Fight Gum Disease with Proper Nutrition

Brushing and flossing are key steps to keeping your teeth and gums healthy. However, the battle against gingivitis and periodontitis includes your diet as well.

Your gum tissue is some of the fastest-regenerating tissue in your body, and it requires a specific set of building blocks to stay resilient against bacterial attacks. Learn more about the role nutrition plays in gum health.

Vitamin C and Collagen

Your gums are held together by collagen. Without adequate Vitamin C, your body cannot synthesize the collagen required to keep your gumline tight against your teeth. Loose or spongy gums create pockets where bacteria thrive. Incorporating Vitamin C-rich foods naturally reinforces your gum tissue. A few ideas include:

Bell peppers
Broccoli
Kiwi
Oranges
Kale
Strawberries

Anti-Inflammatory Omega-3s

Simply put, gum disease is an inflammatory response. While bacteria trigger the problem, it is your body’s overactive inflammation that causes bone loss. Omega-3 fatty acids (found in salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds) can help downregulate the inflammatory storm. Reducing systemic inflammation makes it harder for minor plaque buildup to escalate into serious periodontal damage.

Detergent Foods

“Detergent” foods are firm or crunchy fruits and vegetables that help scrub teeth as you chew. Eating raw carrots, celery, or apples at the end of a meal stimulates blood flow to the gums and triggers saliva production. Chewing the crunchy foods scrubs the surfaces of the teeth and neutralizes the acids that irritate the gumline.

Comprehensive Dental Care at Signature Smiles

Prevention is a 24/7 job. In addition to your at-home dental hygiene and gum-boosting tips, our general team of dentists in Regina at Signature Smiles is here to help. We offer preventive dentistry in Regina to remove gum disease-causing plaque and protect your smile.