Avoid These 4 Foods to Protect Your Gums

Your gums support your teeth. When they’re healthy, they’re firm and pink. However, if they become inflamed, they may become red and swollen. This condition is called gingivitis. When plaque builds up on your teeth, it irritates your gums, causing them to become inflamed.

What you eat can also affect the health of your gums. So, make sure to avoid these listed items from your diet, if not fully, then at least as much as possible.

Garlic

Garlic is a popular ingredient in many dishes, and many people use it as a seasoning. Garlic adds a lot of flavor to your food, so it’s common to want to season all of your meals with it. However, you should avoid doing so to protect your gums. It has a strong taste and odor, and if you don’t rinse your mouth with water after you eat it, it can cling to your teeth.

This can lead to bad breath or even discoloration of your teeth. Plaque buildup is also a risk that can make your gums prone to gingivitis, so be sure to rinse your mouth after eating garlic.

Alcohol

Alcohol can weaken your enamel, making your teeth more prone to decay. Your enamel is the outermost coating of your teeth, protecting them from decay and damage. Additionally, alcohol can dry out your mouth, causing your mouth to become more vulnerable to infection. Alcohol can also increase your risk of gum disease, which is a serious oral health concern.

Sports or Energy Drinks

Between work, exercise, and your children’s daily activities, it seems like you’re always on the go. Drinking sports or energy drinks can help you stay energized throughout the day, but the sugar and acid in these drinks can affect your teeth and gums.

Sports drinks contain a lot of acid and sugar. Soda, juice, and candy also contain high amounts of acid and sugar, but sports drinks tend to be even more concentrated. 

Acid and sugar can eat away at the enamel of your teeth, leading to decay. These drinks also increase your risk of cavities and gum disease when you drink them often.

Hard Candies

Hard candies are often sticky and can leave particles of sugar behind on your teeth. These sugars can cause plaque buildup, which causes gingivitis.

Hard candies can chip or crack your teeth, so it’s best to avoid them. If you have to eat candy, choose a sugar-free variety.

Contact Sugar Land Dental in Sugar Land, TX, for the best dental care. To book an appointment, call (281) 980-5100 or visit us at 101 Southwestern Blvd Suite 204, Sugar Land, TX 77478.