4 Tips To Fight Periodontal Disease

Dentist Articles

Fighting periodontal disease may require more than dental treatments and a good oral care routine. You may need to try additional treatment options and make modifications to your lifestyle to heal your gums and reduce the chances of additional damage.

Reduce Systemic Inflammation

Periodontal disease is a type of inflammation and can be one of many manifestations of systemic inflammation. So integrating more anti-inflammatory foods or supplements into your diet is the first strategy to fighting gum disease. Start with incorporating more omega-3 fatty acids into your diet by eating more oily fish.

In supplement form, you should select omega-3s which contain both EPA and DHA. Omega-3s also have antioxidant properties, which have protective benefits. Another popular way to reduce inflammation is adding turmeric into your diet, whether in supplement form, as a seasoning, or making turmeric tea. Many vitamins acquired through your diet or a daily multivitamin can help reduce systemic inflammation.

Try Aspirin Therapy

If you currently have periodontal disease, you should speak with your primary care doctor about the benefits and risks associated with aspirin therapy. Since aspirin acts as an anticoagulant, it may not be an acceptable periodontal management strategy if you currently take "blood thinners," other anti-inflammatory medications, or have other bleeding risks. Low dose aspirin, typically 81mg, can help reduce inflammation in periodontal disease.

Much like other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), aspirin can cause stomach irritation for some people or when taken for long periods. If you and your doctor agree aspirin therapy is acceptable for your dental concerns, make sure you take your aspirin with food to decrease the chances of stomach irritation. Additionally, dividing 81mg over two doses or taking a lower dose may provide dental benefits while decreasing your risk of stomach irritation.

Go Low-Carb

Lowering your carbohydrate intake has several benefits as it relates to periodontal disease. Highly processed carbohydrates can adversely affect your teeth and overall health when they are a staple in your diet. Even whole grain carbohydrates are not always a good choice, because labels can be deceiving. Focus more on lean proteins or vegetable sources of protein. You should also be cautious about the amount of natural sugars in your diet, such as from fruits and starchy vegetables.

Since an expanding waistline is also associated with increased systemic inflammation, going low-carb can help you shed unwanted pounds while improving periodontal disease. Of the carbohydrates you eat, make sure they are whole grain varieties with little to no processing or added sugar. This includes breads with a chewy, grainy texture, pasta alternatives, and raw or slightly steamed vegetables.

Support Your Immune System

Implement tactics to reduce dental caries and help your own immune system fight bacteria and heal damage. Probiotics help your immune system by restoring good bacteria throughout your body, which are needed to prevent harmful bacteria or an overgrowth of yeast. You may want to try taking probiotic supplements or eating dairy products containing live and active cultures.

If you can eat dairy, there is the additional benefit of calcium and vitamin D, which are both important in fighting gum disease. To help promote healing of damage from gum disease, make sure you have adequate levels of zinc and vitamin C in your diet. Both nutrients help increase wound healing. Oysters are a popular food source of zinc. For vitamin C, a small glass of orange juice each day is sufficient, preferably with little or no sugar added.

When periodontal treatments are not enough or you want to boost current therapies, consider daily changes to support your oral health. Suppressing inflammation and helping your body heal itself can make a significant difference in gum disease when combined with routine periodontal treatments.

Find more information by talking with your dentist or primary physician. 

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28 January 2016

Improving My Dental Appointments

After dealing with a few root canals, I realized that it was time to take my dental hygiene a more seriously. I talked with my dentist about what I could do differently, and he was full of great suggestions that would help. He walked me through different ways to brush, floss, and take care of tartar buildup, and it was really amazing to see the difference that it made. I also started taking a fluoride supplement to strengthen my enamel. When I made it to my next appointment, my dentist was blown away with the improvement. This blog is all about improving your dental appointments by keeping your teeth healthier.