When our country was first formed, the United States was based on a farming society. With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, manual labor became less and a sedentary lifestyle dependent on automobiles and electronic entertainment took over. America's obsession with McDonalds and the supersizing of highly processed foods have made obesity grow at an alarming rate. Today, fewer meals are prepared at home and there are limited physical education classes in school. An increased soft drink consumption, combined with mass transit dependence, along with smoking, alchohol consumption, hormones, lack of sleep and genetic predisposition lead to "belly fat".
Obesity sets the stage for a plethora of chronic degenerative diseases including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, sleep apnea, kidney disease, gall bladder problems, certain cancers and premature death. Obesity has been found to have negative effects on oral health and can contribute to dental caries, tooth erosion, and hypersensitivity. Periodontal health can be greatly impacted by diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which again are results of obesity.
Whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats such as olive oil added to your diet, along with substituting sugary juices and sodas with plain water, can greatly reduce the obesity epidemic. Gradual changes, instead of going "cold turkey" can make slow but positive changes in your overall health. You will be glad to know that these healthy eating habits will also be beneficial to your teeth. For other health related tips and articles, please visit www.voorheesdentistry.com