Ontario Dental Association News Release: Good Nutrition is Key to Saving Your Gums

April is Oral Health Month

The Ontario Dental Association (ODA) says good nutrition is key to keeping your oral and overall health in check

April is Oral Health Month and the ODA says it's important for people to have information on how to protect themselves from the health risks associated with periodontal (gum) disease. Along with proper brushing and flossing, good nutrition is key to saving yourself from this very common disease that can affect up to 75 per cent of the population.

"Most people are unaware that what you eat is as important to your oral health as it is to your overall health," says ODA Past-President, Dr. Peter Trainor. "In fact, as the research continues to mount indicating the association between the mouth and body, people are realizing that oral health ranks along side exercise and nutrition in terms of benefiting overall physical health."

"The good news is that smart food choices will not only improve your overall health but your oral health as well," says Dr. Trainor. Eating well is essential to protecting yourself from periodontal disease, an increasingly serious infection that research is beginning to indicate may be linked to serious health conditions such as heart disease, pre-term low-weight births, and diabetes.

The ODA offers the following nutritional suggestions in order to improve your oral and overall health:

• Eat plenty of foods that contain vitamin C such as fresh fruits, especially citrus fruits and green vegetables. Vitamin C assists in wound healing and in helping the body to heal bleeding gums;(*)
• Eat foods with vitamin D such as; oily fish, and egg yolks. These help bones and teeth to grow and calcify properly;(*)
• Try to avoid the worst offending foods, especially those that are sticky, chewy, hard and crunchy. Sticky foods are harder to brush off the teeth and are the prime culprits behind decay-causing bacteria and plaque, which without regular cleanings, can also lead to gum disease. Many people may think they are healthy but fruit-flavoured roll-up treats and raisins can stick to teeth more easily than some chocolate bars; and
• Brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush and flossing are essential right after snacking, to clear away the sweet and sticky substances that can promote tooth decay and gum disease.

The Ontario Dental Association is the voluntary professional organization with 6,300 member dentists or more than 80 per cent of the practising dentists in Ontario. The ODA supports the provision of exemplary oral health services and promotes the attainment of optimal health for the people of Ontario.

(*) - Dietitians of Canada website, 2003.

For further information: Contact Tracey Shepherd, Media Relations, Ontario Dental Association, Phone: (416) 355-2257, E-mail: tshepherd@oda.on.ca