Dentist advice: The healthy gums diet
The alteration of the balance of the bacteria that inhabits the mouth and the accumulation of bacterial plaque can cause inflammation and bleeding of the gums, leading to diseases of the gums that develop both on teeth or dental implants.
The main cause of gum disease is bacteria. In the mouth there are more than 300 different types of bacteria and many of them are potentially harmful to the periodontium. The bacteria that lives in the mouth are deposited on the surface of the teeth and in the gingival sulcus, constituting the bacterial plaque.
When the bacteria grow exceeding a certain level, they are able to produce lesions in the periodontal tissues. The severity of the lesions produced by the bacteria in the periodontium depends on the individual susceptibility that is a genetically determined characteristic.
A diet optimized for oral health can significantly reduce inflammation. It has been observed that excessive consumption of simple carbohydrates seems to favor dysbacteriosis and chronic inflammatory diseases, and that reducing such consumption seems to reduce gingival inflammation, also that high glucose concentrations favor the death of cells and inhibit the proliferation of periodontal ligament cells. On the other hand, the imbalance between the concentrations of omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which favors inflammation, can be reversed by increasing the intake of omega-3. Similar positive results are observed with the administration of vitamins C and D, as well as with antioxidants.
In conclusion we can say that a diet low in simple carbohydrates, and rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins C and D, and fibers, can significantly reduce gingival and periodontal inflammation.
-Foods rich in simple carbohydrates: table sugar, white flour, jam, sweets, cakes, cookies, chocolates, soft drinks … etc.
-Foods rich in in Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Linseed oil, chia seeds, mackerel, salmon, tuna, cod liver oil, nuts … etc.
– Foods rich in Vitamin C: Strawberries, citrus fruits, kiwi, peppers, cherries, dark green leaves, broccoli, colifrol, tomato … etc.
– Foods rich in Vitamin D: The main source of vitamin D is sunlight, however we can also find it in foods such as red salmon, tuna, cod liver and milk.
– Foods rich in fiber: oats, legumes (chickpeas, peas, beans …), nuts (almonds, nuts, hazelnuts …), dried fruits (figs, raisins, plums …), fruits and vegetables.
Parents have an important role in food education and hygiene of their children. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry suggests and emphasizes that dental care begins in the prenatal period with advice and early guidance about dietary and oral hygiene care for infants and children. A healthy diet is naturally balanced, and supplies all the nutrients a child needs to grow, including the following food groups: vegetables, cereals, fruits, legumes, meats and milk.
Other components of remarkable effectiveness contribute to foods that present calcium and phosphate in their composition, among which milk and cheese stand out, which favor enamel reinforcement processes.
At the Bushin Dental Clinic we encourage you to attend regular check-ups to maintain and improve the state of your oral health, to prevent future illnesses and complications
