In addition to good oral hygiene and regular visits to our office, a healthy diet is one of the most important ways you can care for your pearly whites. While certain foods, like sugary sodas or sweets, should be enjoyed in moderation, there are many other foods that pack quite a nutritious punch where your oral health is concerned. Foods containing vitamin A are particularly healthful for your mouth and will contribute to a beautiful smile you’ll feel confident showing off.
Vitamin A & Healthy Gums
Vitamin A reduces your risk of mouth sores and will help fortify your gums against inflammation and infection. Another way to protect your gums is to maintain a superb daily oral hygiene routine by brushing twice a day for two minutes each time and flossing at least once a day. Gum disease is usually the result of poor oral hygiene and will lead to bad breath, pain, infection, tooth loss, and bone loss if not detected and treated early. Some red flags for early-stage gum disease include tender, swollen gums that bleed easily and appear abnormally red.
How Healthy Gums Protect Enamel
Your enamel is the protective outer coating of your tooth that shields the delicate pulp of the nerve and blood vessels inside your tooth. But there is no enamel on the tooth under the gums. Instead, this part of the tooth is covered with cementum, a mineralized layer that is thinner, softer, and more prone to erosion than enamel. When gums become irritated, they begin to detach from the teeth and form pockets. These pockets expose the cementum-covered tooth root to harmful bacteria, increasing your risk of sensitivity, decay, cavities, and infection. A diet with the proper amount of vitamin A can help reduce your risk for gum recession and its negative effects on your tooth’s sensitive layers.
Which Foods Contain Vitamin A?
Vitamin A can be found in a variety of orange foods, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, apricots, and cantaloupe. But other sources of vitamin A include eggs, broccoli, collard greens, kale, and spinach.
A Balanced Diet & Regular Preventive Care
Think about the foods you regularly consume — are you getting enough vitamin A? If not, consider adding more healthy sources of vitamin A to your diet. To ask our team any questions about caring for your teeth or to schedule your next appointment, contact us today!
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