Summary:
Diet influences oral and periodontal health through effects on saliva, immune and inflammatory responses, and the oral microbiome. Evidence has also linked diet quality and nutrient adequacy to metabolic and inflammatory pathways relevant to oral disease risk. Western-style diets high in free sugars, refined carbohydrates, saturated fats, and ultra-processed foods are associated with increased caries risk, gingival inflammation, and periodontal tissue breakdown. In contrast, anti-inflammatory dietary patterns are associated with improved microbial balance and more favourable periodontal outcomes, likely due to higher intakes of fiber, antioxidants, polyphenols, and unsaturated fatty acids. Nutrient deficiencies may further impair immune regulation, tissue repair, and oral bone metabolism. This study is a narrative review synthesising evidence on dietary patterns, specific nutrients, and oral and periodontal health. The review identified 98 studies. Overall, high-sugar and ultra-processed diets were associated with increased oral inflammation and disease susceptibility, whereas nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory diets were associated with improved immune regulation, microbial balance, and periodontal outcomes. Interpretation of these findings is limited by many different study designs and reliance on self-reported dietary assessment tools. Associations are therefore described as correlational rather than causal. The findings support the integration of nutritional considerations into preventive and therapeutic dental care.
Abstract:
Background: The growing body of evidence linking dietary factors to oral and periodontal health is characterized by substantial heterogeneity in study design, dietary assessment methods, and reported outcomes, warranting a comprehensive narrative synthesis. Diet is a key determinant of oral and periodontal health, influencing inflammation, oxidative stress, salivary composition, and the oral microbiome.
Objectives: This narrative review aims to synthesize current clinical, epidemiological, and mechanistic evidence on how dietary patterns and specific nutrients affect oral and periodontal health, focusing on inflammatory pathways, microbiome modulation, nutrient-dependent tissue mechanisms, and clinical outcomes.
Methods: A structured narrative search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar (2000–2025). Studies examining diet, nutrients, the oral microbiome, caries, gingival inflammation, or periodontal disease were screened through a multistep process, resulting in 98 included articles.
Results: High-sugar and ultra-processed diets trigger inflammation and oral dysbiosis, increasing caries and periodontal susceptibility. In contrast, nutrient-rich and anti-inflammatory diets improve immune regulation, support microbial balance, and are associated with better periodontal parameters.
Conclusions: Dietary habits significantly shape oral and periodontal outcomes through interconnected metabolic, microbial, and immunological pathways. Integrating targeted nutritional counseling into dental care may strengthen prevention strategies and improve long-term oral health.
Article Publication Date: 28/10/2025
DOI: 10.3390/nu18010168
