The 5 Best Foods for Healthy Gums - Your Choice Nutrition

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Keep your gums healthy with these 5 best foods for healthy gums, along with LISTERINE® Gum Therapy Antiseptic Mouthwash for your healthiest gums and smile!

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My Gum Health Story

I personally have been using LISTERINE® Gum Therapy Antiseptic Mouthwash at night for the past 4 months. Prior to that, I had noticed gum inflammation in my mouth. My gums were red, swollen, and painful.

I knew I had to do something to help, so I went to my local Walmart to see what my options were. Lo and behold, sitting right there in the oral care aisle was LISTERINE® Gum Therapy Antiseptic Mouthwash.

Ya’ll, I brush at least 2 times every day, floss every night, and was using an everyday mouth rinse and my gums were still inflamed. I couldn’t figure out what was going on, so I figured I’d give LISTERINE® Gum Therapy Antiseptic Mouthwash a try to help reverse signs of early gum disease (i.e. my red and inflamed gums).

It’s formulated with anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis essential oils, and this ADA accepted mouthwash promotes gum health, freshens breath, and cleans below the gumline where brushing can’t reach.

In addition to using LISTERINE® Gum Therapy Antiseptic Mouthwash every day, I make sure the foods I put into my mouth are also promoting healthy gums.

While there are many foods good for our body, some foods in particular help promote healthy gums more than others.

Dairy

If you are able to eat and drink milk and other dairy products, your teeth and gums are sure to benefit from it.

Milk, cheese, yogurt and other dairy products are excellent sources of dietary calcium. Calcium is well known to promote bone strength. But did you know calcium also helps fortify your teeth and gums, too?

The calcium in dairy products works to help build strong teeth and gums from the inside out. In addition to calcium, milk also contains magnesium, phosphorus, and (fortified) Vitamin D – all of which help us better absorb and use the calcium in our body.

Add dairy to your day by enjoying a homemade smoothie made with milk and yogurt, snacking on some cheese and apple slices, or blending cottage cheese into your pasta sauce for some extra creaminess and protein.

Nuts

Nuts are a good source of plant based protein, healthy fats, and a host of other vitamins and minerals. There’s no doubt that nuts are part of a healthy diet.

Nuts are particularly beneficial and gum and tooth health partly due to their calcium and phosphorus content. Another benefit is that, similar to munching on raw veggies, chewing on nuts helps strengthen the teeth and can remove bacteria deposits.

Incorporate nuts into your diet by topping a salad with chopped walnuts, mixing sliced almonds into oatmeal, or simply grabbing a handful of trail mix to snack on.

Red Bell Peppers

Red bell peppers not only add a pop of color to meals, they are rich in vitamin C, too. In fact, one cup of chopped red bell pepper has nearly three times more vitamin C than an orange.

Vitamin C deficiency, known as scurvy, can cause sores on the gums and loss of teeth, among other symptoms. Vitamin C intake has been shown to decrease gum inflammation and bleeding related to gum disease.

A powerful antioxidant, vitamin C is commonly known for keeping the immune system strong, as well as helping our body better absorb iron. In looking at oral health, vitamin C helps maintain the health of our teeth and gum lining by fighting inflammation caused by bacteria.

Enjoy red bell peppers by dipping some veggies in a roasted red pepper dip, making sheet pan chicken fajitas, or adding chopped red peppers to your morning omelet.

Berries

Like red bell peppers, berries are packed with the antioxidant vitamin C. Berries, including strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, cranberries and raspberries all help fight gum inflammation.

In addition to the anti-inflammatory properties previously mentioned, vitamin C plays an essential role in the formation of collagen. Collagen makes up all of the connective tissues in our body, including the gums, and helps keep the gums firmly connected to the teeth.

Boost your berry intake by pureeing some and freezing them to make popsicles, tossing some into a salad, or blending some into a smoothie.

Flaxseed

Flaxseed is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, a potent anti-inflammatory agent. Because of this, flaxseed may reduce gum inflammation and protect against periodontal (gum) disease.

Especially if you follow a vegan diet or don’t eat much seafood, flaxseed can be a great way to get those Omega-3 fatty acids into your diet.

Sprinkle some milled flaxseed into energy bites.

My Healthiest Smile

Bringing it all together, I want to make sure I’m giving my teeth and gums the best care possible. I don’t want to experience the pain and inflammation I had earlier this year.

Along with getting regular dental check-ups, brushing twice daily, and flossing, using LISTERINE® Gum Therapy Antiseptic Mouthwash is a great way to keep your gums happy and healthy. In fact, LISTERINE® Gum Therapy Antiseptic Mouthwash can lead to 4x healthier gums in 3 weeks versus brushing alone.

But don’t forget about what you put in your mouth between brushings. Choosing gum health promoting foods can help give you your healthiest gums and smile!

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Brittany

I'm a registered dietitian nutritionist and mom of four with a passion of helping families build confidence in the kitchen. I share family friendly recipes and helpful tips to help you navigate mealtime one bite at a time.