San Francisco Dental Implants Provider Discusses Obesity and Gum Disease

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – According to the CDC, a third of all Americans are obese. Doctors understand that obesity puts people at higher risk for diabetes, heart disease and even some types of cancer. Now a new study published in the journal General Dentistry shows the link between obesity and gum disease.SF dental clinic owner Dr. Greg Larson helps patients manage and treat gum disease at every stage with laser and ultrasonic technology. In the most severe cases patients can lose teeth to gum disease, though San Francisco dental implants can replace them. More research is needed to explain the reason obesity and gum disease are linked."Whether one condition is a risk factor for another or whether one disease directly causes another has yet to be discovered," says Dr. Samer G. Shamoon, spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry. "What we do know is that it's important to visit a dentist at least twice a year so he or she can evaluate your risks for developing gum disease and offer preventive strategies."Routine dental care and good oral hygiene practices can actually thwart heart disease, gum disease and diabetes. Aligned teeth are also easier to clean, and thus easier to keep free of gum disease. Patients can gradually align teeth with Invisalign's invisible braces system. Aligned teeth are more attractive and healthier than crooked teeth.Larson also diagnoses and treats patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. OSA is more likely to occur in patients who are obese. Patients with OSA experience blocked upper airways during sleep that disrupt breathing and result in decreased oxygen to the blood. Patients who frequently snore and are often tired during the day should call their dentist for a sleep apnea consultation. Depending on the patient's case, Larson may be able to customize a breathing orthotic to prop open the airway during sleep.Patients should also eat sensible, balanced diets to decrease their risks of obesity, gum disease, diabetes and heart disease. A healthy diet and routine dental care can create a sustainably healthy lifestyle.