When you think of gum disease and what causes gum disease, what comes to mind? In all likelihood, lack of proper brushing and flossing is the first thing that comes to mind; other poor habits are often to blame as well, but these are rarely what come to mind when it comes to a cause for gum disease.
While this is all true, there are other ways to go about preventing gum disease that have nothing to do with oral care.
The various systems of the body are all connected in some way or another, and while it may not always seem obvious nutrition plays a huge part in a person's likelihood of contracting or not contracting any of the various forms of gum disease.
Gum disease is an infection.
It results from bacteria and can weaken the fibers that hold the teeth and gums to one another.
One's overall health has a great deal to do with their body's overall ability to ward off infection of any type, gum disease included.
In order to combat the effects of gum disease, proper nutrition is critical.
Antioxidants Antioxidants are the body's main defense against fighting off illness and infection.
Certain foods are higher in antioxidants than others, and vegetables and fruits are foods extremely high in these illness-fighting properties.
Eating foods rich in antioxidants can help to fight off gum disease, and those who are at risk for gum disease are encouraged to make green vegetables and colorful fruits a regular part of their diet.
Calcium Calcium is one of those minerals that are critical to the health of your bones; believe it or not, teeth are bones.
A diet that has enough calcium in it can certainly help to increase the resistance of your teeth to loosening from gum disease infection.
Milk is rich in calcium, but so are other foods as well.
While supplementation is an option, there really is no replacement for the real thing.
Make Wise Choices Part of the battle against gum disease when it comes to nutrition is making wiser choices when it comes to eating habits.
Whole foods is always the wisest choice; processed or refined foods lack a great deal of the essential vitamins and minerals that lead to a healthy immune system.
A decrease in the amount of sugar you take in in your diet is also critical to your health and can help to combat the effects of gum disease.
The presence of sugar in your mouth and in your system directly relates to the health of your teeth; sugar weakens the teeth, creating holes and vulnerability along the gum line.
This allows gum disease to enter and take over, making it more difficult for brushing and flossing to do its job.
Nutrition and gum disease go hand in hand.
Yes, proper oral care habits are a critical element of a healthy mouth, but what you put in your mouth can also have just as positive or negative an effect on the quality of your oral health.