There’s an understandable tendency to think of confident smiles and good oral hygiene in terms of teeth. As any dentist London and beyond would tell you, both of those aims also rest on the status of your gums!
After all, it’s your gums that hold everything together and support resilient teeth. This includes sealing the area around the roots and creating a defensive barrier against bacteria.
When your gums can’t carry out their essential functions, the consequences can be severe. This includes potentially trapping food particles around the base of your teeth which leads to plaque and infections. Severe gum inflammation – a condition called gingivitis – can endanger the health of the bone that holds your teeth and leads to bad breath.
Beyond keeping your gums clean by including them in your regular teeth brushing regime, what else can you do to maintain their health?
The good news is that your gum health can be protected by including certain foods in your diet.
No tears solution
Foods that are good for your gums include the humble onion! Onions have a natural ability to neutralise mouth bacteria. As this is one vegetable that can be incorporated easily into many recipes – and it includes a wide range of important nutrients – it is an easy winner.
Keep in mind though, that raw onion contains higher amounts of organic sulphur compounds and the chemicals that can create unpleasant odours (also found in garlic, of course).
Eat your greens
There are many reasons to include leafy green veg in your diet, but you can also add healthier gums to that list. Choices such as kale and spinach contain nutrients valuable for oral health, especially Vitamin C, which is a natural anti-inflammatory.
The fibre content of leafy greens also encourages more chewing, an action that stimulates saliva production. This, in turn, washes away food particles and other unwelcome debris.
Citrus fruits
These too produce valuable doses of Vitamin C to promote good gum health. A word of caution though: they are also acidic, which can affect your tooth enamel if you don’t have a thorough brushing habit!
Green Tea
One of the many health properties provided by this increasingly popular drink is a high level of catechins. These are antioxidants that are particularly beneficial to oral health.
An apple a day; or a carrot!
The old saying does have some merits, as apples do contain valuable nutrients to help keep doctors or dentists away!
However, raw carrots and celery are equally beneficial when it comes to helping your gums do their job. All these foods involve crunching down, which can help to dislodge foreign bodies between your teeth that might otherwise cause gum problems. Crunching raw fruit and veg also stimulates the rinsing properties of saliva.
Also read,
The Biggest Myths About Your Dental Health
Dairy for calcium and more
You’re probably aware that milk and other dairy products supply important levels of calcium to build healthy teeth and bones. However, did you also know that they aid gum health? That’s due to the fact they contain a protein called casein. This has proven benefits for neutralising the oral acids that can damage teeth and gums.
Foods that are a no-go for gums
It is worth giving a quick reminder of the foods that you would be advised against, by any dentist London or elsewhere in the UK.
Sweets and sugary snacks and sugary fizzy drinks can all irritate your gums, as well as eroding your teeth. Simple starches such as white bread can be equally problematic if they linger and convert to sugar in your mouth. Also, alcohol can have a detrimental drying effect on gums.
It all comes back to what is generally good for your body, will also keep those gums strong and healthy too!
