Why Gum Health Matters
When was the last time you checked your teeth for gum disease? Yes! Gum diseases are one of the common reasons people experience tooth loss or loss of teeth. See the thing is 84% of Canadians claim they have excellent teeth. So, do you fall under the 84%? Can you be sure?
You see gum disease, also called periodontitis, is an infection of the structure that supports your teeth. It includes gum too. There are typically two types: gingivitis and periodontitis. People generally exposed to either diabetes or smoking are likely to experience periodontitis. However, recently few gum disease statistics speculate on variable data such as:
- The Canadian Dental Association has made a study stating that 7 out of 10 Canadians will develop gum diseases.
- Experts say periodontitis is common. It can begin at any age on top of that the disease ranks 6th in the world ranking.
- One of the consequences is people start avoiding certain types of food. The Canadian Health Measures Survey states that 12% of the population avoids certain kinds of their favourite foods.
Consequences of Untreated Gum Disease
The effect of periodontitis is severe but often goes unnoticed. However, certain signs and symptoms like your gums might start to feel puffy or swollen. On the other hand, you may experience bad breath, bleeding, and painful chewing. Now these symptoms are observed in different stages of the disease. There are four stages: gingivitis, mild, moderate, and advanced periodontitis.
Since gum disease affects the bone that supports your teeth, later down the stages treatment becomes a necessity. In extreme cases, people who’ve avoided treatment have lost their teeth. Although there are many treatments such as scaling, root planing, and antibiotics, we highly suggest focusing on food and nutrition intake.
Nutrients Essential for Gum Health
Having a healthy diet helps you to avoid extreme stages of periodontitis. Currently, there are only three specific nutrients till now proven helpful for improving gum health. Even experienced periodontal care in Calgary will provide you with similar diet plans. Also as of now, 2024 scientists have yet to explore further and develop essential result-oriented data including any other nutrients.
- Vitamin C:- The main role of vitamin C is to reduce gum inflammation. When you have a deficiency of vitamin C your gums will start to bleed from even a minor injury.
- Best sources for vitamin C: citrus fruits, berries, leafy greens.
- Vitamin B12:- We already know low B12 levels result in ulcers in the mouth and therefore affect the gums resulting in severe bleeding. Research institutes have explained the relationship between low B12 and gum disease.
- Best sources of vitamin B12: are milk, eggs, and meat.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids:- Omega-3 Fatty acids are healthy inflammation regulators. The problem here is your body cannot produce Omega-3 on its own hence you need dietary supplements.
- Best sources for Omega-3: flaxseed oil and fish.
Foods Associated with Poor Gum Health
What are Refined Carbohydrates: Refined carbohydrates make up a large part of your diet. Even though we try to regulate it, we cannot cut down the intake completely. Processed carbohydrates impact the acid regulation in your mouth, exposing your teeth to numerous dental problems. You see they consist of sugar, which helps bacteria in your mouth to produce acid. The acid causes erosion of protective enamel and leads to tooth decay. The erosion has a drastic impact on gum inflammation and it leads to plaque formation.
Plaque is formed by sticky foods and the bacteria present in your mouth. You might feel a sticky film around your teeth, that’s plaque. It greatly contributes to the inflammation by irritating first. The irritation can be said to be an early stage of gingivitis and if left untreated may lead to periodontitis. So if you are looking for a reason or sign to cut down on those refined carbohydrates, now is the time.
Top 10 Foods for Healthy Gums
We previously discussed the three nutrients that help reduce the chances of gum diseases. And we know you are wondering about a diet plan. Or you may ask about the list of foods you can include in your regular diet. So here is our list of top 10 foods for healthy gums.
1. Fatty Fish
Fatty fish are rich in omega-3. As we’ve previously discussed, omega-3 consists of anti-inflammatory properties. The acids present in fatty fish help improve your oral health.
- Benefits of Omega-3 for oral care:
- Reduce inflammation and gum swelling.
- Decrease the rate of bacterial growth and plaque formation.
