To prevent receding of gums: Regular Brush, floss, eat right and take a couple of extra nutrients. Here are the six best supplements for strong teeth and healthy gums:
CoQ10: Every day, you chew a supplement that contains 60mg of coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, an antioxidant that helps maintain the soft tissues in your body-including your gums. Some early research suggests that taking CoQ10 can even help shrink the pockets caused by gum disease.
Calcium: Calcium, a mineral found in your jawbone. If you don’t get enough calcium, your jaw weakens, loosening your teeth. Men and women from ages 19 to 49 need 1,000mg of calcium, daily, while those over 50, require 1,200mg. A cup of milk or yogurt packs about 300mg and an ounce of most cheeses has around 200mg.
Vitamin D: To absorb calcium, your body needs vitamin D. According to the WHO recommendation, a full third of Indians don’t get enough. You must follow the recommendation and get at least 400IU daily. Milk has about 100IU per cup and a 3-ounce serving of fattier fish, like salmon or mackerel, contains about 300IU. If you don’t drink milk or eat fish, you could probably use a supplement of 400 IU daily.
Vitamin C: There’s one more super-important nutrient for your teeth: Vitamin C. It’s a building block for collagen, which helps keep your teeth attached to your gums. A study in the Journal of Periodontology found that men and women who consumed less than 60mg of vitamin C daily were 150 percent more likely to have gum disease than people who took in at least 180mg. Fruit and veggies are the major sources of vitamin C (One orange alone has 60mg). You get enough C in your diet, but if you don’t, consider taking a supplement.
Omega-3 fatty acids: Studies shows that “People with low intake (of DHA) had an approximately 1.5 times higher incidence rate ratio of periodontal disease progression”. Regular intake of Omega-3 supplements is helpful in the treatment of periodontal disease and other gum diseases. Its anti-inflammatory effects effectively reduce the chances of gum inflammation, weak gum and teeth.
Probiotics & Prebiotics: Probiotics are potential therapy for maintaining oral health. It is used to reduce dental caries and periodontal diseases. Probiotics significantly maintains healthy balance of the bacteria flora in the mouth. Microbial growth promotes serious tooth decay and bad breath. Daily intake of probiotics in early childhood may result in less dental carries. Probiotics suppress the odor-producing bacteria, resulting in a decrease in the foul smelling gases arising in the mouth. It also helps to reduce the gum inflammation and plague formation caused by microbial growth. Prebiotics give the probiotics to exert their influence by aiding and boosting immunity.
Tip: AVOID FIZZY SUPPLEMENTS
Don’t buy the chewable Vitamin-C tablets or any kind of supplement that fizzes when you dissolve it in water. Chewable and fizzy vitamins lower the pH in your mouth and erode your tooth enamel big time. In fact, a recent study from the University of Helsinki found that fizzy supplements, including those containing calcium, caused teeth to lose minerals. The worst offenders were the fizzy vitamin-C supplements-they corroded the teeth so much that the layer below the enamel was exposed.
A healthy smile can help you look years younger. Just think about your diet, and weigh your need for six favorite supplements.
Written by Shivani Prashar