WHEN someone is “stressed out”, they tend to eat unhealthily. They are likely to consume more sugary foods, for example. While the main causes of periodontal disease are stress and poor oral hygiene, another factor that may contribute to gum disease is a poor diet. I overemphasise the point because it is the missing link to the prevention and treatment of gum disease, and it is almost always ignored.
Diet is important in controlling periodontal disease because bacteria in the mouth use sugars for energy and reproduction. When stress causes your oral hygiene to become poor, and your diet is high in sugar, more bacteria are produced. The higher bacterial level will then inflame the gums and may increase plaque formation in gum disease. If we consume a high-sugar diet, the body will produce more bacteria in the mouth. Stress, combined with such a sugary diet, adds acid to our saliva, which can lead to gum disease. Studies have shown that eating sugar-containing foods between meals is more harmful than eating them with meals. And we know that stress can make us want to snack more often.
We need vitamins and minerals in our diet. Vitamins help regulate our metabolism. A diet high in fibre, fruits and vegetables will help naturally reverse gum problems. Most importantly, we need the fats and proteins that provide the energy that helps build the cells of our body. To reverse gum disease naturally, we must alter our diet and discipline ourselves to maintain healthier eating patterns.
In isolated areas where groups of Amerindian people live, it is known that their teeth and gums are in a healthy state. I worked in both the North and South Rupununi for a long time, and I know that these groups do not follow what we consider proper oral hygiene, yet they have healthy mouths. Why? They eat live foods and basically lead simple, stress-free lives. If these people came to live here in the city, their teeth and gums would start to show disease states that would be due to the processed foods that we eat.
People who are obese and eat sugary foods have a higher susceptibility to gum disease than those who eat a balanced diet. Soft and sticky foods (like nutrition bars), which tend to remain in the grooves of the teeth, are also a culprit and can lead to tooth and gum problems. It is not the vitamin content but the natural sugars, such as honey, in these nutritional bars that get stuck in the grooves of your teeth.
The bone surrounding the teeth needs the same attention as other bones in the body. Vitamin A is needed for the formation of this bone.
Vitamin A deficiency in the mouth can show up as thin enamel, chalky patches on your teeth, decreased tooth growth, retarded eruption, malpositioned teeth, soft teeth, dry mouth, and defective dentine formation because it can decrease the activity of new cells. On the other hand, excessive consumption of vitamin A can result in a toxic condition characterised by itching skin, gum disease (gingivitis), and irritability.
Too much or too little can affect your teeth and gums. Eating the following foods in moderation will help you heal your mouth and reverse your gum condition. The soft foods containing vitamin A that are easier on the teeth are foods like apricots and cantaloupes. Harder foods include carrots, broccoli, and celery. Additional foods rich in vitamin A include butter, cabbage, chives, egg yolk, and milk.
If you have a vitamin B deficiency, your tongue may show some early symptoms of enlarged taste buds (bumps on the side of your tongue) at the front and the side, with the taste buds at the back of your tongue becoming enlarged later. You may also notice deep fissures and grooves down the centre of the tongue. Various foods fit into different vitamin B groups. Foods that are high in vitamin B include mushrooms, algae, yeast, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds.
Thiamin was the first vitamin discovered; hence, it is designated vitamin B1. Symptoms of a severe deficiency of vitamin B1 include a burning sensation on the tongue, loss of taste, unusual sensitivity of the inner lining (the cheeks and soft tissue) of the mouth, and cracks and sores in the corners of the mouth. Cracks in the corners of the mouth, called “angular cheilosis”, are common. Foods rich in vitamin B1 that can help you avoid such symptoms are wheat, oatmeal, legumes such as peanuts and peas. Meat, fish, fruit, and milk also contain thiamin.
Vitamin B2 is involved in the production of energy through the conversion of nutrients in food. Common symptoms of vitamin B2 deficiency include cracked, painful, and ulcerated lips. They may appear redder or whiter than usual. The corners of the mouth may also crack. Contact with food or drink may cause pain or a burning sensation on the tongue. Antidepressants decrease the positive effect of this vitamin, so be especially watchful if you are being treated for depression.
Niacin (vitamin B3) is involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats. It acts as a coenzyme (catalyst) in the process that requires energy for normal cell function. Vitamin B3 deficiency results in pellagra, a disease characterised by a swollen tongue, mouth inflammation, diarrhoea, and small red eruptions on the backs of the hands. Good sources of niacin are meats, turkey and other poultry, fish, and peanuts.
