You don’t eat food just because it tastes good; your body’s health and functionality are dependent on your diet! The things you consume directly influence every part of your body, including your mouth. This means that the foods you eat can go a long way towards preserving your oral health and preventing serious problems like periodontal (gum) disease! Keep reading to learn more about some of the different vitamins and minerals that can significantly lower your risk of gum disease.
How Vitamins and Minerals Benefit Your Gums
Vitamins and minerals are essential for your wellbeing and energy levels, but they also heavily influence and benefit your oral health! They can help to strengthen and fortify your tooth enamel, which is one of the first layers of protection for your teeth and mouth.
They can also help to minimize painful inflammation and swelling in the mouth, which is commonly associated with gum disease. If left untreated, gum disease can progress and turn into very serious health problems! The anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants provided by these vitamins and minerals can also promote gum healing.
Better yet, vitamins and minerals can also fortify and strengthen your gums, providing the connective tissue necessary to keep them healthy and taut around your teeth, and even helping them heal more quickly when damaged.
Essential Vitamins and Minerals for Healthy Gums
There are plenty of vitamins and minerals out there that are beneficial to your overall health, but a few of them have incredible benefits that promote healthy gums:
- Calcium – Builds up and fortifies bones (including teeth).
- Vitamin D – Boosts bone mineral density and helps the body absorb calcium.
- Potassium – Improves bone mineral density and helps to prevent your blood from becoming too acidic.
- Phosphorus – Supports calcium in building stronger bones and teeth.
- Vitamin K – Acts as a shield, blocking substances that break down bone. Also produces osteocalcin, a protein that supports bone strength.
- Vitamin C – Strengthens your gum tissue, helps protect you against gingivitis, and prevents your teeth from loosening.
- Vitamin A – Helps to keep your mucous membranes healthy.
Foods That Provide Sufficient Vitamins and Minerals
Luckily, there are plenty of foods out there that are full of healthy vitamins and minerals. Consider adding the following to your diet:
- Calcium – Milk, cheese, yogurt, broccoli, salmon.
- Vitamin D – Orange juice, cereal, fatty fish, canned tuna, portobello mushrooms.
- Potassium – Bananas, lima beans, tomatoes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, avocados, and prunes.
- Phosphorus – Scallops, sardines, shrimp, tuna, salmon, soybeans, lentils, and pumpkin seeds.
- Vitamin K – Leafy greens like kale, collards, spinach, broccoli, and Brussel sprouts.
- Vitamin C – citrus fruits, potatoes, and leafy greens.
- Vitamin A – Fish, egg yolks, liver, spinach, kale, apricots, cantaloupe, pumpkins, and carrots.
Incorporating these vitamins and minerals into your diet won’t just benefit your body’s overall health; it’ll also lower your risk of gum disease—talk about a win-win situation!
About the Practice
Rauchberg Dental Group houses a team full of specialists across a variety of fields under the leadership of Dr. Alan Rauchberg. The practice is proud to offer a wide range of services to patients and families in the Parsippany community including preventive, restorative, cosmetic options and more. If you have any questions about the article or would like to schedule an appointment, you can do so through the practice’s website or by phone: (973) 334-3777.