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A six-day low-calorie diet can help to reduce gum disease, research has found.
A study by King’s College London has shown that people who followed the diet experienced markedly lower inflammation in their mouths.
Researchers analysed data from 28 patients from hospitals in Spain, split into two groups – those who followed a restrictive diet versus a control group who continued their usual diet.
The restrictive diet involved 1,100 calories for two days, then 750 calories for three days. The sixth day gently introduced more calories with soft foods, then their diets returned to normal by the seventh day.
This was then repeated three times in six months.
Researchers found that those following the diet had lower levels of inflammation in their gums – a marker of disease.
Gum disease, also known as gingivitis or periodontitis, is caused by poor oral hygiene, usually due to a lack of teeth brushing.
Bacteria-filled plaque builds up around the teeth, leading to inflammation and painful infections.
Following a low calorie six-day diet could help reduce gum disease, research has found (stock image)
Cases of gum disease are predicted to rise in the UK.
A 2024 study by the University of Greenwich found that the number of people with gum disease is set to increase from 42 per cent of the UK’s population to 54 per cent by 2050, by which time 28 million Britons will be showing signs of the disease.
‘There may be multiple reasons why fasting is beneficial to gum disease patients,’ said Professor Luigi Nibali, senior study author and oral microbiome expert at King’s College London.
‘Fasting reduces oxidative stress in the body, a common cause of inflammation, which can damage cells and DNA.
‘Intake of high-calorific foods and refined carbohydrates – for example in cakes and biscuits – can also cause inflammation, so restricting these foods also reduces oxidative stress.’
Oxidative stress is an imbalance between naturally produced free radicals and antioxidants in the body, which can lead to cell damage.
