Avoid These 4 Foods to Protect Your Gums

Gingivitis, also known as gum disease, is an infection of the gums that can lead to bad breath, tooth loss, or painful abscesses. It’s preventable and treatable with oral hygiene and regular dental care. To prevent this from happening, you should avoid these foods:

Red Meat

A study from Kansas State University found a correlation between salivary mutants’ streptococci levels and the consumption of red meat. A “streptococcus” is a type of bacteria that can cause dental plaque. Your mouth is teeming with these bacteria, and they are the main offender of gingivitis. They multiply in your mouth, forming plaque full of sugar molecules and acids. When you eat meat, it contains these bacteria, attacking your tooth enamel and making it prone to decay.

Soft Unpasteurized Milk

The pasteurization process protects a dairy product from bacterial growth. Softened cheeses, such as cottage cheese and ricotta, are also prone to the growth of salivary mutant, streptococci. Cooking your milk completely is the best way to keep these bacteria at bay. In addition, if you only drink pasteurized milk, you will lessen your gingivitis risk.

Sugar

Sugar causes gingivitis because it is a food source for bacteria that cause tooth decay. Sugary foods promote plaque buildup in the mouth and gingivitis. Sugar is not a food you should feed to your mouth. Start by cutting down on sugary drinks like soda, fruit drinks, and sports drinks.

Try to stick with water, juices, and unsweetened teas. Limit your intake of sugar-rich foods to no more than 100 calories per day from sugar. The American Dental Association recommends limiting sugar intake to 25 grams or less per day for those with no diabetes or those with diabetes who manage their disease properly.

Soda

Soda contains acids and sugars that promote plaque growth. It also contributes to tooth erosion, which wears away the outer layer of your teeth. The enamel on the surface of your teeth can wear off within a few years, exposing the weaker layer below. This can lead to tooth decay and ultimately gingivitis. In addition, soda contains fluoride, which is a known carcinogen. This carcinogen can cause chronic health problems. The best way to avoid it is to entirely cut soda out of your diet.

Fruit Juice

Fruit juice is acidic, so it can also cause tooth decay. Cider and other fermented fruit drinks are more dangerous than fruit juice for dental health because they contain bacteria that don’t originate from the fruit.

It may be tempting to reach for a sugary drink, but you should instead reach for water or diet soda because those drinks have been shown to have some effect on saliva. Water, in particular, is healthy for you because it cleans your mouth while flushing out harmful sugar.

If your oral hygiene is lacking, and you regularly eat any of these foods, then gingivitis may be unavoidable. Treatments can rid you of this condition and ensure you don’t lose any teeth to tooth decay. Your dentist can perform a cleaning and an exam that will locate any sources of infection so they can be treated immediately. Visit Super Kids Dentistry today to find out more about dental health care.