Your gums are the foundation of your smile, so it’s important to take care of them. Just like a house, if there’s a crack in your foundation, everything that’s built on it will become unsteady and eventually collapse. Brushing and flossing daily can do wonders for keeping your teeth bright and healthy, but what can you do to take better care of your gums? Making sure your gums are healthy enough to support your teeth is vital, and a great way to do this is by switching up your diet. Read on to learn what foods your dentist in Plainview recommends to keep your gums in their best shape.
Onions Can Do More Than Make You Cry
Even if you don’t enjoy onions, sneaking them into your diet can help neutralize the bacteria in your mouth. They target harmful bacteria that are known for causing gum disease, cavities, and oral infections. You can easily incorporate more onions into your diet by putting them in soups, salads, burgers, and sandwiches.
Don’t Spit on Leafy Greens, Because They Help Produce It
Fibrous leafy greens like kale and spinach are great for your oral health because they contain vitamins and minerals that help boost your production of red blood cells. Because of this, they help reduce inflammation and battle gum disease and irritation.
Leafy greens are fibrous, which means when you chew them, you naturally create more saliva. This is beneficial for your mouth because saliva helps rinse away food debris, bacteria, and plaque and tartar. When these collect on your gum line due to dry mouth, they can cause serious problems like gum disease. Adding greens into your diet as a cooked or raw side dish is a great way to keep your gums in tip-top shape.
Citrus(t) Me on This One
Acidic fruits that are high in vitamin C like lemons, kiwis, oranges, pineapple, and strawberries can help repair vital tissues in your body. It’s also great for healing wounds and fighting off infections like gum disease. However, it’s important to keep in mind that too much citrus can erode your enamel. Because your body doesn’t naturally produce vitamin C, it’s important to get your daily requirement by eating a balanced diet.
Mushrooms Don’t Leave Room for Plaque
Shiitake mushrooms contain an antibacterial compound called lentinan that helps ward off plaque and harmful oral bacteria. This kind of bacteria breeds in places that aren’t easily reached with a toothbrush or dental floss and is known for collecting on the gum line causing irritation. When left to build up, it can also lead to gingivitis and gum disease. Incorporating mushrooms into your diet by sautéing them as a side dish or adding them to salads can help you get your fill of lentinan.
White Dairy Products Give You the Bone-Strengthening Moo-nerals You Need
Dairy products that are white in color are typically high in calcium, which is a vital mineral that helps strengthen bones like teeth. Additionally, a protein called casein is found in most dairy products that helps neutralize harmful oral acid. When this acid is left to collect along your gum line and teeth, it can destroy oral tissue and erode tooth enamel, causing irritation. Drinking a glass of milk each day or eating casein-heavy foods like cheese and yogurt can help reduce the risk of aggravating your gums.
Incorporating gum-healthy foods into your diet can do wonders for your oral health as a whole. In addition to maintaining a balanced and nutritional diet, seeing your dentist for your semi-annual checkups and cleanings are an important key to making sure your gums stay in great shape.
About the Author
Dr. Publio Silfa enjoys providing the highest quality of dental care to the thousands of patients that visit Meadowbrook Dentistry each year. As one of the leading dentists on Long Island, he makes it his mission to keep up-to-date on all of the latest advancements in his field. For any questions or to schedule a routine checkup and cleaning, visit Meadowbrook Dentistry’s website or contact 516-346-5655.