Did you know that roughly half of all Americans suffer from some form of gum disease? Probably not, but this does mean it is surprisingly common.
Did you also know that the best way to treat gum disease is through your diet? Well, it’s true. By implementing an effective gum disease diet plan today, you can soon start to see vast improvements in your oral health.
So, to help you out, here’s a look at the top five foods to eat if you do suffer from gum disease. But first …
Which Core Nutrients are Needed to Help Combat Gum Disease?
By consuming more of the following six nutrients, you can help foster what is known as a healthy oral microbiome.
Collagen
Collagen degradation is commonly found in patients suffering from gum disease. It occurs because your gums become inflamed and your body tries to combat this by re-organising the tissue in your gums.
As such, eating foods high in collagen allows you to quickly bring your collagen levels back up to where they should be.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a key nutrient in helping to boost your body’s immune system. In turn, your body is better prepared to fight all kinds of diseases, such as gum disease. Maintaining high levels of Vitamin C in your diet will then allow your gums to remain healthy as well.
Omega 3
More and more people are starting to catch onto the incredible health benefits that omega 3s offer your body. Amongst these benefits are the abilities to boost your immune system and to also help combat inflammation. Two key steps towards fighting gum disease.
Co-enzyme Q10
Co-enzyme Q10, or CoQ10, is an antioxidant that is critical in allowing for proper oral health. It works by helping your body’s cells to function more effectively. If you have enough CoQ10 in your diet already, then you are actually far less likely to even be at risk of developing gum disease.
Catechins
Catechins are another nutrient that helps to reduce inflammation in your gums. At the same time, they help prevent harmful bacteria from spreading, allowing you to tackle gum disease head-on.
Beta Carotene
Finally, you have beta-carotene, which your body converts into Vitamin A, in order to tackle inflammation. Diets high in beta-carotene have been shown to be very effective in treating gum disease.
Top Five Foods for an Effective Gum Disease Diet
Now that you know what nutrients your gums are crying out for, let’s look at the best ways to start introducing them into your diet.
1. Nuts and Seeds
The purpose of consuming more nuts and seeds is that they are a wonderful source of Omega 3s.
The sorts of nuts and seeds you want to be consuming more of include sesame seeds, macadamia nuts and pistachios. They are a wonderful accompaniment to a whole range of meals you can cook
Alternatively, people suffering from gum disease start eating more nuts and seeds as a snack throughout the day. Aside from helping to reduce inflammation, they are also high in other beneficial nutrients that allow you to consume a well-balanced diet and feel more energised throughout the day.
2. Chicken
Chicken is already a common part of most diet plans, and you are likely well aware of the benefits of consuming lean protein in all meals.
However, what you likely didn’t know is that chicken is one of the best sources of both collagen and CoQ10. And it’s important that you consume all different parts of the chicken.
This includes the skin, which many people skip due to the higher levels of fat it contains. Well, chicken skin is particularly high in collagen, so is worth consuming as well. By making chicken a part of your daily diet plan, you benefit from reduced inflammation, stronger cells and you can directly start fighting your gum disease.
3. Broccoli
Consuming a variety of vegetables in your diet is important, as together they allow you to access a full spectrum of vitamins and nutrients.
Well, broccoli just so happens to be one of the most nutrient-rich vegetables you can get. It contains calcium, niacin, selenium, magnesium, vitamin B1 and iron.
But more importantly, broccoli is an incredible source of Vitamin C. As mentioned, vitamin C is essential in helping you to have a healthy immune system. In turn, your body’s better equipped to tackle all diseases, not just gum disease.
4. Sweet Potatoes
It’s time to swap out regular potatoes in favour of the much more beneficial sweet potatoes.
They provide a whole host of added benefits that their non-sweet counterpart lacks. Most importantly in the fight against gum disease, is beta-carotene. By consuming more of this, your body can then create Vitamin A and reduce gum inflammation.
As well as this, you’ll also be adding more Vitamin C into your diet, which gives an added boost to your immune system. If you currently suffer from gum disease, then add sweet potatoes into your gum disease diet all throughout the week. Then, in the future, consider eating it at least once or twice a week to help maintain the benefits it offers.
5. Cacao
The most notable nutrient you access when consuming cacao is catechin. As discussed above, catechin reduces inflammation and helps prevent the disease from spreading further. But you’ll also notice benefits to the health of your teeth as well.
That’s because cacao is effective in fighting tooth decay, plaque and cavities. At least so long as you only consume foods that are high in cacao and not sugar. Which means opting for raw chocolate that has a high cocoa content of 70% or more.
It honestly is true. By starting to introduce more of these 5 foods into your diet, you will soon start to see overwhelming improvements in your oral health. And what’s best of all is that this gum disease diet isn’t awkward or expensive. They are all foods that can commonly be found in all supermarkets and go great in all types of meals.