If you struggle with your weight, you are one of many. News reports are constantly speaking of the obesity epidemic in our country. Often times, someone who once could eat anything they wanted without thinking about it ends up with a sedentary job, or a shift in activity level as life goes on, and the pounds begin to creep around the waistline. Dr. Brent Engelberg would like to quiz you on some oral hygiene practices that might help keep you slim, trim, and cavity-free.
Questions
Q1. True or false – Sugar causes cavities and weight gain.
Q2. True or false – Brushing your teeth can help you suppress your appetite.
Answers
A1. FALSE – Most people are well aware that sugar isn’t terrific for your teeth and can easily contribute to waistline growth with over-consumption. Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria in your mouth that cause cavities, love nothing more than a good dose of sugar to feed on. It isn’t just candy, cakes, and cookies that fill the bellies of S mutans. High-carbohydrate foods can cause the same damage with the way your body converts them to sucrose. Sugar gets turned into lactic acid by bacteria, damaging your tooth enamel. Meanwhile, all of those empty calories will also contribute to packing on unwanted pounds. So, technically, sugar doesn’t cause cavities, but it certainly contributes to that and more in terms of poor overall health.
A2. TRUE – You can definitely parlay your oral hygiene practices into weight control help. Most of us don’t chew at least 50 times with each bite. We eat fast, swallowing after only a few chews sometimes if we’re extremely hungry or in a rush. Since it can take as many as 30 minutes to feel full, your stomach might very well feel empty when you have finished an appropriate portion. This is when many of us reach for seconds and thirds. Try reaching for your toothbrush and mouthwash instead. The minty taste in your mouth is likely to lower your appetite while your brain and stomach play catch up. As a bonus, your teeth will be extra healthy.
ABOUT YOUR VERNON HILLS DENTIST:
Dr. Brent Engelberg and his highly-skilled team proudly serve patients and their families from Arlington Heights, IL, and all surrounding communities, including; Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Libertyville, Skokie, Evanston, Palatine, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Rolling Meadows, and the Northern and Northwest Chicago Suburbs. To learn more, schedule a consultation online, or call our office today at 847-259-6988.
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