Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet acts as a protective factor against both oral and systemic diseases, with statistically significant associations found between MD adherence and lower prevalence of cancer, cardiovascular disease, periodontal disease, dental caries, and improved salivary parameters.
Mediterranean Diet adherence was associated with significantly lower prevalence of cancer among study participants.
Mediterranean Diet adherence was associated with significantly lower prevalence of cardiovascular disease.
Mediterranean Diet adherence was associated with better periodontal health as measured by periodontal disease stage.
Mediterranean Diet adherence was associated with lower levels of dental caries as measured by DMFT (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) scores.
Mediterranean Diet adherence was associated with higher stimulated salivary flow rate (stimulated sialometry).
Mediterranean Diet adherence was associated with higher stimulated salivary pH.
The study used a two-group design comparing MD adherers and non-adherers on a range of oral and systemic health outcomes.
This research suggests that people who closely follow a Mediterranean Diet — which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish, and olive oil — tend to have better oral and overall health compared to those who do not follow this dietary pattern. In a study of 232 adults across multiple clinics, researchers found that people adherent to the Mediterranean Diet had significantly lower rates of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Among a subgroup of 73 patients who received detailed dental examinations, those following the Mediterranean Diet also showed healthier gums (lower periodontal disease severity), fewer cavities, and better saliva quality — specifically higher salivary flow and less acidic saliva, both of which are protective for oral health. The findings are notable because they link diet not just to systemic conditions like heart disease, but also to specific measurable oral health indicators. Saliva plays a crucial role in protecting teeth and gums, so the finding that Mediterranean Diet followers had higher salivary flow and less acidic saliva may help explain why they also had fewer cavities and less gum disease. This research suggests that dietary patterns have wide-ranging effects on health that extend all the way to the mouth. This study adds to a growing body of evidence that the Mediterranean Diet may benefit multiple aspects of health simultaneously. The associations found are correlational rather than causal, and the intraoral examination subsample was relatively small (73 patients), so larger studies would be needed to confirm these findings. Nonetheless, this research suggests that promoting Mediterranean Diet adherence could be a meaningful public health strategy for reducing the burden of both oral diseases and chronic systemic conditions.
Sánchez Cousiñoa D, Egido-Moreno S, González-Navarro B, López-Sánchez A, Fernández-Farhall J, Rodríguez-Molinero J, et al.. (2026). Mediterranean diet and its relationship with oral pathology.. Acta odontologica Scandinavica. https://doi.org/10.2340/aos.v85.46815