One thing that you do not want to mess with is your gum health. Have you ever heard the expression, “you are what you eat”? Well to a certain extent, it is true. Now, does this mean if you choose to indulge in a donut, that you are going to turn into one? Of course not, but it definitely can have negative effects on your gum health just as it does on your overall health if you don’t enjoy those sweets (and many other foods!) in moderation.

Foods to Stay Away From

While some of these foods may be obvious to stay away from most of the time, I bet there are a few on this list that will surprise you! Generally, we recommend to stay away from these three ‘S’ categories minus the occasional indulgence - sweets, soft drinks, and starches.

Sweets

The sweets category most of us are quite familiar with. You can’t have a diet full of candies and cakes, and expect good gum health in return. If you are craving something sweet, try to shy away from anything that will stick to your teeth, and opt for something that will wear away from your teeth more quickly and not leave as much of a residue behind. Think, a hershey bar instead of caramel or suckers.

Soft Drinks

This one ties in closely with the sweets, as it is all about the added sugar that is found in these drinks, specifically in carbonated drinks. There are also some hidden ingredients that can begin to wear away your tooth enamel when consumed regularly.

Starch Filled Foods

This category is the one that often stumps people as it isn’t something that we would consider being detrimental to our health, but as with anything when it is not consumed in moderation, it can have negative effects. With starchy foods, such as soft bread or potato chips, they can get stuck in between your teeth, which in return will lessen your gum health.

Foods to Enjoy!

Now, let’s skip to the good part - the foods you can enjoy! Make nutritious choices that are good for your overall health. Be sure to get an adequate amount of protein, healthy fats, quality carbs, fruits, and veggies each and every day. From chicken, steak, eggs, and cottage cheese, to peas, carrots, strawberries, raspberries, and more, be sure that you have a well-rounded diet. 

P.S. Don’t forget…