Is inflammatory potential of the diet related to oral and periodontal health?

Inflammation is among the risks of periodontal diseases. The relationship between the inflammatory load of the diet and inflammation has been shown in previous studies, but the relationship between periodontal diseases and the inflammatory load of the diet is not clear. In this study, it was aimed to examine the relationship between dietary inflammatory index (DII) and periodontal health. Board approved the protocol. Information about the study was given to the patients who met the criteria of the study and agreed to participate in the study. Oral health status was evaluated by measuring the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT). Periodontal health status was determined using the plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI). Twenty-four-hour dietary record was taken for 1 day to calculate the inflammatory load gained from daily diet, and the DII score was used. The study group consisted of 138 participants. DMFT scores were found with median 4.0, and no statistically significant difference was observed between DII quartiles. 65.8% of the participants had absence or small amount of plaque accumulation, while 39.2% had moderate or dense amount of plaque accumulation according to the PI classification. While DII did not differ by PI classification, DII quartile between second and third found a difference according to the GI classification. The new definition of periodontal health has been proposed as the absence of clinically detectable inflammation. It seems that pro-inflammatory properties of the diet and periodontal health are related. But future randomized controlled trials are needed.