The researchers say fasting-mimicking diets could eventually be studied as an additional tool to support standard gum disease treatments, including professional dental cleaning and oral hygiene guidance.

Future Research and Treatment Potential

Dr. Mainas added: "Now we have established this relationship, we would like to do a larger study, before potentially incorporating into gum disease treatment in the future. There may be patients where restricting foods can be dangerous, such as those with diabetes, so the advice will need to be targeted to specific patient groups. We are currently investigating how we could implement these benefits in high-risk groups who may not be able to fast."

The new findings build on years of research at King's College London examining the links between oral health and overall health. Last year, researchers at King's found that following the mediterranean diet can reduce gum disease and that successful dental treatment can lower the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology (JCP).

Funding for the research was provided through a Medical Research Council-Impact Accelerator Account (MRC-IAA) grant.