An analysis of medical records for 1,765 elderly people showed that patients with at least 21 teeth were more likely to maintain a healthy body weight than those with fewer teeth.

Every additional missing tooth is associated with a 2% increase in the likelihood of obesity, while each missing pair of opposing molars is associated with a 7% increase in the likelihood of obesity.

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“Many healthy foods, especially raw fruits and vegetables, are difficult to eat when they lack functional teeth,” said Rena Zelig, an assistant professor at Rutgers School of Health Professions and lead author of the study published in the journal Gerodontology. People, especially elderly people, have teeth and have difficulty chewing, they start eating foods that are easier to eat but less healthy, such as mashed potatoes, biscuits or cakes. These foods are usually higher in calories, fat and sugar, which leads to weight gain.

The researchers examined data on 1,765 adults between the ages of 65 and 89 who underwent treatment at Rutgers Dental School between 2016 and 2022.

To analyze the relationship between the number of teeth and body mass index (BMI), they used statistical methods that took into account other factors that can affect BMI, such as age, gender, and current health conditions.

Approximately 73% of the participants were either overweight or obese. The average number of remaining teeth was 20, just below the minimum requirement for functional chewing of 21, although 45% of participants had at least 21 teeth. (A complete set usually contains 32 teeth, including wisdom teeth.)

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Unlike the back teeth (molars), which are more important for chewing, the front teeth are generally used for biting food and do not appear to affect weight status as greatly as the molars do. There was no significant correlation between the number of pairs of front teeth (which are usually lost after molars) and body mass index.

These results are consistent with previous studies indicating that poor dental health is linked to weight problems. However, this study uniquely highlights the important role of molars in maintaining a healthy weight.

Poor dental health has also been linked to other health problems, including oral and other cancers, as well as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Source: Medical Express