Gum disease or periodontal disease inflicts over half of the adult population. This common oral problem develops from the buildup of plaque, where harmful bacteria reside. Bacteria in plaque causes infection of the gums making them swell, easy to bleed when you brush, and appear red. This is the first stage of gum disease more commonly known as gingivitis.

Gingivitis is often painless which makes it unnoticeable. This result in a gum disease called periodontitis, a worse infection where bacteria corrode the bone structures that support teeth, giving way to tooth loss. At this stage, the patient may notice swelling in the gums as well as bleeding, sores and discharge. The patient most likely suffers bad breath and pain in the gums.

Several causes of gum disease include poor oral hygiene, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, and nutrition deficiency.

What is the link between nutrition and gum disease?

Our body needs adequate amounts of nutrients to combat infection, such as gum diseases.

To strengthen the immune system, a person’s diet should include plenty of antioxidants such as vitamin C and flavonoids. The diet should also include other essential nutrients that are particularly helpful in fighting gum disease such as calcium.

Some types of food promote the growth of bacteria and this fact shows how nutrition and gum disease is related. Foods rich in sugar and starch and sticky foods contribute to bacteria buildup.

Here is a quick guide on proper nutrition and gum disease prevention:

Go for whole foods, which offer many nutrients instead of processed or refined foods

Limit your sugar consumption by avoiding snacks such as pastries, cakes, soft drinks and sweetened fruit juices.

Always include fiber in your diet such as whole grain bread and cereals, broccoli, peas, and fruits like pears and oranges

Get enough supply of vitamin C, flavonoids, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin D, vitamin B-complex, Co-enzyme Q10, calcium, potassium, selenium, magnesium, zinc, iron and phosphorus.

Enhance your diet with health supplements

To prevent gum disease effectively, proper nutrition should go together with proper dental care. Always remember to brush your teeth at the least two times every day, rinse your mouth with water or a good mouth rinse after meals, floss your teeth once a day, and schedule regular checkups with your dentist.

Nutrition and gum disease treatment

The combination of proper nutrition and gum disease treatment is vital because

while proper nutrition does not actually treat gum disease, it significantly helps in speeding up the process of healing and preventing recurrences.

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There is a very strong and direct relationship between nutrition and your dental health. The vitamins and minerals you consume have the ability to strengthen or weaken your teeth and gums. By consuming a well-balanced diet you can experience the benefits of better oral health. A well-balanced diet is one which is rich in fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, meats, dairy products and whole grains. By limiting the amount of processed and sugary foods you consume can also help the health of your teeth and gums.

If you are not getting the required amount of vitamins and minerals in your diet, this can have a very serious effect on your body’s ability to fight off infections. Infections such as gingivitis, and periodontitis, a bacterial infection which destroys tissues and bones which support teeth, can be very detrimental to your overall dental well-being. A healthy immune system is required to fight infections and the immune system requires good nutrition be supplied to it in order to work properly.

Calcium is a major mineral which affects the health of your teeth. Calcium is used by the body to build strong teeth and to build strong bones, including the bone which holds your teeth in place. If your diet is lacking in calcium you are much more likely to suffer from tooth loss. An average American diet should include at least 1000 milligrams of calcium each day. You can easily consume enough calcium by eating dairy products and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Vitamin C also plays a very important role in the health of your body as well as your teeth and gums. Vitamin C helps to strengthen your body’s immune system in addition to being a wonderful antioxidant. The average person should consume approximately 60 milligrams of Vitamin C each day. This is about as much as is found in a single orange. Without adequate Vitamin C in your body you will be much more likely to develop gingivitis. Gingivitis is a mild form of periodontal disease and causes gums to be painful as well as causing bad breath. To get enough Vitamin C in your diet you will need to eat fresh fruits and vegetables or drink their juices.

Drinking lots of water is good for your overall health and for your teeth and gums as well. Drinking water keeps your mouth moist and helps to ward off tooth decay and gum diseases by washing away food and neutralizing plaque. If you choose to drink juices or other drinks which contain sugar, you will want to brush your teeth after consuming them, or at least follow them with water. The acids in juice, as well as the sugars, can cause tooth decay if allowed to sit on teeth too long.

By eating foods high in fiber, such as fresh vegetables and fruits, you can increase the saliva flow in your mouth. This increased saliva will help to neutralize acids and clean teeth of any left behind food particles.

If you are diabetic, or pre-diabetic, it is vitally important to control your blood sugar levels through careful monitoring and medication if necessary. When blood sugar levels go unchecked it increases the risks of periodontal diseases which can lead to overall decreases in your health as periodontal diseases can lead to heart attacks, strokes and other systemic infections as well.

If you are pregnant you will want to watch your nutrition very closely because the nutrition of the mother directly affects the developing teeth of the unborn child. You need to insure you are getting enough calcium for your teeth and for the development of your unborn child’s teeth too.

As you can see there is a strong relationship between nutrition and your dental health. By making sure your diet is rich in healthy foods and that you drink enough water each day, you can help to ensure your teeth and gums will be as healthy as possible.

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Are your teeth looking a bit tired and yellow? Our teeth can become discolored and stained for a whole bunch of reasons, some of which are the natural aging process, our habits or lifestyle (such as smoking, drinking coffee or red wine, eating rich or sweet food) or as a side effect to taking some medications. You are probably aware that lots of foods will stain or discolor the teeth, but did you know there are lots of friendly teeth foods that will actually help whiten your teeth? Just by adding these teeth whitening foods into your diet you can really help fight yellowness, stains and discoloration. Below are listed some of the best teeth foods you should be able to pick up on your next shopping trip.

Strawberries are delicious and healthy, but did you know they also whiten your teeth? Strawberries contain malic acid, which helps break down plaque buildup, and also naturally whitens the teeth. They make a great dessert, so munch a strawberry or three after each meal to get the full effect.

Vegetables such as celery, carrots and cucumbers help clean the teeth with their crunchy texture, and also stimulate additional saliva, the bodies natural defense against tooth decay. Fruits such as apples and pears can also have the same effect.

In addition to the healthy teeth foods above, make sure you are drinking plenty of water throughout the day, which not only dilutes acids that cause teeth stains, but also is good for your health generally. Make sure you keep brushing and flossing (you can ad a pinch of baking soda to your toothpaste to give it a whitening affect) and avoid the nasty teeth staining foods as much as possible, the main offenders being coffee, tea, red wine, and sugary snack foods.

Are you sick of having yellow, stained or discolored teeth? Looking to discover how to whiten your teeth quickly and effectively?

Come see how the best home whitening kits stack up against each other and see which ones are the best for making teeth whiter.

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