Taking care of your gums and teeth is important to maintaining your health. Tooth decay and gum disease have been linked to cardiovascular disease and jaw infection. However, you can prevent gum disease and tooth decay by following a regimen for gum health, which will also keep dental visits down to a minimum and reduce your need for dental work, such as tooth extraction and root canal.
Step 1
Consume 500 mg or more of calcium per day. Calcium has long been attributed with building strong bones and teeth. Calcium promotes higher bone density and faster repair rates due to injury and can be introduced into the body through milk, cheese, yogurt, green leafy vegetables and supplements.
Step 2
Eat 60 mg or more of vitamin C daily. Vitamin C has been linked to lower instances of gum disease, including gingivitis. Vitamin C helps your body's immune system fight off bacteria that can cause gingivitis and prevents the bacteria from returning. Foods such as citrus fruits, broccoli, papaya, mango, potatoes kiwi fruit, and red, yellow, and orange peppers are ideal for dietary consumption of Vitamin C.
Step 3
Take vitamin D in supplement form or eat foods rich in it. Vegetables are an excellent source of this vitamin, which aids calcium in supporting bone density and preventing bone loss. Vitamin D has also shown an anti-inflammatory property that can help keep gums from swelling and decrease one's risk for heart disease, which can be related to gum disease.
Step 4
Limit your consumption of sweets and juices. The acids in fruit juices and sugar in sweet snack foods eat away tooth enamel. When your tooth enamel is eaten away, you are susceptible to tooth decay, which can spread to your gums and cause infection and/or gingivitis. If you are diabetic, your risk of tooth decay and gum disease is increased with your body's inability to break down glucose effectively. Keeping your diabetes under control can help decrease this risk.
Tips and Warnings
- Brush your teeth and floss twice daily, especially after eating meals containing starch and sugar. Use a toothpaste that contains fluoride to prevent plaque formation, and keep acids and sugars from eating your enamel.
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