The common saying, “You are what you eat,” holds more truth than you might guess. Your diet can play a major role in your overall health, including your gums. This connective tissue ensures that your teeth stay in place in your mouth. If you develop gum disease, an infection in the gums, you could suffer serious, irreversible damage to your gums, teeth, and jaw.
Gum disease will require treatment from a dentist to get rid of, so you should seek preventive care when it comes to your periodontal health. This means ensuring you consume a balanced, nutritious diet.
Some foods can specifically help your gums resist infection and stay healthy. Check out four types of foods that can help you promote healthy gums when you read on.
Apples
Apples can make for a healthy snack alternative to sugary sweets. But this fruit can also improve your gum health. Its fibrous skin gives it a crunchy texture that can scrape away plaque and other harmful residues that naturally collect on your teeth.
Eliminating these particles will make your smile cleaner and prevent these residues from encouraging the spread of natural oral bacteria. If bacteria reach your gums, you could contract gum disease. So boosting oral hygiene through your diet can prove highly beneficial for your oral health.
Yogurt
Dairy products are rich in calcium, which can strengthen your teeth. But yogurt in particular can be good for your gum health. It contains probiotics which work to keep the bacteria throughout your body balanced, including in your mouth.
If you have excess oral bacteria, it can more easily reach your gums and infect them. Then you could suffer irritated gum tissue before the disease spreads and harms your entire mouth, resulting in serious damage like tooth loss. Reduce this risk by adding yogurt to your diet.
Salmon
Salmon and other oily fish are great sources of omega-3s, a type of essential fat. Studies suggest omega-3s have anti-inflammatory properties. This means you can see a reduction in uncomfortable symptoms caused by infections like gum disease.
Less inflammation will mean you can experience less swelling, bleeding, and soreness in infected gums. However, you will still need to see your dentist to treat gum disease for good. Salmon can bring you relief from these symptoms in the meantime.
Water
You might wonder if water counts as a food, but you cannot dismiss the benefits this beverage can bring to your gum health. Drinking water will rinse your mouth between meals, improving your oral hygiene. But it can also keep you hydrated.
If you become dehydrated, you may develop dry mouth. Not only does a dry oral environment feel uncomfortable, but it also allows bacteria to spread more easily, heightening your risk of gum disease.
So keep hydration levels balanced by drinking at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water each day. Drink more if you consume dehydrating agents like alcohol or caffeine.