3 Foods & Drinks That Fortify Your Gums

The stars of your smile are your beautiful white teeth; however, it is important to give a nod to your gums in their vitally important supporting role. Without healthy, pink gums to frame and anchor your teeth, your smile would be in a world of trouble. Regular brushing not only keeps your teeth white, but also helps to remove food and bacteria colonies that can attack your gums. You can also keep your gums healthy by flossing at least once a day and including foods in your diet that support your gum health. These foods and drinks are easy to find and incorporate into meals. Here are three foods and drinks that fortify your gums.

Oranges

You already know that oranges help boost your immune system. They also help keep your gums healthy by minimizing your incidence of gum disease due to their high levels of vitamin C. A recent study showed that periodontitis is linked to low levels of vitamin C in plasma. In this study, participants in the group that ate a diet rich in vitamin C reported fewer symptoms associated with gum disease, including bleeding upon probing, swelling, and tenderness of the gum tissue. Oranges and other citrus fruits are a good source of vitamin C. Oranges are a versatile fruit that can be consumed for breakfast or as a snack; they can also be incorporated into salads and meat marinades.

Green tea

Green tea can help decrease swelling of the gums. The American Academy of Periodontology ran a study showing that patients who drank green tea exhibited fewer symptoms associated with gingivitis. Green tea is rich in the antioxidant catechin. This antioxidant inhibits the body's inflammatory response, leading to a decrease in periodontal bacteria. People who drank green tea in the study reported less periodontal pocket depth, bleeding upon probing, and clinical attachment loss of the gum tissue.

Onions

Although onions can perfume your breath with their particular brand of pungent odor, they can actually be quite beneficial for your gums. Onions have mighty microbial properties due to their sulfur-containing compounds. It is a good idea to make onions a regular part of your diet to help avoid developing gum disease; they are effective at killing bacteria colonies, but cannot do much to reverse existing damage from tooth decay and rampant infections of the gum tissue.

You can find more information on preventing and treating gum disease by talking to a dentist, like those at Family Dental Office.


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