Recent research shed light on the relationship between socioeconomic status, alcohol consumption, and periodontitis risk, known as the "alcohol harm paradox."

A study conducted using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014 cycles explored how these factors interplay.

Researchers focused on 4,057 participants and examined whether the association between alcohol consumption and periodontitis varied by socioeconomic position (SEP). Educational attainment served as the main proxy for SEP, with additional analysis using poverty income ratio in subsequent tests.

Key findings from the analysis, published in the Journal of Dental Research, revealed disparities. Despite consuming equal or less alcohol than higher-SEP individuals, those of lower SEP who engaged in heavy drinking faced significantly higher odds of periodontitis. Specifically, less educated heavy drinkers exhibited a 175% increased risk for periodontitis compared with their counterparts.

Furthermore, the study highlighted a super-additive effect, with heavy drinking and lower educational attainment interacting to exacerbate periodontitis risk beyond what would be expected from the sum of their individual effects. This interaction accounted for a substantial proportion (-69.5%) of the impact of education on periodontitis, aligning with the observed alcohol harm paradox.

The study did not find evidence supporting mediation mechanisms between SEP and periodontitis via alcohol consumption.

The complex dynamics between socioeconomic disparities, alcohol consumption, and oral health outcomes emphasize the need for tailored public health strategies to address these interrelated factors.

The authors had no relevant conflicts of interest.