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Obesity and Gum Disease

Published on September 28, 2023

Lori Boxer
Weight★No★More℠ Diet Center

 

What’s the connection between obesity and gum disease?
 
 
Obesity is related to gum disease through the pathway of insulin resistance, a condition in which the body does not respond well to the action of insulin.
 
 
There’s a relationship between obesity, insulin resistance, and periodontal disease in a very large segment of our society. This relationship is important because obesity is an important risk factor for Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It is possible that periodontal disease increases the likelihood of their manifestation because bacteria from the mouth can cause infection in other parts of the body when the immune system has been compromised.
 
 
Understanding the relationship between obesity and the risk factors that lead to periodontal disease is very important. With increasing rates of childhood obesity, the prevalence of periodontal disease will follow. Oral health is essential to general health and well-being at every stage of life, of course. But especially when it comes to kids, the habits of a good diet and healthy mouth enables not only nutrition of the physical body, but also enhances their social interaction and promotes self-esteem and feelings of well-being.