Serving areas of Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI
Eating healthy and regularly working out can significantly improve your health. It’s a lifestyle decision, but it is a great decision. A healthy lifestyle and shedding some extra pounds can have a positive effect on many aspects of your life. It will make you physically and mentally healthier. It can help your self-esteem by improving your social life. But did you know that losing weight could also affect your smile?
Being overweight can put you at a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and even gum disease. Wait, gum disease, really? Yes. Dr. Christine Tenaglia, a general dentist in Okemos, wants you to see the correlation between weight and gum disease.
What is gum disease?
Periodontal disease, which is more commonly referred to as gum disease, stems from a bacterial infection in your gums. The disease is manageable even though it doesn’t have a cure. Gum disease causes inflammation, pain, and damage to the gums and jaw. It often leads to tooth loss and has been linked to a variety of health issues, including diabetes and heart disease.
How is weight and gum disease connected?
Gum disease is affected by inflammation, and your body produces proteins that have inflammatory properties called cytokines. Overweight individuals produce more cytokines, thus increasing the overall inflammation rate throughout their body and elevating their risk of gum disease.
How can I prevent gum disease?
The most important fact to know about gum disease is that following these three steps can prevent it.
- Diet and Exercise: Having a healthy body and mind isn’t about numbers on a scale or fitting unrealistic stereotypes. It’s about getting proper vitamins and nutrients, combined with good physical activity. Vitamins D and B keep your teeth healthier. Moderate amounts of sunlight can help raise your Vitamin D levels. If you are overweight, your body naturally produces more of the inflammation-causing bacteria that lead to gum disease.
- At-Home Oral Hygiene: The single best thing you can do to lower your risk of gum disease is to brush your teeth twice a day and floss every day. Lots of people skip flossing, but flossing should be an essential part of your at-home oral hygiene routine. Why? Your toothbrush cannot reach all the nooks and crannies between your teeth or under your gum line. Those are also some of the prime areas where gum disease begins, or the plaque and tartar that cause cavities can accumulate.
- Professional Dental Care: It’s essential to receive professional dental cleanings twice a year. At Tenaglia Smiles, your dental hygienist will remove all the tartar from your teeth—something you can’t do on your own. This also limits your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Not to mention that each of your dental check-ups in Okemos includes an examination of your teeth and mouth, making it easier to identify early warning signs.
Get a Dental Cleaning in Okemos
Maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle has a host of benefits. Avoiding gum disease may not seem like the biggest, but preventing gum disease could save your life. Tenaglia Smiles knows you don’t want you any member of your family to suffer from gum disease. If you’re ready to experience our high quality care, then visit our technologically advanced dental office in Okemos. If you’re located in the areas of Okemos, Lansing, or East Lansing, call (517) 347-6733 to schedule an appointment and keep gum disease away.