Study highlights oral health challenges in obese children

Dental Tribune International

Wed. 11 February 2026

save

BORDEAUX, France: Research on children with severe or complex obesity suggests that oral health is often sidelined, despite its close links to overall well-being. New French research shines a light on the scale of dental problems faced by this group and the gaps in prevention and care. It also makes a surprising finding—prompting consideration of the mechanisms driving periodontal disease in children with obesity.

The study, conducted at a specialist paediatric obesity centre in Bordeaux, examined the oral health status of 132 children and adolescents receiving long-term obesity care. The picture that emerged was troubling. Many participants showed signs of poor oral health, including high levels of plaque, untreated caries and gingivitis. Preventive care was inconsistent. Participants’ toothbrushing routines often fell short of recommendations, and very few had received fluoride varnish application. For a notable minority, their dental problems caused pain, difficulty eating and embarrassment about their appearance. Adolescents tended to fare worse than younger children, more of them presenting with gingivitis, calculus and indicators of metabolic disturbance.

However, the researchers found no significant association between altered glucose metabolism and the presence of gingivitis. They suggested that, at least before diabetes develops, gingival inflammation in young people with obesity may be driven more by local factors such as plaque and access to care than by metabolic changes alone. They also posited that obesity may influence periodontal disease risk through other inflammatory pathways.

The research is supported by a review that reported that obesity, especially when it coincides with diabetes, is associated with a higher risk of periodontitis and associated tooth loss. The authors of the current study argue that these findings reinforce the need to bring dental professionals into multidisciplinary obesity teams. Improving access to preventive dental care could help reduce an often-overlooked contributor to health inequality in children with severe or complex obesity.

The study, titled “Oral health of children with severe or complex obesity and association of markers of glucose metabolism with gingivitis”, was published online in the April 2026 issue of the International Dental Journal.