Periodontal pocketing and gingival bleeding in relation to Nordic diet - results from a population-based survey.

Abstract

To examine whether a Nordic diet measured by the Baltic Sea Diet Score (BSDS) and the Recommended Finnish Diet Score (RFDS) is associated with periodontal condition. The study population consisted of non-smoking, non-diabetic and non-rheumatoid individuals in the Health 2000 Survey in Finland. Analyses were made in two age groups (30-49years (n=1210) and 50-79years (n=977)) and subsequently in two oral hygiene groups (good oral hygiene and poor oral hygiene). The number of sextants with gingival bleeding and the number of teeth with deepened periodontal pockets were used as outcome variables. Dietary data were collected by a validated food frequency questionnaire. Both the BSDS and the RFDS were weakly, although statistically significantly associated with less gingival bleeding in the younger age group (p=0.019, p<0.001). In the older age group, the RFDS or the BSDS associated inversely, although inconsistently, with gingival bleeding. RFDS and BSDS associated with both gingival bleeding and deepened periodontal pockets among those with poor oral hygiene. The results suggest that the Nordic diet in some cases has a favourable effect on periodontal health. These findings warrant further studies on the role of diet in periodontal diseases.