Periodontal diseases, often known as gum infections, are widespread dental conditions resulting in gum swelling, bleeding, and pain. It’s crucial to pay attention to the foods you eat and practice good oral hygiene habits like brushing and flossing to avoid and treat gum infections. Certain foods to avoid with gum infection can worsen and slow their healing ability, raising your risk of further complications.
If you find yourself experiencing persistent gum issues, seeking professional care is essential. Consider consulting the best dentist in las vegas nv, known for their expertise in treating periodontal diseases and providing personalized oral health guidance.
To help you maintain good dental health and stop future harm to your gums, in this post, we will discuss foods to avoid with periodontal disease and gum infection, including sweet and acidic foods, hard and crunchy foods, and more.
In This Article
Foods to Avoid with Gum infection
Here is the list of foods to avoid with gum disease:
1. Sugary foods
When you have gum infections, you should avoid sugary foods since they might encourage the growth of bacteria in your mouth. When you consume sweet foods, your mouth’s bacteria feed on the sugar and make acid. This acid can irritate your gums and damage the enamel of your teeth, making it more challenging for them to repair.
2. Acidic foods
Eating acidic foods might damage your gums if you have a gum infection because they can irritate and inflame your mouth. Consuming acidic foods can exacerbate gum inflammation caused by an infection, which can cause more discomfort and pain.
3. Spicy foods
The compound that gives spicy foods their burning sensation is capsaicin, which can be found in them. The delicate tissues in your mouth, especially your gums, might get irritated by capsaicin. Consuming spicy foods can aggravate the inflammation and hurt your already sensitive and inflamed gums.
4. Hard and Crunchy foods
When you have a gum infection, you should avoid hard and crunchy foods since they can harm your inflamed gums. A firm or crunchy item can press against your gums, resulting in pain and discomfort as you bite it.
5. Sticky foods
If you have a gum infection, avoid sticky foods, which can get stuck in your teeth and encourage bacterial development. Bacteria feed on sugars and carbohydrates, and when they have a sticky surface to stick to, brushing and flossing may be less effective in removing them.
This may result in more plaque and tartar accumulation, which could exacerbate your gum infection and delay the healing of your gums.
6. Alcohol
Alcohol can be harmful if you have gum disease because it dries out your mouth and irritates your gums, making it more difficult for your body to fight the infection.
7. Coffee and tea
Caffeine, found in coffee and tea, can cause dehydration and lower salivation in the mouth. Saliva helps remove bacteria and balance acids that might irritate your gums and lead to infections.
8. Soda
Soda drinks must be avoided with gum infection. Because they are high in sugar and acid, sodas can make your mouth more inflamed and make gum infections worse.
When you drink soda, the sugar in the beverage feeds the bacteria in your mouth, promoting their growth and potentially causing harm to your gums.
9. Processed foods
Processed foods are frequently high in added sugars, unhealthy fats, and salt, which can cause the body to become inflamed. Consuming processed foods can worsen the gum inflammation your body is already fighting when you have a gum infection.
10. Fruit Juice
Fruit juice frequently contains high levels of sugar and acid, irritating your gums and worsening an existing gum infection. Fruit juice can generate an acidic environment that promotes bacterial growth and inflammation because the sugar and acid in the juice interact with the bacteria already in your mouth.
11. Hard Candies
If you have a gum infection, avoid hard candy since it can be abrasive and irritate your gums. Hard candies might touch your gum tissue while sucking them, aggravating an irritated or infected area even more.
12. Vinegar
Foods to avoid with gum recession is vinegar. Because vinegar is acidic, it can irritate and inflame your gums when it comes into contact with them. If you already have a gum infection, this can be particularly problematic as it can exacerbate the inflammation and your symptoms.
13. Ice
When you have a gum infection, you should avoid chewing on ice since it can harm your teeth and irritate your gums, exacerbating your gum infection.
Conclusion
In conclusion, avoiding foods that can exacerbate the condition and slow the healing process if you have a gum infection is essential. Foods to avoid with gum infection that are sugary, acidic, spicy, hard, and sticky. It would help to refrain from chewing on ice and other hard things to protect your teeth and gums.
You can encourage healing and prevent gum infection issues afterward by avoiding these items and choosing a balanced diet. Maintaining proper oral hygiene practices like brushing and flossing twice a day is essential to stop more infections and preserve good tooth health. Keep visiting the right home remedies.
References
- Diet and Nutrition To Prevent Dental Problems
- Association between Dietary Pattern and Periodontitis
- (PDF) Diet, nutrition and the prevention of dental diseases
