SCOTTS VALLEY, SANTA CRUZ, CA
Achieving a healthy weight is the goal of many individuals. However, it is certainly a goal that is difficult to attain without discipline, eating right, and exercising daily. There are many benefits to shedding excess pounds, including lowering your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Plus, living a healthy lifestyle improves your mood and mental clarity. You might even find that it improves your social life. However, new studies reveal that slimming your waistline could improve your oral health.
Being overweight could increase your risk of developing gum disease, an active infection that leads to gum recession, and jawbone resorption that results in weakening periodontal ligaments that are responsible for holding your teeth in place. Eventually, untreated gum disease could result in tooth loss and cause irreversible damage to your oral health.
How are gum disease and weight related?
Gum disease is an inflammatory disease with properties referred to as cytokines. People that are overweight produce more cytokines than individuals maintaining a healthy weight. Therefore, being overweight increases the risk of developing gum disease. While gum disease can be managed, it cannot be cured. The initial stage of gum disease is referred to as gingivitis. It presents symptoms such as inflamed, bright red gums that bleed easily. If not treated properly, gingivitis progresses to periodontitis, which is when bacteria begin eroding the jawbone. Additionally, harmful oral bacteria have direct access to your bloodstream, which could travel throughout your body and impact heart health.
Maintaining a healthy weight involves limiting unhealthy snacks throughout the day. If you’ve ever attempted to lose weight, you probably have learned that consuming unhealthy, processed, or empty-calorie snacks quickly sabotaged your efforts. Additionally, these same snacks are responsible for increasing your risk of tooth decay. Crackers, chips, sweets, and processed foods often contain lots of sugar and carbohydrates, fueling oral bacteria to break down and damage dental enamel.
Eat this and drink that for a slimmer waistline and healthier teeth and gums
It’s understandable that many people want to not only maintain a healthy weight but protect their oral health too. Our family dentists in Scotts Valley would like to share with you a few simple ways to do just that.
Eat natural, whole foods like dairy, lean meat, and fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens rich in calcium, magnesium, and iron.
Drink plenty of water instead of sugary beverages. Water helps you feel full and provides the necessary hydration for your body after an intense workout. If your water does not contain fluoride, speak with a dentist near you in Scotts Valley about whether you need fluoride applications during your visit.
Additionally, exercise daily to get your blood flowing and reduce your risk of inflammation through your body.
Family Dentists in Scotts Valley, Los Gatos, and Santa Cruz
At Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry, we encourage patients to adhere to a healthy lifestyle promoting good oral health and overall health. We offer nutritional counseling for individuals who would like to learn more about making healthy dietary options. Plus, we would love to help you along your journey to improved oral health. Start by slimming your waistline! Schedule a consultation with Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry today by calling (831) 438-4411.
