Gum disease is not something that you should avoid treating. It affects your oral health as well as your overall well-being. Plus, you can lose weight more easily by focusing on treating your gum disease and by switching to more periodontal-friendly foods – foods that are both nutritious and lower in calories.
How Treating Gum Disease Can Help You Lose Weight
People who are obese often have gum disease problems because they eat foods that are not good for their gums and teeth. Therefore, these foods not only cause them to put on weight, they also trigger tooth decay and gum infections. By treating gum disease, we can also induce patients to follow healthier dietary menus – menus that help them lose weight and maintain a healthier weight.
Treating a Gum Infection and Losing Weight
To treat a gum infection, you need to re-evaluate what you are eating and get into the habit of regular brushing and flossing. That means you should brush twice a day, for 2 minutes at a time, and floss at least once a day. You also should consider the foods you regularly eat. To maintain the health of your gums, you need to eat foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, and avoid foods that are processed or contain refined sugar. Both processed foods and foods that primarily contain sugar are usually full or calories and lacking in nutrition. Foods that are nutritionally dense and low-calorie usually support better gum health.
Following a New and Health Path
We encourage patients to see us yearly, as well, for a comprehensive periodontal evaluation or CPE. During the evaluation, we will measure the pocket depth of the gums to determine the degree of an infection. The deeper the pocket depth, the more intensive the treatment plan. Once we find out what course of therapy to take, we will also encourage patients to follow a regular practice of routine at-home care. We will also suggest dental-friendly foods to include in the diet – foods that can also help patients maintain a thinner and healthier weight.
Do you believe you have gum disease? Do you have any questions about periodontal disease treatments? If so, give us a call to schedule an appointment for an exam and consultation.
