(By Dr. Joseph D. Lim and Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI)
EATING certain types of foods affects the oral microbiome and may spell poor oral health for postmenopausal women.
Postmenopausal women have gone through menopause. Their menstrual period has been gone for longer than 12 consecutive months and are no longer ovulating; that is, their reproductive years are over.
The oral microbiome is home to oral bacteria that have been known to affect tooth decay and gum or periodontal disease.
Scientists from the University at Buffalo (UB) have now shown that the oral microbiome may also influence overall health.
The UB scientists have found that the older women consume sugary foods such as soft drinks, and pastries may lead to gum disease.
In a study published in Scientific Reports, an open access journal from the publishers of Nature, the UB-led team investigated whether carbohydrates and sucrose, or table sugar, were associated with the diversity and composition of oral bacteria in a sample of 1,204 postmenopausal women.
The data came from the Women’s Health Initiative, one of the largest women’s health projects in the United States that tracked down the medical histories and health habits of more than 161,000 American women.
The UB study is the first to examine carbohydrate intake and the microbiome in a sample consisting exclusively of postmenopausal women. It is also unique as it looked at microbiome samples taken not from salivary bacteria but from subgingival plaque found under the gums.
“This is important because the oral bacteria involved in periodontal disease are primarily residing in the subgingival plaque,” said Amy Millen, PhD, Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Environmental Health in UB’s School of Public Health and Health Professions, and the study’s lead author.
The research team reported positive associations between total carbohydrates, glycemic load and sucrose and Streptococcus mutans, a contributor to tooth decay and some types of cardiovascular disease.
While it confirms previous observations, the researchers also found associations between carbohydrates and the oral microbiome that are not as well established.
For example, they observed that Leptotrichia spp., which has been associated with gingivitis, a common gum disease is also associated with sugar intake.
“We examined these bacteria in relation to usual carbohydrate consumption in postmenopausal women across a wide variety of carbohydrate types: total carbohydrate intake, fiber intake, disaccharide intake, to simple sugar intake,” Millen said.
“No other study had examined the oral bacteria in relation to such a broad array of carbohydrate types in one cohort. We also looked at associations with glycemic load, which is not well studied in relation to the oral microbiome.”
She believes that as more studies are conducted looking at the oral microbiome and the development of gum disease over time, diets will be linked to the oral microbiome and gum disease.
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Dr. Joseph D. Lim is the former Associate Dean of the College of Dentistry, University of the East; former Dean, College of Dentistry, National University; Past President and Honorary Fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy; Honorary Fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists; and Honorary Life Member of the Thai Association of Dental Implantology. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515.
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Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI, graduated Doctor of Dental Medicine, University of the Philippines College of Dentistry, Manila, 2011; Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management, De la Salle University, Manila, 2002; and Master of Science (MSc.) in Oral Implantology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany, 2019. He is an Associate professor; Fellow, International Congress of Oral Implantologists; Member, American Academy of Implant Dentistry and Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail limdentalcenter@gmail.com/PN
