Effect of Periodontitis and Toothbrushing Frequency on Obesity Onset: A Cohort Study

BACKGROUND The interplay between obesity and periodontitis has been widely examined. While obesity was reported as a risk factor for periodontitis, the inverse relationship is still little explored. Therefore, we aimed to determine whether periodontitis and toothbrushing frequency affect the onset of obesity. MATERIAL AND METHODS This cohort study included 1619 employees of a business enterprise headquartered in Tokyo, who in 2002 and 2006 underwent in prescribed annual health checks, both general and dental-specific, and who were not obese in 2002 (body mass index /=4 mm showed a significantly higher odds ratio (OR) for onset of obesity at 4 years than those without periodontal pockets [OR: 1.59, 95% CI (confidence interval): 1.08-2.35, p /=3 times/day had a significantly lower obesity OR than those who brushed /=4 mm are associated with increased risk of obesity, while frequent toothbrushing (>/=3 times/day) appears to reduce the risk of obesity.