Researchers studied over 1,200 older adults to understand why some people develop serious gum disease while others don’t. They found that people who eat enough lycopene—a natural compound found in tomatoes—were less likely to have severe gum disease. Interestingly, the study also revealed that gum disease affects different groups of people differently. Black adults and men were more likely to develop serious gum disease compared to white adults and women. These findings suggest that eating more tomato-based foods might help protect your gums, especially as you get older.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether eating enough lycopene (a nutrient in tomatoes) helps prevent serious gum disease in older adults, and whether this protection works the same way for different racial groups and genders.
  • Who participated: 1,227 adults between 65 and 79 years old from a large national health survey conducted between 2009 and 2014. The group included both non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black participants.
  • Key finding: Adults who ate enough lycopene had about 67% lower odds of developing severe gum disease compared to those who didn’t eat enough. However, this benefit was strongest in white adults over 65. Black adults in the study had nearly three times higher risk of severe gum disease than white adults.
  • What it means for you: Eating more tomato-based foods may help protect your gums as you age. However, gum disease risk appears to be influenced by both diet and other factors related to race and gender, suggesting that a one-size-fits-all approach may not work for everyone.

The Research Details

This was a cross-sectional study, which means researchers looked at a large group of people at one point in time and compared those with and without gum disease. They used data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey, a well-respected government health study that tracks what Americans eat and their health conditions.

Researchers measured how much lycopene each person ate through their regular diet and then looked at whether they had gum disease. They also collected information about other factors that might affect gum health, like age, race, gender, smoking, weight, diabetes, marital status, and education level.

The researchers used statistical methods to figure out whether lycopene intake was connected to gum disease risk, while accounting for all these other factors that could influence the results.

This approach is important because gum disease is very common in older adults and can signal other serious health problems like heart disease and diabetes. By studying a large, representative group of Americans rather than just one small group, the results are more likely to apply to real people. Looking at differences between racial groups and genders helps identify which people might benefit most from dietary changes.

This study used data from a nationally representative survey, which is a strength because the participants represent the broader U.S. population. However, because it’s a cross-sectional study (a snapshot in time), we can’t prove that lycopene directly prevents gum disease—only that people who eat more lycopene tend to have less gum disease. The study was large enough to find meaningful patterns, but the differences between groups suggest that other factors beyond diet also play important roles in gum disease risk.

What the Results Show

Nearly half of the older adults studied (48.7%) had some degree of gum disease, and about half (49.1%) weren’t eating enough lycopene. The most important finding was that people eating adequate amounts of lycopene had significantly lower risk of severe gum disease—their odds were about one-third compared to those with low lycopene intake.

When researchers looked at racial differences, they found that Black adults were nearly three times more likely to have severe gum disease than white adults. This difference remained even after accounting for diet and other health factors, suggesting that factors beyond just food choices affect gum disease risk.

Gender also mattered: women were much less likely to have severe gum disease than men—about 73% less likely. When looking at white adults specifically, white women had even lower risk than white men. These patterns suggest that both biological differences and possibly different health behaviors between men and women play a role.

The study found that the protective effect of lycopene was strongest in white adults over 65 years old. For Black adults in the study, adequate lycopene intake was associated with lower gum disease risk, but the effect was less pronounced than in white adults. This suggests that while lycopene may help everyone, other factors specific to different populations might be equally or more important for preventing gum disease.

Previous research has suggested that lycopene, as an antioxidant (a substance that reduces inflammation), might help with gum disease. This study supports that idea by showing a real-world connection in older adults. However, this is one of the first studies to examine whether this benefit works equally well across different racial and gender groups, which is an important addition to what we know.

The biggest limitation is that this study shows association, not cause-and-effect. We can’t say that lycopene definitely prevents gum disease—only that people who eat more lycopene tend to have less gum disease. People who eat more tomatoes might also have other healthy habits we didn’t measure. Additionally, the study only looked at one point in time, so we don’t know if changes in lycopene intake would actually reduce gum disease risk. The study also relied on people remembering what they ate, which isn’t always accurate.

The Bottom Line

If you’re over 65, eating more lycopene-rich foods like tomatoes, tomato sauce, watermelon, and pink grapefruit may help protect your gums. This recommendation has moderate confidence based on this research. However, good oral hygiene (brushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups) remains the most important step for preventing gum disease. If you have gum disease or are at high risk, talk to your dentist about whether increasing lycopene intake should be part of your treatment plan.

This research is most relevant for adults over 65 who want to prevent gum disease through diet. It’s particularly important for Black adults and men, who appear to have higher gum disease risk. However, everyone can benefit from eating more lycopene-rich foods as part of a healthy diet. If you already have gum disease, see a dentist—dietary changes alone won’t treat existing disease.

You shouldn’t expect overnight results. If dietary changes do help prevent gum disease, benefits would likely take weeks to months to appear, and the real benefit is in long-term prevention rather than treating existing disease.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily servings of lycopene-rich foods (tomatoes, tomato sauce, watermelon, pink grapefruit) and note any changes in gum health or bleeding when brushing over 8-12 weeks.
  • Add one tomato-based food to your diet daily—such as a serving of tomato sauce with pasta, fresh tomatoes in a salad, or tomato soup. This is an easy way to increase lycopene intake without major dietary changes.
  • Monitor gum health monthly by noting any bleeding when brushing or flossing, and schedule regular dental checkups every 6 months to track changes in gum disease status while maintaining consistent lycopene intake.

This research suggests an association between lycopene intake and reduced gum disease risk but does not prove that lycopene prevents or treats gum disease. This information is educational and should not replace professional dental care. If you have gum disease or concerns about your oral health, consult with a dentist or healthcare provider. People taking blood thinners or with certain health conditions should consult their doctor before making significant dietary changes. This study was observational and cannot establish cause-and-effect relationships.