Your teeth are designed to serve you for a lifetime. Unfortunately, despite the latest innovations in dentistry, 35 million Americans have lost all their natural teeth in one or both arches. Maintaining healthy gums is a crucial part of overall oral health, and many individuals wonder about the connection between weight loss and gum health. While slim and slender bodies are considered perfection across genders and age groups, the methods people use to achieve weight loss can significantly impact their teeth and gums. So, do gums shrink with weight loss? The answer is nuanced. Weight loss itself doesn’t directly cause gums to shrink, but the dietary choices and nutrient intake associated with certain diets can have a significant impact on oral health. This article explores the relationship between weight loss, diet, and gum health, providing insights into how to maintain a healthy smile while pursuing your weight loss goals.
The Impact of Crash Diets on Dental Health
Crash diets are becoming prevalent because of the visible results of several individuals who share their stories through social media. Most Hope Island dentists disapprove of these crash diets because of their impact on teeth and gums. These quick weight loss plans require giving up certain foods or sticking to a strict food chart. These plans are based on reducing calorie intake and tracking calories to eliminate excess weight. However, these plans lead to deficiencies, eating disorders and dental problems. It is evident that crash dieting is not good for an individual's oral and overall health. Following a fad can have adverse effects on your body and mouth. Also, maintain a balanced diet even when intending to lose weight to avoid nutrient deficiencies. Crash diets may seem fruitful because they promise quick results, but they can have harmful impacts on physical and dental health.
Nutritional Imbalance and Vitamin Deficiencies
Some of the popular diets include Keto, Paleo, Atkins, intermittent fasting, juice cleanse, cabbage soup, etc. However, most of them lead to nutritional imbalance which causes deficiencies of vitamins and calcium in the body. According to trusted dentists in Hope Island Vitamins A, D, E and K are essential for optimum dental health. The deficiency of Vitamin D can be particularly harmful because it impacts the absorption of calcium. With low calcium absorption, teeth and bones become weak and vulnerable to decay.
Muscle Loss and Jaw Problems
Most crash diets eliminate most fats from meals, leading to loss of muscle mass. Since the jaw is supported by muscles, a very low fat diet can impact the jaw joints and lead to pain and muscle stress. The pain and discomfort felt in the jaw can be the beginning of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Nutritional deficiency can further aggravate these symptoms and cause excessive jaw pain. This neurotransmitter is known as the happy hormone that maintains a positive outlook in our lives. However, when we stop consuming fats, dopamine is not produced, which affects our mood.
Gum Recession and Inflammation
Crash diets lead to deficiencies, which weaken gum tissues and cause problems like recession and inflammation. Hope Island dentists recommend maintaining Vitamin C intake to prevent scurvy, which causes gum bleeding. The deficiency of calcium weakens the jawbone and surrounding tissues, making the gums shrink. Extremely low calorie intake can cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies that impact gum health.
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Dehydration and Low Saliva Production
When following a crash diet, most individuals also reduce water intake. Many diets that limit calorie consumption in a day lead to a decline in fluid intake and cause dehydration. The problem occurs when the body begins to conserve water due to very low food consumption. Dehydration leads to low saliva production, which makes the mouth dry. This not only creates bad breath but also restricts the washing away of food particles after meals.
Excessive Fruit Consumption
While staying away from sugar when on a diet works well for teeth, over consuming fruits and beverages does not. Many people replace their solid, balanced diet with fruits, juices, and energy drinks. However, they forget that many fruits have excessive acid content and sugar. Dentists in Hope Island recommend reducing the intake of citric fruits and apple cider vinegar when following a weight loss plan. Lemons, plums, oranges, grapes, blueberries, pineapples, and pomegranates have low pH, which makes them acidic.
How Weight Loss Affects Dentures
Losing weight can have an unintended consequence - it can cause your dentures to become loose. When you lose weight, your entire body changes, including your mouth and gums. This affects the fit of the denture and can cause them to become uncomfortable. Loose dentures can be fixed by a denture reline. Denture adhesive may mask the looseness of your dentures, but you will still not be receiving the function and appearance that you deserve.
Wear and Tear on Dentures
Although you might believe this is only limited to the crowns of the prosthetic teeth, the gum area can show signs of wear as well. They can thin over time, making them more likely to crack or break.
