This study aimed to investigate the association between healthy lifestyle (HLS; i.e., diet quality, physical activity, normal weight) and periodontal diseases in Korean adults. Studying this association may help inform future intervention programs aimed at preventing the development of periodontal diseases. Raw data of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) VII (2016-2018) were used. Data from 12,689 adults aged 19 years and over who had a periodontal examination were analyzed. The associations between HLS and periodontal diseases were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression after adjusting for demographic and health factors as covariates. We found that each of the HLS (diet quality, physical activity, normal body weight) practices was significantly associated with periodontal diseases (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.13-1.55; OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.04-1.30; OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.14-1.40, respectively). In particular, having poor HLS practices was identified as a risk factor for periodontal diseases (OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.10-2.15). HLS was associated with periodontal diseases. Thus, in addition to improving oral hygiene-the primary focus in the past-improving HLS should be emphasized for patients with periodontal diseases.
Keywords: body mass index; healthy eating index; healthy lifestyle; periodontal disease; physical activity.