Healthy Diet, Healthier Gums
Because you care about your children’s oral health, you schedule regular visits to our dental office for exams
and cleanings. You teach them how to brush effectively. You make sure they floss, to remove plaque between the teeth
and under the gum line which can lead to cavities and gingivitis (the earliest stage of gum disease).
Because you care, you do your best to provide a diet filled with protein, vitamins, minerals, and all of the
nutrients young bodies need to help grow strong teeth and bones. And did you know that while you’re designing
those healthy meals, your child’s diet can also contribute to gum health?
Let’s take a look at some familiar nutrients—and the foods that provide them—which are especially
important for encouraging healthy gums and discouraging gingivitis.
Vitamin A
This vitamin is essential for the health and healing of mucous membranes, including both gum tissue and the soft
membranes in our mouths.
Vitamin A is found directly in animal sources such as dairy foods, meat, and liver. Our bodies can also use
beta-carotenes, found in plant foods like carrots, peppers, pumpkin, squash, and sweet potatoes, to make vitamin
A.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps our bodies produce collagen, the substance that provides support and structure to our tissues—including
the connective tissue in the gums. It also helps us repair tissue, and is a powerful antioxidant. Vitamin C
deficiency causes bleeding, swollen, inflamed gums, and can lead to serious gum disease.
When we think vitamin C, we instantly picture citrus fruits. Oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, and all their
cousins are a wonderful source of vitamin C. But young fruit fans can also load up on strawberries, kiwi fruit,
mangos, and papayas. And let’s not forget veggies! Red peppers, kale, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and
broccoli contain more vitamin C per serving than a medium orange.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D, of course, is essential for your child’s dental health because it helps us absorb the calcium that
keep teeth (and bones) strong. Studies also suggest that vitamin D helps the body fight infection and reduces
inflammation.
Sunlight exposure leads our bodies to produce vitamin D naturally, but it can be found in foods as well. Egg yolks,
salmon, tuna, and other fatty fish are a rich source of vitamin D. It’s also available in foods fortified with
vitamin D, such as cow’s milk, soy milk, orange juice, and even many of our favorite breakfast cereals.
Iron
Iron deficiency can lead to a common form of anemia, where there aren’t enough red blood cells to deliver the
oxygen our tissues need. This condition can lead to a number of problems, including an immune system that doesn’t
work as well as it should. A strong immune system helps in the fight against gum disease and other oral
infections.
Our bodies absorb the most iron from foods such as meat, eggs, and fish, but iron is also present in beans, lentils,
leafy greens, whole grains, nuts, prunes, and fortified breakfast cereals if you’re looking for flavorful
vegetarian options.
Whew! That’s quite a shopping list, and we’ve just begun. A healthy diet requires not only the right
foods, but the right balance of nutrients for a child at different stages of life. Toddlers and teenagers have very
different needs—and very different tastes! Talk to your pediatrician about the best diet for your child,
whether supplements are a good idea, and how dietary needs can change over time.
You might have heard that gum disease is one of the most common diseases in adults. But the fact is, kids get gum
disease, too. Failing to brush and floss properly, difficulty cleaning around orthodontic appliances, even the
hormonal changes puberty brings can all lead to gingivitis.
And while gingivitis in children rarely becomes serious periodontal disease, even early stage gum disease should be
treated as soon as possible to prevent further problems and discomfort. Be sure to give us a call if your child has
any of these symptoms of gingivitis:
- Bleeding gums
- Redness or puffiness in the gums
- Gums that are pulling away, or receding, from the teeth
- Bad breath even after brushing
- Sore or tender gums
In the meantime, make sure your child brushes, flosses, and keeps up with exams and professional cleanings. And, of
course, continue to encourage wholesome eating habits that provide all the nutrients healthy young gums—and
healthy young bodies—need!