Foods To Avoid For Healthy Gums

Gum disease is surprisingly common, with 90% of adults in the Uk estimated to have it. However, it can be prevented with a good oral hygiene routine and healthy diet. It would also help to avoid certain foods that affect the health of your gums.

Fizzy Drinks

You most likely already knew that sugary fizzy drinks are bad for your teeth, but did you know that even the diet drinks are harmful. This is because they contain acid which causes your enamel to become weakened and damaging your gums.

Tomatoes

Unfortunately, tomatoes are very acidic which can weaken the structure of your teeth. Whilst tomatoes are healthy in many respects, they can be damaging to your gums if eaten regularly. When you do eat tomatoes, try to pair them with an acid neutralising food, such as cheese, nuts, lentils or tuna.

Oranges

Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruits are high in natural sugars as well as being acidic which can erode your enamel and gums. There are other ways of obtaining vitamin C, such as eating vegetables like broccoli, asparagus, and peas, or low acid fruits including honeydew melon and kiwi.

Popcorn

Have you ever eaten popcorn and then noticed that part of a kernel had become stuck between your teeth? This can then cause some difficulty in being removed. This could promote bacterial growth and even a gum abscess. Next time you go to the cinema, try a different snack that is less harmful to your gums.

Foods That Your Gums Will Love

After reading about all the foods you should avoid, here are the foods that are beneficial for your gums.

Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties so it can help to protect healthy tissue in your mouth.

Eating an apple can take some time, and that is a good thing for your mouth. It spurs a cleansing action that shakes up the plaque that sticks to gums and teeth.

A raw onion is a bacteria fighting food. Onions have an antimicrobial ingredient that kills bacteria, which can help to prevent gum disease.