Obese people are more at risk of losing their teeth, according to research in Sharjah connecting poor gum health with being overweight.
Researchers at the University Dental Hospital of Sharjah looked at the gum health of 75 people split into three categories: those of a healthy weight, those who were overweight and a group classified as obese.
Results showed an increase in the relative abundance of periodontal pathogens in those who were overweight, even if they maintained a good dental hygiene routine.
In this part of the world, we are seeing more obesity in those in their early teens, and quite often they will not have good oral hygiene
Dr Vinayak Mohan Pavate,
NMC Hospital Dubai
Young people who are obese are particularly vulnerable to losing their teeth or experiencing gum problems later in life, said dentists responding to study results published by the Ministry of Health and Prevention.
“There is an intimate and significant correlation between measures of adiposity and predictors of periodontal disease, suggesting that higher body weight increases the risk for more severe periodontal disease,” the study said.
“This is alarming since these diseases can cause local complications such as tooth loss, as well as systemic complications in other body sites related to the overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the oral cavity, which can be translocated to distant body sites.”
Growth of harmful bacteria in the mouth increases the possibility of transmission through saliva into the intestines.
The oral microbiome – or mouth bacteria that indicates good health – can determine the health of metabolic functions elsewhere in the body, and the transfer of nutrients and energy.
The mouth can be a bellwether for overall health, with the obese also likely to report other signs of ill health, dentists said.
“Interestingly, there are definite links to weight and tooth decay, but not just with higher BMI patients – those who are underweight are more prone also,” said Dr Victoria Veytsman, a dental surgeon at the DDS Cosmetic Dental Studios.
“Levels of tooth decay are influenced by a number of weight related factors – which are often lifestyle dependent.
“Dietary habits are the most prevalent. Anyone with a high-sugar diet or reliant on carbohydrates and processed foods can expect more tooth decay instances – sugar consumption provides a growth source for harmful bacteria that produces enamel-eroding acids.”
Cake culture
Poor diets, smoking and a “cake culture” are contributing to a double whammy of obesity related illness, and poor gum health, Dr Veytsman said.
Insulin resistance is more common with heavier patients, alongside metabolic syndromes such as diabetes.
Obesity or having a higher Body Mass Index will often be associated with poor diet, insulin resistance or physical mobility problems that prevent a patient from practising good oral care.
Dr Vinayak Mohan Pavate at NMC Hospital in Al Nahda, Dubai, said the link between obesity and gum health had become more common in patients.
“Gum problems have a high correlation with obese individuals, because of more bacteria that causes these issues,” he said.
“In this part of the world, we are seeing more obesity in those in their early teens, and quite often they will not have good oral hygiene.
“Further studies are needed to understand if this is because of lack of motivation, a sedentary lifestyle or education.
“If the oral cavity is not healthy, bacteria can cause inflammation and infections – is it is not just restricted to gum problems, it is creating a breeding ground for bacteria.
“Regular dental check-ups will help in the long run, otherwise children will be losing their teeth at a young age.”
The UAE has some of the highest obesity rates in the world, with 34 per cent of those over 18 recorded as obese, eighth on a global prevalence list.
Kuwait sits top of the global obesity rankings with 39.7 per cent of its population obese, followed by the US with 38.5 per cent, Saudi Arabia with 37.6 per cent, Jordan with 37.4 per cent and Qatar with 37.1 per cent.
School campaigns
A review of 29 medical studies published between 2011 and 2021 by Zayed University found oral disease was the most common childhood disease in the UAE.
Several school campaigns have been launched to encourage better oral health in children, including the Community Dental Services's national oral diseases preventive programme Dubai Smiles Healthy and Abu Dhabi Smiles programme in 2012 for children aged 5-11.
Dr Malak Basim Alkhafaji, a dentist at Canadian Specialist Hospital in Dubai, said it is common for obese patients to have poor dental health and other ailments.
“We know there is an established connection between diabetes and gum disease,” she said.
“Many obese people can be pre-diabetic so they are more at risk and it also relates to gum disease as it impacts on blood circulation and more microbes in the oral cavity that causes gum disease.
