The Relationship Between Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Oral Health

Investigating the Relationship Between Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Caries and Periodontal Disease

The goal of this observational study is to examine the potential relationship between ultra-processed food consumption and the presence of dental caries and periodontal disease, and to evaluate the role of the Ultra-Processed Food Index (UPFI) in this association.

The main question it aims to answer is:

Does increased consumption of ultra-processed foods raise the risk or severity of dental caries and periodontal disease in individuals?

Participants will include individuals within a specified age range who voluntarily agree to participate in the study. Oral health status will be assessed through standard clinical parameters, including the presence of caries, plaque index, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss, and bleeding on probing. Dietary habits will be evaluated using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and individual UPFI scores will be calculated. The study will aim to observe and analyze the effects of ultra-processed food consumption on oral health outcomes.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Ultra-processed Food

Detailed Description

This observational study will aim to investigate the association between ultra-processed food consumption and oral health outcomes, specifically focusing on dental caries and periodontal disease. Participants will include individuals within a defined age range who consent to take part in the study. Oral health status will be clinically assessed using standard parameters such as the presence of carious lesions, plaque index, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss, and bleeding on probing. Dietary intake will be evaluated using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and individual Ultra-Processed Food Index (UPFI) scores will be calculated. The study will analyze whether a higher intake of ultra-processed foods is associated with increased risk or severity of dental caries and periodontal disease. Findings from this study are expected to contribute to a better understanding of the impact of modern dietary patterns on oral health and highlight the importance of nutritional strategies in preventive dentistry.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 200

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Oguz KOSE, Professor Dr.; Phone Number: +90 541 348 64 65; Email: oguz.kose@erdogan.edu.tr

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Rize Province
    • Rize, Rize Province, Turkey (Türkiye), 53200
      • Department of Periodontology of the Faculty of Dentistry of Recep Tayyip Erdogan University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients coming to the Periodontology Clinic of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Faculty of Dentistry for routine treatment

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individuals between the ages of 18 and 65,
• Individuals with at least 20 teeth,
• Not having received periodontal treatment in the last 6 months,
• Not having taken antibiotics, steroids, and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the last 3 weeks,
• Not having any autoimmune disease, osteoporosis, or cancer,
• Not using immunosuppressive drugs, oral contraceptives, or bisphosphonates,
• Not being pregnant,
• Not having an active infectious disease (acute hepatitis, tuberculosis, AIDS),
• Not using chronic medications that affect periodontal tissues (cyclosporine A, Phenytoin),
• Not having taken antioxidant supplements in the last 6 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with endocrine or genetic disorders such as hypothyroidism, type 1 diabetes mellitus, or Cushing's syndrome
• Patients with active infectious disease
• Patients taking medications that may affect periodontal tissues
• Patients who have recently taken antibiotics (within 4 months)
• Patients with alcohol/drug use
• Patients with psychological disorders
• Patients with eating disorders, dementia
• Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Patients with any food allergies
• Patients who do not sign the informed consent form

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Adult patients; Patients aged between 18-65 will be randomly included.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Ultra-Processed Food Index (UPFI)	This index system is a quantitative indicator used to measure the proportion of ultra-processed foods in the diets of individuals or populations. It is expressed as a score system and shows how much of the total daily energy intake comes from ultra-processed foods. It is usually calculated from dietary data of an individual or group.	Day 1

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Height	Height: a measure of vertical distance, vertical dimension, or vertical position.	Day 1
Weight	Weight is the gravitational force exerted on an object.	Day 1
Decayed Missing Filled Tooth (DMFT) Index	D stands for decayed tooth	Day 1
Community Periodontal Index (CPI) Score	The Community Periodontal Index (CPI) will be used to assess periodontal status. Gingival bleeding, calculus, and periodontal pocket depth will be assessed. Possible scores are as follows: 0 - Healthy; - Bleeding after probing;; - Calculus;; - Pocket 4-5 mm;; - Pocket 6 mm or greater. The highest CPI score for each sextant will be recorded from six tooth indices (16, 11, 26, 36, 31, and 46). Each tooth indices will be carefully measured using a mirror and a 0.5 mm ball-end WHO probe, applying a force of approximately 20 g.	Day 1
Age	Age is a demographic variable representing the time elapsed since birth and is a fundamental determinant in the assessment of health outcomes.	Day 1
Waist Circumference	Waist Circumference: The individual stands upright. A tape measure is taken horizontally at the narrowest point of the waist (usually between the bottom of the ribs and the top of the hipbone). It is expressed in cm.	Day 1
Gender	Gender is a demographic variable referring to the biological classification of an individual as female or male.	Day 1
Weight satisfaction	Weight satisfaction is a psychosocial indicator reflecting an individual's subjective level of satisfaction with their current body weight.	Day 1
Educational level	Educational level is a sociodemographic indicator representing the highest level of formal education completed by an individual.	Day 1
Income level	Income level is a socioeconomic indicator reflecting the economic status of an individual or household and influencing health behaviors and access to healthcare	Day 1
Smoking status	Smoking status is a behavioral variable indicating the use of tobacco products and is a risk factor for numerous systemic and oral diseases.	Day 1
Toothbrushing frequency	Toothbrushing frequency is an oral health behavior indicator representing how often an individual brushes their teeth on a daily or weekly basis to maintain oral hygiene.	Day 1
Decayed Missing Filled Tooth (DMFT) Index	M refers to the number of teeth lost due to decay.	Day 1
Decayed Missing Filled Tooth (DMFT) Index	F refers to the number of filled teeth.	Day 1

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Training and Research Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): April 27, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 7, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 26, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 15, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 15, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 23, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 24, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 21, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: periodontal disease; oral health; tooth decay; Ultra-Processed Food
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mouth Diseases; Stomatognathic Diseases; Tooth Diseases; Tooth Demineralization; Periodontal Diseases; Dental Caries
• Other Study ID Numbers: UPHOralHealth11/25

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No