- Helps build up your immune power to combat bacteria leading to periodontitis.
2 . Probiotic-Rich Foods
Balancing your oral microbiome will reduce the harm of periodontitis. The best way to balance it is by consuming probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kefir, kimchi, miso, and kombucha. They also strengthen your immune system in fighting dental problems. Bad bacteria present in your mouth are one of the primary reasons leading to gum disease. So you should focus on maintaining the equilibrium of acid in your mouth with good bacteria through probiotic-rich foods.
3. Shiitake Mushrooms
The properties present in the shiitake mushrooms help in fighting gum diseases. The mushrooms are highly known for their nutritional values, immune boosting, and anti-inflammatory properties.
4. Green Tea
Adding green tea to your bedtime routine will greatly improve your oral health. Primary benefits of green tea when it comes to fighting gum disease include:
- Antibacterial effects: Green tea allows your mouth to fight the growth of bad bacteria leading to plaque formation.
- Antioxidants: It consists of catechins. The oxidants present help you build up your immune system to tackle tissue damage.
- Anti-inflammatory Properties: By inhibiting the radical growth of bacteria which produces acids. It helps in reducing inflammation. Inflammation is an early symptom of gum disease, so the next time you feel your mouth acidic just sip green tea before bed.
5. Chicken
Chicken consists of three essential biomolecules. It’s a lean source of protein, it consists of coenzymes, and a specific type of protein called collagen. They help in gum tissue repair and reduce gum inflammation, specifically collagen. Even though your body naturally produces collagen, it’s always good to have a healthy collagen production. Collagen is present in the chicken skin to be specific and they prevent the degradation of gum tissues.
6. Fruits and Vegetables
If you are too bored in following your old diet why not try various types of fruits and vegetables? Particularly the one rich in vitamin C and beta-carotene. Follow a structured diet that consists of healthy fruits and vegetables. Benefits include; a lower rate of periodontitis, reduced inflammation, fewer cavities and better gum tissue health.
7. Sugar-Free Gum
The most interesting benefit of chewing sugar-free gum is the production of saliva. They contain common sweeteners such as xylitol, sorbitol, and aspartame. Stimulating saliva production washes food particles. Additionally, it keeps bad bacteria from accumulating around your teeth structure.
8. Dairy Products (Milk and Cheese)
Dairy products are rich in calcium, contain probiotics, and regulate pH balance. Experts highly suggest maintaining a healthy intake of calcium to prevent gum disease and tooth decay. The probiotic content helps in fighting the bad bacteria in your mouth. Lastly, they help in remineralizing the enamel protection for teeth.
9. Water
Drinking adequate amounts of water is beneficial for your body in many ways. Hence it’s no surprise that it made our list of foods to prevent periodontitis.
- Water has fluoride which prevents cavities and strengthens tooth enamel.
- It prevents dry mouths and reduces the risk of plaque formation.
- Stimulates saliva production, which is a natural mouthwash and also acts as an acid neutralizer.
10. Nuts and Seeds
Due to their high nutritional value, they are called superfoods. Other than that their primary benefits revolve around being antioxidants and fiber content. Antioxidants help with cell damage in your mouth. While fibre content helps you maintain oral hygiene as well as neutralize acids.
Try to Avoid These Foods for Healthier Gum
Sugar, carbonated beverages and processed carbohydrates impact your oral health in a detrimental way. Both are good sources for bacteria to produce acid in your mouth. The acidic nature of your mouth spreads infection around the structure supporting your teeth. Once the infection spreads around your gum, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone it results in periodontal disease. So try to avoid such foods for healthy gum.
Periodontal Care in SE Calgary
The food their nutritional benefit is not an alternative but rather an enabler for better oral health. We can conclude that good oral health routines are the first line of defence in preventing periodontitis. If you have been diagnosed with gum disease, then you must start taking a firm approach.
However, rather than restraining yourself from eating your favourite food, schedule an appointment at Inglewood Family Dental. In extreme cases, it’s better to consult an expert dentist in SE Calgary.
