Treating Periodontitis with Diet Written By Michael Greger M.D. FACLM • May 9, 2023 Last updated: May 2, 2023 • 3 min read Plant-based diets are put to the test in the treatment of periodontal disease. How does nutrition affect periodontal disease? First, what is it? “Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that results in inflammatory destruction of the connective tissue and bone that support the teeth.” As such, it is therefore one of the leading causes of our teeth falling out.