At King's College London, researchers have discovered something unexpected: five days of eating less appears to calm the inflamed gums affecting millions of people worldwide. The finding, published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, is the first to establish a direct link between short-term fasting and reduced gum disease inflammation, opening a new avenue for managing a condition that has long been treated primarily through brushing, flossing, and professional cleaning.
Periodontitis—a serious form of gum disease—affects countless people globally and carries real consequences beyond the mouth. It has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and other systemic health problems. While standard treatment focuses on removing infected material around the teeth, researchers including Dr. Giuseppe Mainas and Prof Luigi Nibali have been exploring whether what we eat might also play a crucial role in recovery.
The study followed 28 patients from hospitals in Spain over six months. Half of them followed a carefully structured fasting-mimicking diet three times during that period, while the other half maintained their regular eating habits. The fasting protocol was remarkably modest: participants ate 1,100 calories for two days, then dropped to 750 calories for three days. On the sixth day, they gently reintroduced soft foods with more calories, and by day seven, they returned to their normal diet. Patients reported the regimen as manageable and relatively easy to follow.
The results were measurable and meaningful. Researchers collected samples from participants' blood and gingival crevicular fluid—the protective liquid that forms in the small space between teeth and gums. Those in the fasting group showed reduced inflammatory markers compared to controls, including lower levels of C-reactive protein, a general indicator of inflammation throughout the body. More specifically, they also had reduced molecules linked to inflammation directly in gum tissue.
Why might fasting help? Prof Nibali points to several mechanisms. Fasting reduces oxidative stress in the body—a primary driver of inflammation that can damage cells and DNA. It also eliminates the high-calorie, refined carbohydrate foods like cakes and biscuits that trigger inflammatory responses. Additionally, fasting may benefit the microbiome, the body's community of helpful bacteria, though this relationship requires further research to confirm.
The implications are significant but require careful implementation. Dr. Mainas emphasizes that larger studies are needed before fasting-mimicking diets could be incorporated into standard gum disease treatment protocols. Importantly, he notes that such approaches won't suit everyone—people with diabetes, for instance, may face risks from restricted eating. The team is now investigating how to adapt these benefits for high-risk groups who cannot safely fast, ensuring that future treatments are targeted appropriately.
This research sits within a growing body of work at King's College London examining how oral health and systemic health are intertwined. Last year, the same institution found that the Mediterranean diet reduces gum disease, and that successful dental treatment itself lowers the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Together, these findings suggest that the path to healthier gums—and a healthier body—may lie not just in the dental chair, but at the dinner table.