eng Enviro Research Publishers Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science Journal 2347-467X 2322-0007 2026-04-10 14 1 276 286 10.12944/CRNFSJ.14.1.18 25831 article Nasser Salem Alqahtani 1 Amer Alenezi Community Health Department, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia Magnesium is important for bone metabolism, immune regulation and integrity of the enamel and dentin. Worldwide, there is evidence of a significant association between higher magnesium intake and the low risk for caries or periodontitis; however, there is not enough data from regional studies in the Middle East (and specifically Saudi Arabia). The objectives of in the present study were to evaluate the relationship of dietary magnesium intake with oral health index, dental caries and periodontitis among adults residing in Arar and Riyadh cities, and also test whether this association was modified by BMI. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 401 adults (aged 18–45 years) selected by stratified sampling from Arar (rural) and Riyadh (urban). Dietary magnesium was determined from a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Oral health status was assessed in terms of Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index and Community Periodontal Index (CPI). Anthropometric data were used to determine BMI. Chi-square tests, correlations and multiple regression were used in the analyses. The mean magnesium intake was 281.8 ± 56.9 mg/day, which was lower than the recommended dietary allowances. Among subjects with higher magnesium intake, there was a significant decrease in DMFT (0.99 ± 1.14 vs 2.32 ± 1.56) and CPITN scores (0.60 ± 0.49 vs 2.55 ± 0.50; p < 0.001). There was an inverse correlation between magnesium intake and DMFT (r = –0.277) and CPITN (r = –0.808). Magnesium intake was an independent predictor of oral health determined by multiple regression analysis, whereas BMI did not modify the associations significantly. An interactive exploration of the analysis is available at: https://cnpdata.shinyapps.io/magnesium_project/. Higher consumption of dietary magnesium is linked with better oral health marked by a decrease in caries and periodontal disease. These results underscored the necessity for nutrition centered approaches in oral health care in Saudi Arabia. https://www.foodandnutritionjournal.org/volume14number1/impact-of-dietary-magnesium-on-oral-health-status-among-adults-in-arar-and-riyadh-saudi-arabia-a-cross-sectional-analysis/ Body Mass Index (BMI) Magnesium Intake Nutrition Oral Health Saudi Adults