Gum Shrinkage Due to Weight Loss
If you’ve recently lost weight, your gums might have shrunk. Weight loss of 10 pounds or more can cause your dentures to slip.
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Damage to Dentures
Dentures are made of durable material, but they can break. Although you can purchase over-the-counter repair kits, it’s best to leave fixing them to the professionals. Super glue may fix the broken piece short-term, but it places you at risk of exposure to harmful chemicals. Ill-fitting dentures can make it difficult to perform simple tasks, like chewing or speaking. In some cases, it can even lead to sores or infections in your mouth. You don’t need to put your smile at risk. If your dentures are slipping, your dentist can restore them so you can chew, speak, and smile confidently.
Specific Diets and Their Impact on Oral Health
Certain diets can have significant effects on your teeth, so it’s crucial to be prepared.
Low-Calorie Diets
According to “The Skinny on Dieting and Your Teeth” from Delta Dental, one of the most common methods people try when attempting to lose weight is altering their diet to consume fewer calories. While cutting out excess calories and eating more balanced food portions is a great way to get into shape, it’s very important to approach cutting calories very carefully. Consult with a physician to determine how many calories to consume for your weight, age, and body type so you don’t end up becoming malnourished. Consuming too few calories will cause problems on all fronts, including your energy levels, immune system, mental health, and your oral health. Malnutrition can lead to severely weakened jaw bones, softened enamel, and receding gums. So in addition to a host of other issues, malnutrition leaves you vulnerable to tooth decay, gum disease, and jaw pain.
Ketogenic Diet
Many people swear by this fad diet, but the jury is still out on whether or not it is beneficial to your oral health. The intention behind the ketogenic diet, which cuts out carbohydrates, is to get the body to start burning fat instead of carbs, a process known as ketosis. However, this process is known to cause bad breath, or halitosis, which is unpleasant to those around you. On the other hand, carbs bring bacteria into the mouth that cause acid and plaque. In “the Oral Health Effects of the Keto Diet,” Today’s RDH says limiting your intake of carbs may decrease the bacteria level in your mouth and reduce your risk of cavities due to weakened enamel and plaque.
Diet Pills
Be cautious of diet pills or any supplements that claim to result in weight loss. Many diet pills simply suppress appetite to get people to consume fewer calories. In addition to the risks that come with malnutrition, diet pills also inhibit the production of saliva in your mouth. Having a healthy amount of saliva is crucial for keeping your mouth chemically balanced and for washing away food particles and bacteria. Because of this, low levels of saliva can make you more vulnerable to tooth decay.
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Fruit Detox
This is another fad diet to be careful with. The idea is to consume only fruits and vegetables for a week to help cleanse your body, but it puts you at risk for malnutrition. In addition to the risks of taking in too few calories, the American Dental Association in “Top 9 Foods That Damage Your Teeth” reminds us that consuming an abnormally high amount of certain types of fruit, and the high acid content that comes with it, can weaken your enamel and increase your chances of tooth decay.
Maintaining Oral Health During Weight Loss
While dieting can be an effective way to achieve your weight loss goals, it’s essential to understand the potential impacts on your overall health, including your teeth and gums. Gum tissue health relies heavily on proper nutrition. Vitamins like C and D, along with minerals such as calcium, play a vital role in maintaining strong, healthy gums. For instance, a lack of vitamin C can lead to scurvy, which affects gum tissue and can cause bleeding or receding gums. Drastically cutting calories can deplete your body of essential vitamins and minerals. Malnutrition not only weakens your immune system but also affects the strength and elasticity of gum tissue. Low-fat diets can interfere with your body’s ability to absorb fat-soluble vitamins such as D and K, which are crucial for gum and bone health. The high protein and low carbohydrate nature of the diet can sometimes result in a less-than-ideal environment for oral health if proper hygiene isn’t maintained. High acidity from citrus fruits erodes enamel, and the lack of other vital nutrients can weaken gum tissue.
Prioritize Balanced Nutrition
Include a variety of nutrient-dense foods to ensure you’re getting enough vitamins and minerals.
Consult Professionals
It is ideal to consult a dietician and nutritionist to get the right diet plan that suits your body type and health.