A Healthy Diet And Your Smile

Did you know that a healthy diet can improve your dental health? To promote healthy teeth and gums, reach for calcium-rich foods like fatty fish, cheese, yogurt and milk...along with fresh fruits and raw vegetables like apples, celery and carrots which can actually clean plaque from your teeth.

Since Vitamin C promotes gum health, incorporate plenty of kiwis into your diet. Just one large kiwi provides you with more than 100% of your Vitamin C needs for the day!  Hummus with a slice of fruit not only can tide you over until dinner, it can give your teeth the nutrients they need in order for your smile to last a lifetime.

It is never too late to reach for the healthy snack and avoid the foods that are high in carbohydrates. Foods high in carbs can stick to your teeth creating gum disease and dental decay. The longer these foods stay on the surface of your teeth the more susceptible you are for dental decay.

While reaching for an apple for an afternoon snack and a handful of nuts can keep your smile healthy, you’ll need to do more than just eat a healthy diet. For more information on how to keep your smile healthy, contact Dr. Denine Rice and her team today.

Five Fruits That Are Best for Your Gums

With hundreds of fruits to pick from in order to improve your gums and increase saliva it can be a daunting task to determine which ones are the best for your gums. Dr. Denine Rice states that, “You could spend time eating fruit and never really getting the full benefit.”

 Here is a list of 10 fruits that are best for your gums.

1.     Oranges are not only great for your gums because of the Vitamin C content, they also help to increase the overall saliva in your mouth.

2.     Kiwis are another great source of Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps reduce inflammation throughout the body including your gums. Vitamin C also helps to produce collagen, which can help you fight periodontal disease.

3.     Strawberries are a fantastic fruit that help create a barrier in protecting your gums. Without Vitamin C you are more susceptible to the bacteria that cause gum disease.  

4.     Apples surpass other fruit by a long shot in keeping your gums healthy. They have the water you need to produce saliva and to keep the bacteria that causes periodontal disease under control. 

5.     Berries are a rich source of antioxidants. Not only do they help protect against cell damage they also protect against bacterial infections.

If these fruits are not a part of your daily consumption, Dr. Rice and her team recommend you eat at least eat 4 servings of fruit a day and include at least one of these 1x a day.

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3 Ways Vitamin C May Support Your Gum Health

Vitamin C is not only a great vitamin for the overall health of your body, but research suggests that it may also help reduce the impact of gingivitis and periodontal disease when paired with healthy dental habits," says Periodontist Dr. Denine Rice.  

Research shows that Vitamin C begins to battle the bacteria that form in the mouth. While everyone has bacteria already in their mouth, the amount depends on other factors. As the amount of bacteria in the mouth begins to increase, plaque forms. Plaque is a sticky film that adheres to the surface of the teeth.

As plaque sticks to the surface of your teeth, it aids in the breakdown of your tooth enamel. As this surface becomes weaker, cavities form. Once you have a cavity, the only way to treat the problem is to have the decay removed from the teeth and the teeth filled. If this problem is left untreated, it can move into the root of the tooth, causing dental pain, inflammation and eventually you may need to have the tooth removed.

Not only does Vitamin C help keep the bacteria count under control, it also aids in production of healthy gum tissue. Overtime gum tissue breaks down, especially if proper flossing is not done. Taking a vitamin C supplement can help to rebuild this gum tissue.

“While taking vitamin supplements does not replace healthy dental habits,” says Dr. Rice, “it can provide extra support to keep your smile in tip-top shape.”  

What foods are good for your gums and teeth?

It is important to keep your appointments with your periodontist,  is critical for the health of your gums. But certain foods also contain health benefits for your gums and teeth.

Consuming foods high in calcium are great for overall bone strength. Not only does it help with the bone strength in your hips, it is great for the strength of your teeth. Some studies have found foods high in dietary calcium may contribute (this doesn’t sound right – please check. Demineralization isn’t a good thing. Does it prevent it?) to demineralization.

“Something else that’s great for gums is green tea,” says Dr. Denine Rice of Rice Periodontics and Implant Surgery in Riverside, CA.  Recent research has found that green tea is great for keeping the bacteria in the mouth reduced.  Further research has found that there is a lower incidence of periodontal disease in men who drink green tea. Also both women and men had a lower incidence of tooth loss when they chose green tea as their beverage of choice. So, sit back and relax and enjoy a great cup of green tea. Skip the sugar though; you don’t want to add that to your teeth - it increases bacteria in the mouth.

Shitakes mushrooms are another healthy choice for your gums. They contain what is called, “lentinan.” This is a natural sugar that is better for your gums and teeth than regular sugar. This substance supports healthy gums and may reduce bleeding, swelling and redness on the gums.

Vitamin C is very important to your gum tissue, too. Although, orange juice is high in vitamin C it also contains a high amount of sugar. So instead of drinking juice, Dr. Rice and her team suggest you stick to healthy fresh fruits such as kiwis and strawberries which are great sources of vitamin C and help to protect the softer gum tissue from breaking down.

“Vegetables that have a higher concentration of water are better for the gums,” adds Dr. Denine Rice. The higher the concentration of water will help remove food from the teeth after eating, especially if you are not able to brush your teeth right away. 

For more information or a consultation on the health of your gums, call Dr. Rice and her team today.