Choosing healthy foods is one of the easiest ways to improve your oral and overall health, strengthen your immune system, and live your most confident life!
Our bodies need certain nutrients to facilitate proper and healthy cell production and growth, including your gums! While the only way to completely replaces lost gum tissue is through a gum graft, it’s equally important to protect and strengthen the gum tissue that remains.
And it all starts with your food choices! So which types of foods can are specific to improving your gum health?
Here’s a collection of some of the best food choices for healthy gums and teeth.
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens are packed with fiber and require more chewing. The extra chewing generates more saliva which neutralizes mouth bacteria. They are also full of nutrients such as Vitamin A, C, E, and K, and low in calories.
Dark leafy greens also contain an abundance of folic acid which has a number of health benefits including fighting gum disease.
Serving suggestions: 2 cups per serving. 3 to 4 servings a week.
Suggested leafy greens: Spinach, romaine lettuce, kale, chard, collard greens, brussel sprouts, and bok choy.
Celery
Let’s add celery to the mix! This healthy snack contains vitamins A and C, and antioxidants that improve the health of your gums.
Bonus: the fibrous strands help clean food debris and bacteria from your teeth – while also promoting saliva production. So crunch away!
Serving suggestions: 1-4 stalks per day.
Suggested preparation: serve with veggie dip, ranch, or peanut/almond butter.
Milk, yogurt, and cheese
Milk, yogurt, and cheese are great sources of calcium which is the powerhouse for bones and teeth. In fact, studies have shown that dairy food consumption can help fight gum disease!
Dairy products not only contain bone-fortifying calcium and phosphorous, but a protein called casein. Casein contains every amino acid necessary for your cells to function properly! And it also reduces acid levels in the mouth,
Serving suggestions: 3 cups of low-fat or fat-free dairy per day.
Suggested dairy products: 1% or fat-free milk; low-fat or fat-free greek yogurt or regular yogurt; Monterey jack cheese, cheddar, Brie, or Camembert.
Almonds
More fiber, calcium, and protein can be added to your diet with almonds! This crunchy snack also has no sugar and helps scrape off plaque as you chew. So it’s great at deterring the bacteria that cause periodontal disease.
Serving suggestions: 1 oz per day (about 23 almonds).
Suggested preparations: Eat by themselves; add to salads or meals such as stir-fry or asian style dishes.
Carrots
Vitamin A is a great benefit of carrots, along with their high fiber content which helps generate saliva while snacking – so you can enjoy a healthy snack and a light teeth cleaning as well!
Serving suggestions: 3 medium-sized carrots per day.
Suggested preparations: Carrots are a great healthy alternative to chips or candy. Think carrots while watching TV or as a side to your sandwich!
Apples
It’s hard to find a more portable and delicious snack than apples! These fruits are high in fiber and water so eating apples produces a lot of saliva (which you know is beneficial to teeth and gums!) Research also shows that eating apples stimulates the gums, keeping them healthy.
Serving suggestions: 1-2 apples per day.
Suggested preparation: Whole or sliced as snack food. Or diced to add to salads or meals.
Onions
Believe it or not, onions neutralize oral bacteria and target the bacteria that cause gum disease and cavities!
Serving suggestions: 1 medium-sized onion.
Suggested preparation: Diced raw onion for toppings for salads or hot dogs; sliced to cook with meals.
Ginger
Did you know that ginger root has anti-inflammatory properties and those results help the soft tissues of the mouth?
Bonus: ginger also increases serotonin and dopamine levels! And may help with dementia and Alzeheimer’s symptoms.
Serving suggestions: 3 to 4 grams daily or ½ teaspoon of fresh ginger.
Suggested preparations: We love ginger with our sushi! You can also add ginger root to hot tea, use minced to marinate chicken or fish, or add it to a smoothie.
Support your periodontal treatment with healthy foods!
Give these foods a try so you can get the nutrients you need to aid you on your journey to healthier gums.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions! Our team is more than happy to discuss gum care or any of our treatments with you.
At Periodontal Health Center, we believe that a healthy mouth is a healthy body. We are proud to be a leading periodontist in Tampa and New Port Richey.
Schedule your appointment today!
