Teens Beware: Obesity Increases Risk of Gum Disease in Teenagers
The results of a study recently published in the International Journal of Pediatric Obesity shows thatteens with obesity face higher risk of developing gum disease.
The study, a collaboration between the Department of Dental Medicine and the Department of Medicine at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, compared a group of teenagers with obesity with the same number of teenagers with normal weight. Participants were asked to respond to a questionnaire on tooth brushing, smoking and other health issues. The participating teens were subjected to a clinical examination which looked at dental plaque, inflammation of the gums, periodontal pockets and partial bone loss—all symptoms of gum disease; or signs of potential risk of developing gum disease. The teens’ body mass index was also estimated.
Results of the study showed that those who were obese as adolescents showed potential signs of developing gum disease in the future.
The researchers behind the study highlighted the importance of pediatricians and dentists working together to prevent overweight and obesity in children and adolescents.
To find more information
Here are a few great resources to help combat obesity in children and teens:
- American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry has a great article on Obesity in Children and Teens which defines obesity, outlines causes, risks and complications and guides the reader on how to manage and treat obesity.
- Food and Nutrition Information Centre, National Agricultural Library of the US Department of Agriculture also has a page full of resources to combat Adolescent and Childhood Obesity.
- Healthy Youth pages on Childhood Obesity from the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion offers the best collection of facts, strategies and resources that we have come across. It is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
You can find more about Kids Dental Health and Teen Dental Health on dedicated section in FreeDentistFinder.com.
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