Influence of Nutrient Intake and Oral Health Among Adolescents in Mallorca: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Adolescence is a critical developmental period characterized by increased nutritional requirements and the establishment of dietary habits that may influence long-term health outcomes, including oral health. Dietary patterns with low nutrient density may contribute to inflammatory processes involved in periodontal disease. This study aimed to analyze the association between dietary intake and periodontal health status in a sample of adolescents from Mallorca, Spain. Methods: A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted among 156 adolescents, aged 15 years, attending secondary schools in Mallorca. Periodontal status was assessed using the Community Periodontal Index (CPI) according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Pathfinder methodology. Dietary nutrient intake was evaluated using a single 24 h dietary recall conducted following the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommendations. Participants were classified as periodontally healthy or as having periodontal disease according to the presence of affected sextants. A binary logistic regression analysis was subsequently performed to evaluate the independent association between nutrient intake and periodontal disease. Results: Of the 156 adolescents included (81 girls and 75 boys), 46 were classified as periodontally healthy and 110 as having periodontal disease. No significant association was observed between sex and periodontal status (p = 0.695). Adolescents with healthy periodontal status had significantly higher intakes of dietary fiber (p = 0.011), magnesium (p = 0.018), selenium (p = 0.035), vitamin A (p = 0.018), and vitamin C (p = 0.011). Conclusions: Higher intakes of micronutrients with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties appear to be associated with better periodontal health among adolescents. These findings suggest that promoting nutrient-dense dietary patterns during adolescence may help support periodontal health.