“I can relate to this in may patients. If my patients are obese, they usually have other health conditions.
“We see a lot of young people who are obese these days due to an unhealthy lifestyle, fast food and lack of exercise, but we also see it in the elderly so it is not specific to age, but rather their weight.
“It is advisable to get a check up every six months and regular annual teeth scaling to avoid problems like gum disease.”
Step by step
2070km to run
38 days
273,600 calories consumed
28kg of fruit
40kg of vegetables
45 pairs of running shoes
1 yoga matt
1 oxygen chamber
Biography
Her family: She has four sons, aged 29, 27, 25 and 24 and is a grandmother-of-nine
Favourite book: Flashes of Thought by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
Favourite drink: Water
Her hobbies: Reading and volunteer work
Favourite music: Classical music
Her motto: I don't wait, I initiate
The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
Rating: 2.5/5
T10 Cricket League
Sharjah Cricket Stadium
December 14- 17
6pm, Opening ceremony, followed by:
Bengal Tigers v Kerala Kings
Maratha Arabians v Pakhtoons
Tickets available online at q-tickets.com/t10
Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray
Company%20profile
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The specs: 2018 BMW X2 and X3
Price, as tested: Dh255,150 (X2); Dh383,250 (X3)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder (X2); 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder (X3)
Power 192hp @ 5,000rpm (X2); 355hp @ 5,500rpm (X3)
Torque: 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (X2); 500Nm @ 1,520rpm (X3)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic (X2); Eight-speed automatic (X3)
Fuel consumption, combined: 5.7L / 100km (X2); 8.3L / 100km (X3)
TCL INFO
Teams:
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
When December 14-17
Maestro
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England's all-time record goalscorers:
Wayne Rooney 53
Bobby Charlton 49
Gary Lineker 48
Jimmy Greaves 44
Michael Owen 40
Tom Finney 30
Nat Lofthouse 30
Alan Shearer 30
Viv Woodward 29
Frank Lampard 29
2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Sub Regional Qualifier
Event info: The tournament in Kuwait is the first phase of the qualifying process for sides from Asia for the 2020 World T20 in Australia. The UAE must finish within the top three teams out of the six at the competition to advance to the Asia regional finals. Success at regional finals would mean progression to the World T20 Qualifier.
Teams: UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Maldives, Qatar
Friday fixtures: 9.30am (UAE time) - Kuwait v Maldives, Qatar v UAE; 3pm - Saudi Arabia v Bahrain
MATHC INFO
England 19 (Try: Tuilagi; Cons: Farrell; Pens: Ford (4)
New Zealand 7 (Try: Savea; Con: Mo'unga)
RESULTS
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
The biog
Age: 32
Qualifications: Diploma in engineering from TSI Technical Institute, bachelor’s degree in accounting from Dubai’s Al Ghurair University, master’s degree in human resources from Abu Dhabi University, currently third years PHD in strategy of human resources.
Favourite mountain range: The Himalayas
Favourite experience: Two months trekking in Alaska
Zayed Sustainability Prize
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Other ways to buy used products in the UAE
UAE insurance firm Al Wathba National Insurance Company (AWNIC) last year launched an e-commerce website with a facility enabling users to buy car wrecks.
Bidders and potential buyers register on the online salvage car auction portal to view vehicles, review condition reports, or arrange physical surveys, and then start bidding for motors they plan to restore or harvest for parts.
Physical salvage car auctions are a common method for insurers around the world to move on heavily damaged vehicles, but AWNIC is one of the few UAE insurers to offer such services online.
For cars and less sizeable items such as bicycles and furniture, Dubizzle is arguably the best-known marketplace for pre-loved.
Founded in 2005, in recent years it has been joined by a plethora of Facebook community pages for shifting used goods, including Abu Dhabi Marketplace, Flea Market UAE and Arabian Ranches Souq Market while sites such as The Luxury Closet and Riot deal largely in second-hand fashion.
At the high-end of the pre-used spectrum, resellers such as Timepiece360.ae, WatchBox Middle East and Watches Market Dubai deal in authenticated second-hand luxury timepieces from brands such as Rolex, Hublot and Tag Heuer, with a warranty.
