Your diet can play a major role in your overall oral health. Foods and beverages can both help and hinder your teeth and gums. Some people might overlook gum health, but this connective tissue needs to stay strong enough to keep your teeth in place in your smile. So you should factor in the well-being of your gums when you evaluate your diet.
Many foods feature nutritional properties that cater to the health of your gums in particular. Fight gum disease, an infection that harms your gum tissue, along with other periodontal problems by adhering to a balanced and conscientious diet. Check out these four foods that can prove beneficial for your periodontal health.
Apples
Famously, an apple a day keeps your doctor away. But eating apples will make your dentist happy too. These fruits are a great alternative to sugary snacks that will harm your dental structure. But they can help your gums as well.
The hard texture of the skin of the apple can boost your oral hygiene while you eat it. It scrapes away plaque and other build-ups from your teeth when you bite into the crispy skin. With less plaque on your smile, you can decrease bacterial spread and therefore lower your risk of contracting oral infections like gum disease.
Yogurt
Dairy products like yogurt are known to help oral health because they contain calcium, a mineral that strengthens the teeth. But yogurt in particular also has probiotics, which balance bacteria throughout your body, including your mouth.
With less excess bacteria, you can have a lower chance of gum disease and other infections that can hurt your smile. Gum disease will not go away on its own, so preventative measures like your diet can help you avoid extra visits to your dentist’s office by avoiding the infection in the first place.
Salmon
Salmon and other oily fish contain omega-3s, a type of fat that can have anti-inflammatory properties. Gum disease will often present with irritated, swollen, and sore gums due to inflammation from the bacterial damage. Salmon can help you reduce this discomfort from the infection by reducing that harmful inflammation.
You will still need to seek treatment from your dentist to get rid of gum disease for good. But omega-3s from salmon can bring some relief from uncomfortable periodontal symptoms.
Water
Some people might acknowledge that water might not count as a food. But no one can deny that drinking plenty of water will be beneficial for your oral health, especially your gums. Staying hydrated will help you avoid dry mouth, a condition in which your mouth produces less saliva.
A dry oral environment encourages bacteria to spread with greater ease through your mouth, which puts you in greater danger of gum disease. So make sure you drink at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water each day to prevent dry mouth and protect your gums. Drinking water will also improve oral hygiene by rinsing your mouth.