You’d be surprised at what could make a person’s body tired, sluggish, or run-down. Of course, you probably know that things like exercise and sleep quality have an impact. However, did you know that dental hygiene does as well? In fact, your oral health influences how well you digest things. To learn more, here’s a summary of oral health’s relationship with metabolism by Willow Grove dentists.
What’s a Metabolism?
Before anything else, let’s review metabolism’s definition. Specifically, it’s the process by which your body converts foods and drinks into energy. Through digestion, it turns the nutrients you consume into fuel for your organs.
People have usually said that metabolism is influenced by body size, gender, age, and related factors. More recently, though, research shows that your teeth and gums also play a role.
So, How *Does* Oral Health Affect Metabolism?
A study done by Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) discovered a link between oral inflammation and metabolic syndrome. In particular, it found that gum disease could alter stomach bacteria and thus trigger metabolic issues. This conclusion is further supported by The Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, which also links gum disease to metabolic syndrome.
What’s Metabolic Syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that raises your risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. It usually affects those with high abdomen fat, a family history of diabetes, or insulin resistance. Plus, you’re more likely to get it as you age.
The health problems that occur in metabolic syndrome include:
- Increased blood pressure
- Excess body fat in the waist
- High blood sugar
- Abnormal cholesterol levels
Tips to Prevent Gum Disease
Given the above, you can boost your metabolism by preventing gum disease. To do the latter, try practicing the following tips:
- Maintain good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth twice daily and floss once daily to reduce harmful mouth bacteria. If you don’t, you’ll likely suffer gum inflammation in the future.
- Watch your intake of sugary, fatty, and processed foods. Eating too much of these items can lead to enamel loss, cavities, and gum disease.
- Visit your dentist. Ideally, you should be seeing your dentist bi-annually for routine cleanings and exams. Otherwise, you might miss plaque under the gumline and similar issues.
To have a strong and energetic body, you should obviously eat, sleep, and exercise well. As you can see, though, you should also have “clean your mouth well” on that list!
About the Author
Advanced Smile Design is based in Willow Grove, PA. The practice offers comprehensive dentistry for dental patients of all ages. As such, it provides preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dental treatments, as well as emergency smile services. It can also perform dental sedation and Invisalign straightening as needed. For more information or to book an appointment, you can reach them at their website or by phone at (215)-659-3334.
