If you have a problem with bleeding gums, did you know that there are foods that may prevent your gums from bleeding or even heal them? This may sound too good to be true, but in addition to good dental hygiene, certain foods might be your gums’ best friends.
What Causes Gums to Bleed?
When plaque starts to build up at the gum line, this can cause the gums to become inflamed. If it gets especially bad, this might even lead to gingivitis, which is a serious case of inflamed gums. Gum disease can be painful, not to mention costly, so it’s very important to stay on top of your dental health and watch closely for any signs of problems (in addition to regularly seeing your dentist).
What Foods Prevent or Heal Bleeding Gums?
In addition to regular brushing, flossing and rinsing with mouthwash, there are certain foods that can help prevent bleeding gums. They also happen to be good for your overall health, so there’s even more reason to add these food items to your diet!
Vitamin C Foods – Citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges help maintain healthy gum tissue. They can also bring about a certain amount of healing, since a vitamin C deficiency can frequently cause gums to bleed.
Apricots – Foods such as apricots contain beta-carotene, which converts in the body to vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency is also known to put you at risk for bleeding, sore gums. Other good sources of beta-carotene are carrots and spinach.
Cranberries – Include cranberries in your diet to help rid your gums of bacteria, as this may prevent them from bleeding. Cranberries can do this because of their antibacterial properties.
Raw Vegetables – Having plenty of raw vegetables in your daily diet helps improve your gums’ blood circulation, which can reduce bleeding.
Milk – Two glasses of milk a day helps to prevent gums from bleeding, since your body uses calcium to help strengthen the gums.
Other Gum-Friendly Foods
There are other foods that can help enhance gum health. This includes cheese, ginger, apples, green tea and celery. In the case of apple and celery, these two are high-fiber foods. As you chew them, your mouth will produce saliva. This added saliva helps to wash bacteria from your teeth and gums. Ginger can be considered a “superfood” that prevents gum inflammation. It also aids in removing bacteria and plaque, and ginger supports mouth tissue. Cheese is another food that increases saliva production, which washes away food particles. In addition to this, cheese also has a protein that can help lower your mouth’s acid levels. Less acid in the mouth reduces the risk of tooth and gum decay. Finally, green tea is loaded with antioxidants, known as catechins, which have been shown to reduce inflammation.
The Magic Equation to Healthy Gums (and Teeth)
Can diet alone keep your gums healthy and prevent bleeding? No. It takes a comprehensive plan of good dental hygiene, visits to your dentist and healthy foods to maintain optimal dental health. But knowing about these gum-friendly foods can certainly help!
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