Healthy gums are very important for a healthy tooth. Gum diseases or periodontal diseases are inflammatory diseases that will degenerate tissues leading to teeth loss. If the gums are healthy, gums are attached to the teeth firmly by periodontal ligament.
This firm attachment restricts the germs and toxins from getting into the gums and also prevents the body fluids from oozing out. A healthy gum will always be firm, pink and never hurt or bleed during brushing or while chewing food. Even though genetics plays a major role in determining the gum health, diet also contributes a lot to maintain the gum health. Vitamins have the immense power to cure or prevent gum diseases caused by bacteria, free radicals or inflammation.
Tips To Get Healthy Gums With Vitamins
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a widely used vitamin for treating deformed, weakened and bleeding gums. Vitamin C facilitates the development of collagen, which is a connective tissue of the gums. Collagen then acts as a binding agent that binds gum tissues together, which is responsible for connecting the tooth to the gums.
Recommended daily allowance of vitamin C for an adult male is 90 milligram per day and for a female is 75 milligram per day. Eight ounce of orange juice is enough to meet this requirement. Smoking will increase the Vitamin C requirement of the body.
Since vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, excess vitamins C will easily get excreted from the body. Foods rich with vitamin C include orange, lime, grapefruit, melons, broccoli, strawberries, collard greens, dandelion greens, peppers, watercress, radishes, onions etc.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is as vital for the health of the gum as vitamin C, because vitamin A contributes to the production of collagen. It also protects the gums from the bacterial infection and different metabolites of vitamin A are essential for the cells that line the gums and to maintain the protective outer membrane of the gum.
Vitamin A also fortifies the immune system and thereby helps to fight infections. Beta-carotene, which is a precursor of vitamin A is also very active in gum tissues, hence foods rich with beta-carotene such as pumpkin, squash, collards, broccoli, mango, sweet potato, tomato, carrot etc. is also ideal for gum health. Vitamin A is also available from egg yolk, cod liver oil, whole milk etc.
Vitamin E
Gum infection and bacterial attack leads to the development of free radicals within the body. Free radicals then destroys the tissues, hence is necessary to get rid of them. Antioxidants are the only way to remove free radicals from the body. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that can provide healthy gums. Vitamin E rich foods include corn, soybean, canola oil, almonds and peanuts.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is widely known as the clotting factor, without which blood do not clot. The major etiology for bleeding gums is vitamin K deficiency. Vitamin K is normally synthesized by the beneficial bacteria living in the gastro intestinal tract.
Vitamin K enriched foods are also available in the market such as vitamin K fortified cereals, soybeans as well as dark green leafy vegetables. An adult male require 120 mcg/d daily and female require 90 mcg/d vitamin K daily.
Vitamin D
Deficiency of vitamin D leads to bone loss and if the gum loses too much bone, it may start to swell. Swollen gums may lose more bone and finally won’t be able to support the teeth. Vitamin D is normally available from sun light. You can even take vitamin D fortified foods like eggs, milk, tuna fish and sardines. Take good care of your gums and enjoy your life.
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