Nutrition and Oral Health
Growing evidence for improved dental health.
Ten out of 10 dentists should approve of eating more veggies to improve nutrition for oral health. Using dietary recall and periodontal examination data from people enrolled in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2009 and 2014, a team of researchers from Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland found that those who ate the most salads, fruits and vegetables and whose drinks of choice were plain water or tea experienced lower rates of periodontitis—a form of gum disease that can lead to tooth loss.
Consuming various nutrients and antioxidants in vegetables and fruits and avoiding sugary drinks may lower levels of certain bacteria that inflame the gums, contributing to periodontitis.
Matthew Kadey, MS, RD
Matthew Kadey, MS, RD, is a James Beard Award–winning food journalist, dietitian and author of the cookbook Rocket Fuel: Power-Packed Food for Sport + Adventure (VeloPress 2016). He has written for dozens of magazines, including Runner’s World, Men’s Health, Shape, Men’s Fitness and Muscle and Fitness.
