Reduced prevalence of periodontitis in antidepressant users: Findings from a large‐scale US sample

Antidepressant medications are widely used to treat depression. Given their anti-inflammatory properties, their protective role on inflammatory conditions such as periodontitis deserves to be further explored. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between antidepressant use and the prevalence of periodontitis in a large, nationally representative sample of the United States (US) population. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009-2014 were analyzed. Antidepressant use was self-recorded, and periodontal status was assessed through full-mouth dental examination. After adjusting for relevant confounding factors, the analysis revealed that individuals using antidepressants had a lower likelihood of having periodontitis, especially in its severe forms. These findings suggest that antidepressants might play a potential protective role for periodontitis, warranting further investigation into the underlying mechanisms.