Your gums, the connective tissue holding your teeth in the mouth, are just as important to your oral health as the rest of your smile. Oral infections like gum disease can threaten your gums and wreak serious havoc on your teeth, gums, and jaw. So dentists recommend preventative care when it comes to gum health, and the foods you consume can help you stave off gum disease.
Which Foods Improve Periodontal Health?
When you know which elements of your diet play a positive role in your gum health, you can better keep your smile, especially your gums, looking and feeling its best. Read on to learn which food items can help you keep your gums healthy and free of periodontal disease.
Apples
You likely heard the phrase, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” And eating apples will make your dentist and your gums happy too. The fibrous skin of the apples gives them a crisper texture that will allow the fruit to clean your teeth as you eat.
Then you can get rid of extra plaque build-up along with excess bacteria. In turn, this will stop bacterial spread and reduce your risk of oral infections like gum disease. Consider biting into an apple the next time you crave something sweet for a boost in oral health.
Yogurt
Dentists recommend that their patients eat dairy products to gain more calcium that can strengthen their teeth. Yogurt in particular can offer more benefits for your gums too.
Yogurt contains probiotics, which work to keep the bacteria throughout your body, including in your mouth, balanced. This will lower bacterial spread and therefore prevent gum disease. Then you can avoid serious damage to your gum tissue.
Salmon
Salmon and other oily fish are rich in omega-3s, a type of fat that studies suggest carries anti-inflammatory properties. Gum disease will create inflammation in the gum tissue, and this symptom can trigger your body’s inflammatory response. This means that your gum disease can make the rest of your body vulnerable to other health complications.
So consuming salmon and anti-inflammatory foods will reduce this effect that stems from gum disease. And you can see fewer discomforts that can occur from this infection in the gums. You will still need to visit your dentist to completely treat gum disease though.
Water
Some people may argue that water does not qualify as a food item. But there is no denying that drinking plenty of water can help you keep your gums healthy. Low levels of hydration will make you produce less saliva, leaving you with dry mouth.
A dry oral environment makes it easier for bacteria to spread across your teeth and infect your gum tissue. But if you stay hydrated, you can stop dry mouth and therefore better fight gum disease. Drinking water will boost oral hygiene too, further reducing the danger of gum disease.
Dentists and health experts agree you should drink at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water each day to stay hydrated. You might need to drink more if you consume dehydrating agents such as caffeine.