What is a dental article doing in a weight management edition?

Words DR LILIAN KLUGE

Good oral health is important to your overall health and weight management. The process of chewing food in the mouth is a mechanical process that needs to be done the right way. Did you know that chewing food and digestion are the same process? Chewing stimulates your salivary glands to release saliva. Saliva contains special chemicals to break down carbohydrates and aid digestion. Chewing your food thoroughly allows your taste buds to signal your brain to communicate with the stomach about the type of food you ingested. In turn, the stomach secretes chemicals and enzymes necessary to digest that particular food.

Are there symptoms of not eating properly? Yes, absolutely. We see so many patients who are on acid reflux medication. Of course, chewing properly is not the only reason for reflux but is often a contributor. If you do not chew your carbs thoroughly, you will start experiencing symptoms such as acid reflux, heartburn and sometimes even constipation. Another symptom of not chewing properly is weight gain. When we talk about chewing properly, we are referring to crushing and grinding your food. Thorough chewing takes time, and when you eat slowly, you feel full faster, which means you take in fewer calories. Of course, the opposite is true too.

This brings me to the importance of good oral health and strong teeth and the importance of a balanced or functional occlusion. This refers to the way your upper and lower teeth contact each other when you close your mouth or chew your food and affects the way you smile, speak and eat. When you have a balanced occlusion, you have optimal chewing ability. Besides poor chewing capability, occlusal problems could lead to sensitive or fractured teeth, headaches, neck or jaw pain or muscle tension.

Every tooth is vital for the proper alignment of your bite. Teeth support one another and when one is lost and is not replaced it causes the teeth next to it to shift or tilt into the empty space. The teeth above or below a gap can also start growing downward (or upward) since they have nothing to chew against and can loosen and eventually fall out. With missing teeth, all remaining teeth will be more susceptible to decay and gum disease. Teeth also provide stimulus to bone cells and keep them from dissolving. When a tooth is absent, the bone cells begin to die off.

It’s good to note that your eating habits play a major role in tooth decay, which is a diet-related disease and eating disorders can have a severe impact on the tissue within the mouth, and dentists can support you with any disordered eating behaviours.

We offer bio-ceramic implants which are an holistic option compared with metal titanium implants and also offer safe amalgam removal using the SMART protocol, one visit bridge and crowns using CEREC and BPA free composite restorations.

www.pacificbiologicaldentistry.com.au