There are many reasons to lose weight, but when people are considering them they normally don't think that becoming slimmer will improve their oral health. However, according to researchers from the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, the body can more effectively fight gum disease when it has fewer fat cells.
Scientists came to their conclusion by studying 31 obese people who had gum disease. Half of the participants underwent gastric bypass surgery during the trial and had half of their fat cells removed. The group that had the weight loss procedures saw an improvement in their dental condition, suggesting that there is a connection between obesity and gum disease.
Researchers have two theories as to why weight affects oral health. The first is that having more fat cells leads to a greater accumulation of sugar in the blood, which can increase a person's diabetic status and make the body less responsive to dental treatment.
The other theory is that the leptin hormone, which regulates appetite, may increase inflammation in the body and make it more difficult to treat gum disease. These findings suggest that people with dental problems that they are having issues controlling may want to talk to their doctor about losing weight.
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