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

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.