Hello St Michael dental blog visitors, welcome to the Arbor Lakes Dental blog. I am family dentist Dr. Samual Bach.
I came across an interesting dental article on the Web MD Health News site the other day. The article is entitled ‘Fatty Fish, Nuts May Prevent Gum Disease.’ Author Jennifer Warner explains that a recent study links diets high in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) with a lower risk of periodontitis.
Gum disease is a common dental issue for many St Michael folks. When gum tissue pulls away from a tooth, it forms a pocket. (You know what they say about Nature abhorring a vacuum.) This pocket is a warm, moist place for bacteria to flourish. If periodontitis goes untreated, the tooth and jaw bone are at risk. During dental examinations, I carefully measure gumline pockets and examine all teeth for gum disease.
“Researchers found that people whose diets were rich in PUFAs were as much as 30 percent less likely to have gum disease than those who ate little or none of this type of fat.”
Foods high in PUFAs include salmon, tuna, trout, mackerel, sardines, herring. Oils high in PUFAs include safflower oil, soybean oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, and margarines made with the previously mentioned oils. Almonds, pine nuts, walnuts, pecans, brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and flax seeds are high PUFA nuts/seeds.
I don’t know many families in St Michael that regularly eat mackerel and herring. Maybe some of us could benefit from becoming more adventurous when it comes to seafood.
The possible prevention of gum disease is not the only reason to eat high PUFA foods. These foods pack a nutritional punch and have myriad health benefits. The next time you are stocking up at the St Michael Costco, you may want to add some salmon and walnuts to your list.
It is important to understand that diet alone will not treat or prevent gum disease, however it may be an additional tool for maintaining healthy teeth and gums.
If you have not been to your St Michael family and cosmetic dentist in a while, I urge you to schedule an examination and cleaning today. We are currently taking new St Michael dental clients at Arbor Lakes Dental.
If you are interested in teeth whitening, smile makeovers, tooth-colored fillings or TMJ treatment, call us today to schedule an appointment.
Dr. Samual Bach
Arbor Lakes Dental
12000 Elm Creek Blvd, Ste 230
Maple Grove, Minnesota 55369
(763) 494-4443
https://www.arborlakesdental.com/about-arbor-lakes-dental
Minnesota Dental Association
