Nutrition & DietFasting and Caloric Restriction Show Promise for Oral Health Inflammation
A systematic review of 14 studies examined how fasting, caloric restriction, and ketogenic diets affect oral health conditions including periodontal disease, salivary gland dysfunction, and oral cancer. Caloric restriction and intermittent fasting were linked to reduced periodontal inflammation and improved metabolic markers, while alternate-day fasting showed benefits for salivary gland function in animal models. In oral squamous cell carcinoma research, fasting-based interventions enhanced treatment sensitivity and slowed tumor growth experimentally. However, the evidence base is largely preclinical, and clinical trials in humans remain scarce. The authors conclude that while these dietary strategies show biological plausibility for oral health benefits, well-designed human trials are urgently needed before clinical recommendations can be made.
