Does Gum Disease Factor into Your Weight?

When thinking about your waistline, the last thing you may think about is your oral health. However, our oral health plays a major role in many facets of our body’s well-being. One condition that our waistline affects is gum disease. Gum disease occurs when bacteria in our mouths infect our gums. In the early stages of gum disease, a person may experience bleeding or gum swelling. However, it’s possible to experience tooth decay and loss in the later stages.

Besides affecting your overall oral health, gum disease also affects the way your body handles infection. Research shows a possible connection between increased weight and gum disease. Many dentists believe there is a connection between increased weight and gum disease. While poor diet and unhealthy dental habits can cause gum disease, people with higher weight also experience higher inflammation than other individuals. It’s suspected increased inflammation plays a role in gum disease in individuals with higher weight.

How Higher Weight Potentially Causes Gum Disease

Increased inflammation is the cause of many different ailments, including cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer. Inflammation also makes it more difficult for your gums to heal. When your gums can’t heal properly, they are more likely to get an infection.

Higher weight may also be the result of a poor diet. Poor diets cause gum disease because they are typically high in sugar. Sugar causes bacteria in your mouth to grow more rapidly, which may contribute to gum disease.

Having a healthy diet and weight are important for many reasons—including the health of your gums. In order to prevent gum disease from becoming worse, it’s important to catch it early on. If you notice early signs of gum disease, please contact our dental office immediately. Advanced gum disease can cause tooth decay and loss.