Taking care of your gums is just important as caring for your teeth. Your gums provide a stable foundation that keeps your teeth in place. If you contract gum disease, you risk damage to your entire smile. This infection in the gum tissue will cause the gums to swell, affecting the roots of your teeth in an irreversible way.
Dentists emphasize preventative care when it comes to your gums. You can improve the well-being of your gums with your diet. Read on to learn about four foods that can help you promote good periodontal health.
Which Foods Can Improve Gum Health?
Apples
Famously, an apple a day will keep the doctor away, but eating apples will make your dentist happy too. The hard skin of the apple makes this fruit crunchy – a feature that will boost your oral hygiene as you eat.
The hard texture will scrape plaque and other residues off of your teeth before they can hurt your smile. This will prevent the natural bacteria in your mouth from spreading and reaching your gum tissue. Then you can reduce the likelihood of contracting gum disease.
Gum disease requires treatment from a dentist to eradicate. So you should avoid getting this infection in the first place if you can. But seek prompt treatment for periodontal problems to prevent irreversible dental damage like tooth loss.
Yogurt
Eating dairy products like yogurt will give your body more calcium. This mineral helps to strengthen your teeth, making them better resistant to decay and surface stains. But yogurt can improve your gum health too.
Yogurt contains probiotics, which will balance the bacteria within your body, including your mouth. This will lower your risk of oral infections like gum disease. It can also reduce discomfort in your gums, like swelling, soreness, or bleeding.
Salmon
Salmon and other oily fishes have high amounts of omega-3s, which is an essential fat that is thought to have anti-inflammatory properties. Infections like gum disease will create inflammation in the gum tissue which can trigger the body’s inflammatory response.
Anti-inflammatory foods can bring relief to patients with gum disease, easing their symptoms and preventing them from worsening. Learn more about treating periodontal concerns when you call your dentist.
Water
Many people do not consider water to be a food, but drinking plenty of water is crucial to keeping your gums healthy. Dehydration will lower the amount of saliva you produce, which may cause dry mouth.
This condition can feel uncomfortable, but it also puts your oral health in danger. Bacteria can spread with ease when you have dry mouth, which means you are more likely to contract gum disease.
Fight dry mouth and prevent gum disease by drinking at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water each day. If you consume caffeine or other dehydrating food items, drink more water to compensate and stay hydrated. Water will also boost your overall oral hygiene because it can rinse lingering food particles that may otherwise hurt your smile.