by brianne on January 21, 2010
“You are what you eat.”
If you cringe every time you hear and picture this statement, chances are you might want to make some changes to what you eat. Because really, nobody wants to be a greasy cheeseburger. Not only are your food choices affecting your weight and physical health, they’re also directly impacting the health of your teeth. The good news is that food can be just as helpful as it is harmful, so keeping a few key super foods in mind when considering your oral health can make all the difference.
Foods That Your Teeth Will Thank You For Eating:
Milk, yogurt, and cheese. All of these dairy-based food items are high in calcium and contain phosphate. These two things help strengthen tooth enamel and neutralize the pH of your mouth, protecting it from bacteria that thrive in an acidic environment.
Green tea. This drink contains an antioxidant called “catechin”. Catechins not only eliminate bad breath, but also kill bacteria that turns sugar into plaque. One more benefit? Drinking green tea helps prevent periodontal disease.
Sunflower, pumpkin, or sesame seeds. Chewing on seeds helps protect teeth from bacteria because they are high in natural fats and reinforce enamel.
Kiwis. This little super fruit holds more than 100% of the suggested daily dose of vitamin C. Among other things, vitamin C helps stop your gums from breaking down.
Carrots. Eating something crunchy like carrots or celery particularly after eating a meal will clean the teeth by producing saliva and removing plaque.
And of course, you can never have too much water.
Drinking more water is the easiest way to help save your teeth from bacteria, especially during a busy day. Chase that sugary drink or food item down with some water to keep it from coating your teeth. Plus, drinking water encourages the production of saliva, which is your body’s natural and best defense against bacteria and plaque.
by brianne on January 21, 2010
Healthy gums do NOT bleed.
If yours are bleeding, it’s a sign that there’s something wrong– so don’t ignore it. What might look like a minor issue can lead to more severe problems such as a receding gum line and loss of teeth. The first step? Find the source of the bleeding, so then you can move forward in finding solutions to the problem.
Why are my gums bleeding?
Improper oral care. Brushing or flossing your teeth too aggressively will contribute to bleeding gums. While brushing, be sure to use a circular motion instead of a back-and-forth motion. While flossing, don’t roughly jam the floss between your teeth– instead, gently slide it up and down while paying attention to the shape of the teeth. It’s also important in practicing proper oral care to remember brush at least twice a day and floss at least once in order to prevent bleeding.
Tobacco use. Smoking will damage your gums and cause bleeding because it reduces the blood supply and because it causes there to be more calculus on the teeth. These factors also lead to gum disease (see #6). The most obvious solution to stop the bleeding is to quit smoking or chewing tobacco.
Vitamin K deficiency. Vitamin K is essential to making the 13 proteins in your body that prevent blood clotting, so if you’re not getting enough of it then your gums are more likely to bleed. Eat foods that are high in Vitamin K such as broccoli and lettuce to help fix the problem if you’re Vitamin K deficient.
Hormones. Gum tissue is embedded with hormone receptors. An increase in hormones can heighten blood flow to the gums, which makes them sensitive and more likely to bleed. This problem will pass as soon as hormone levels return to normal.
Mouth sores. Sores such as canker sores can occur on the gums and cause bleeding. A diet high in zinc and folic acid will help with rapid healing, and to prevent getting more in the future avoid toothpastes and mouthwashes high in SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) as well as citrus fruits.
Gum disease. 80% of adults over the age of 35 have the gum disease called gingivitis. Gingivitis causes discomfort and can lead to teeth loss. If left untreated, it can advance to a more severe form of gum disease called periodontitis, so be sure to schedule regular check-ups with your dentist. Eating a well-balanced diet with lots of vitamin E and vitamin C as well as reducing stress and managing the above factors will help prevent gum disease.
