Some folks mostly think of their teeth when they consider dental health, but your connective tissues are just as significant. For example, periodontitis, or advanced gum disease, is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. If your gums develop an infection that goes untreated, they can eventually recede, leaving your teeth without a firm enough foundation to stay in place.
Brushing and flossing twice daily can help avoid this, but it can also help to incorporate more gum-friendly foods into your diet. Continue reading to learn about 3 ingredients that can help improve your connective tissues.
Ingredient #1: Vitamin C
This vitamin, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble nutrient that is necessary for growth, development, and tissue repair. Specifically, it helps produce collagen, a protein used to build cartilage, skin, blood vessels, ligaments, and other connective tissues. If you’re deficient, you could develop general fatigue, muscle weakness, and changes to your skin and hair. You might even get scurvy, which can cause your tissues to break down.
This can be prevented by maintaining sufficient levels of vitamin C, but your body doesn’t produce this on its own, so it must be consumed through your diet. For example, eating more citrus fruits, bell peppers, kiwi, or strawberries can help improve your levels.
Ingredient #2: Vitamin A
Your oral cavity is protected by the tender tissues that cover the insides of your cheeks, lips, gums, tongue, and the roof of your mouth. This mucous membrane, called the oral mucosa, acts as a living barrier that keeps your mouth moist enough to rinse away harmful bacteria, break down food for digestion, and repair minor cuts, burns, and other injuries that might otherwise become infected.
Your body needs enough vitamin A to maintain this membrane and support salivary gland function, which helps prevent periodontal disease and other concerns. You can find it in dairy products, egg yolks, fish oils, sweet potatoes, carrots, some leafy greens, and canned pumpkin.
Ingredient #3: Omega-3s
Gum disease occurs when bacteria in your mouth form plaque and penetrate your connective tissues, triggering an inflammatory reaction that only worsens the longer it goes unaddressed. If you’re looking for effective ways to prevent it, you might want to eat more fatty fish, such as salmon or mackerel, or fill up on walnuts, chia seeds, or flaxseeds.
This is because these items contain Omega-3s, which are fatty acids that reduce inflammation throughout the body, including in your mouth. Not only do they help control the production of disease-inducing bacteria, but they also boost your immune system to help prevent gum disease in the first place.
If you’ve noticed swollen, darkened, or bleeding gums, you may already have developed a problem. The best next step is to contact your periodontist so they can examine your condition and devise a customized treatment plan as necessary.
About the Practice
Patients at Prime Periodontics and Implants benefit from two board-certified periodontists who are passionate about helping them build the happiest, healthiest versions of their smiles. Dr. Yafi and Dr. Ismail share decades of combined experience, and today, they collaborate to provide a full menu of complex and surgical oral procedures using state-of-the-art technology for comfortable, accurate results meant to last. If you’re concerned about gum disease, you can request an appointment on the website or by calling (469) 527-9336.
