Sugar‐sweetened beverage consumption and periodontitis among adults: A population‐based cross‐sectional study

Abstract Aim Investigating the association between sugar‐sweetened beverages (SSBs) and periodontitis and whether the awareness of diabetes modifies this relationship. Materials and Methods Cross‐sectional analysis was conducted using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) data involving US adults aged 30–50. Periodontitis was classified according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and American Academy of Periodontology (CDC‐AAP), and SSB consumption as dichotomous (<5 or ≥5, <7 or ≥7 and <14 or ≥14 times/week), ordinal and continuous variables. Confounders included family income poverty ratio, education, race/ethnicity, sex, age, food energy intake, smoking and alcohol. Odds ratios (ORs) were obtained by logistic regressions using inverse probability weighting. Effect modification analysis was performed considering self‐reported diabetes. Results Among 4473 cases analysed, 198 self‐reported diabetes. SSBs were associated with periodontitis when individuals consumed ≥5 (OR 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.30–2.06), ≥7 (OR 1.92; 95% CI = 1.50–2.46) and ≥14 (OR 2.19; 95% CI = 1.50–3.18) times/week. The combined effect of consuming SSBs (≥5 and ≥14 times/week) and self‐reported diabetes had less impact than the cumulative effect. Conclusions SSB consumption was associated with higher odds of periodontitis, and the estimates were reduced among those with awareness of diabetes.