Obesity rates in the United States have increased exponentially over the past 20 years. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that about 67% of American adults are overweight or obese, and 34% of those obese adults have severe obesity. Additionally, childhood obesity has tripled since 1980.
While some people might blame weight gain on the foods they eat, the real culprit may be your oral health. This is an oversimplification because a complex, reciprocal relationship exists between your oral health and overall health. While it may seem incorrect, your oral health can influence unhealthy behaviors that can lead to weight gain.
Are You Avoiding Healthy Foods?
If you have sore gums or sensitive teeth, you will sensibly avoid foods that cause irritation. The unfortunate reality is that many healthy foods, like crisp fruits and vegetables, are difficult to eat with sore teeth, or they can harm the gums. Vegetable fibers can also get caught between your teeth and cause irritation. Because of this, softer foods that are easier to eat become go-to foods. Many of these foods are processed, low in nutrients, and high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. While there are soft foods that are healthy, people often opt for foods that unhealthy soft foods that lead to weight gain, or make it difficult to lose weight.
Inflammation Can Cause Weight Gain
Remember that complex relationship between oral and overall health? Inflammation plays a large role in the relationship between obesity, diabetes, and oral health. Inflammation is a natural, bodily response to foreign invaders, but chronic inflammation can occur if a chronic infection, such as gum disease, exists in the body. The inflammatory proteins interfere with hormones like leptin, which helps to regulate energy use and weight loss. As you start to gain weight, the fat cells trigger the release of inflammatory proteins, and this makes it difficult to maintain a healthy weight.
Is Exercise Difficult?
An unhealthy mouth can make it difficult to exercise. The reason for this is because a chronic infection like gum disease is similar to dealing with a cold or flu, ultimately reducing the amount of energy that is necessary for exercise. Diabetes may also be depleting your energy levels, and diabetes also increases your risk of gum disease, which in turn worsens diabetes.
A Healthy Mouth Leads To A Healthy Body
Maintaining a body, which is free of disease and at a healthy weight, requires you to keep your mouth clean and healthy. Gum or tooth infections can spread throughout the body and negatively influence your blood, breath, and the foods you consume. When you treat an oral health problem the right way, you have a better shot at experiencing a healthier body. Try to find a holistic dentist for the most benefits.
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
