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.

Milos Pesic is a successful webmaster and owner of Bad Breath Blog. Visit now to find out all you wanted to know about Bad Breath, Gum Disease and other dental problems.

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Do your gums bleed from time to time or everyday? Think a little “pink in the sink” is no big deal? You might want to think again.

Did you know that more than 80% of adults have some kind of periodontal disease? You may not have any symptoms (99% of people don’t) but there could still be trouble brewing in your mouth.

If you see any pink in the sink when you brush, you may want to take steps to improve the health of your gums. Gums can bleed for two reasons:

1. Receding from teeth: if your gums are receding away from your teeth then they are easily irritated when you brush or floss. The extra space between the gum and the teeth also allows bacteria to collect, which causes further irritation and bleeding.

2. If you there is bacteria between your gum line and your teeth, your gums tend to become inflamed, which causes bleeding.

In either case, it is possible to restore your gum health with some natural products rather than using antibiotics. In fact, some people who have pockets in their gums (between the gums and teeth) measuring 7 and 8 (a measurement used by dentists) have used these products to reduce those pockets to size 2. Here are some natural approaches that help with bleeding gums:

- CoQ10 (or Coenzyme Q10): this natural supplement helps rebuild both gum and heart tissue, as well as rejuvenate the metabolic function for every cell in the body. Our bodies need more CoQ10 as we get older, and especially if we suffer from gum or heart conditions.

- Acidophilus: this probiotic is a naturally-occurring bacteria in our intestines and has a similar action to antibiotics without the side-effects. Taking acidophilus with CoQ10 can help restore gum health and prevent bacterial growth between the gums and teeth.

- Ipsab: This Edgar Cayce product helps contract the gums, removes the bacteria and neutralizes the acids that erode enamel. Ingredients include salt, soda, prickly ash bark, and peppermint.

In addition to using these products, avoid brushing with toothbrushes that have stiff bristles, as this can further inflamed irritated gums. You might also try using a water pick appliance to remove particles of food between the gums and teeth after every meal. Finally, avoid brushing your teeth directly after eating anything acidic, as this tends to wear the enamel off your teeth. If you eat or drink something acidic, wait 30 minutes and then brush. Be patient with these natural approaches. It may take up to 3 months to notice a difference, but at least with a natural approach you are boosting rather than suppressing your body’s natural immune response (as antibiotics tend to do).

Alan Joel is a Doctor of Chinese Medicine and nutritional counselor. He is also an independent distributor of Simplexity Health, producer of all-natural blue-green algae products, including probiotics and enzymes, for people, pets, and plants. Get free health tips and order blue-green algae online at wholesale prices visit http://www.prosperity-abounds.com/order.html.

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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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