02 Feb Foods that Support Gum Health

When it comes to keeping your teeth healthy and dental hygeine in check, we all know the benefits of brushing our teeth. Just like getting in shape requires exercise and eating right, having great tooth and gum health depends on not only brushing and flossing – but eating the right things.

When most people imagine dental health or dentists in general they tend to only think of the teeth. However, it is surely unsurprising to find out that gums also play a huge role in not only dental health but your overall health.

Here, we will look at some of the best foods you can have to support gum health.

Nuts

Right off the bat, one of the first things to know when considering food good for gum health is that lower sugar is more often than not going to be better. This is because foods that are high in sugar can cause some acid that slowly eats away at your teeth and gums.

If you are unsure of what type of nuts to go for – just pick something that you like. There are so many different types of nuts that can be found in a local grocery store that it is pretty much impossible to not be able to find something that you like.

Some of the most common nuts are things like almonds, peanuts and cashews. You can also incorporate nuts into various types of meals and desserts.

Water

Although water is technically not food, it may be the best thing that you could ever consume. Water contains no sugar, sodium, fat, carbs – you name it. Since a huge majority of the human body consists of water, drinking lots of water can not only benefit your dental health but your whole body.

Water helps wash away food particles that may already be sitting in the mouth, and can help keep a lot of bacteria out.

Sugarfree Gum

It has long been known that chewing gum (make sure it’s sugar-free gum) is beneficial for oral health. Chewing on sugar-free gum increases the flow of saliva, which in turn will reduce a lot of acid in the mouth and also strengthen your teeth and gums.

Not only is chewing gum great for dental health, but it also is beneficial for the brain. This is because the act of chewing on gum stimulates various parts of the brain, and is why it is not unusual for students to chew on gum while studying and during exams.

Fruits and vegetables

Vitamin C is one of the best vitamins you can consume if you are concerned about your gum health. This is because foods containing vitamin C are great at reducing gum inflammation. Historically, a lot of sailors who were out at sea and missing a lot of nutrients got scurvy, which causes a lot of dental problems.

It is well known that oranges are some of the best foods you can eat for vitamin C. The best thing is, oranges are by far some of the best-tasting fruits too. Not only can you enjoy the fruit as a whole, but you can also use oranges to make orange juice.

Omega 3 Rich Foods

Food that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids can play a big role in keeping your gums in good health too. Like Vitamin C, omega 3 can help regulate the inflammation levels in the gums. You can take fish oil capsules if you are after a quick fix for omega 3, however, if you love eating fish then this is a great bonus.

Fish like tuna in particular have some of the highest amounts of omega-3.

Conclusion

Keeping not only our teeth but our gums in an ideal condition is essential for overall good health and vitality. Teeth and gums are one of the most noticable parts of someone’s face, so it is also ideal to keep things clean and healthy to look good too.

Some of the best things that can be eaten to support gum health are:

• Nuts
• Water
• Sugarfree gum
• Fruit & vegetables
• Omega 3 rich foods

Always try your best to stay away from sugar, especially carbonated drinks like Coca-Cola. While it is good to avoid sugary drinks altogether, it is okay to have some in moderation.