Eat your greens: Four weeks of anti-inflammatory plant-based diet helps reduce gingivitis, study notes

05 Apr 2019 --- A whole food diet consisting of mostly greens (particularly legumes) and low levels of animal proteins was found to help reduce gingivitis in affected patients, according to new research from a randomized trial published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology. Gingivitis is a bacterial disease resulting from plaque buildup in the teeth, which causes inflammation and bleeding in gums.

Gingivitis is identified as an early form of periodontal disease – a more severe condition that causes receding gums, bone density reduction and loss of teeth. The prevalence of gingivitis has been difficult to fully determine due to the lack of consistent measurement criteria in data research.

A healthy gut for healthy gums
For the study, 30 patients diagnosed with gingivitis were randomized and divided into an experimental and a control group. Participants were asked beforehand to submit blood samples and fill out diet questionnaires.The experimental group was prescribed a diet low in processed carbohydrates and animal proteins, and rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, vitamin D, antioxidants, plant nitrates and fiber for four weeks. The control group did not change their diet. All participants suspended the use of dental floss and other tools to clean between their teeth.

Although no significant changes were recorded regarding plaque buildup in the teeth, the experimental group showed a prominent reduction in gingival bleeding. “Study results clearly demonstrate the possibility to naturally reduce gingivitis by an optimized diet that also promotes general health,” says lead author Dr. Johan Woelber, of the University of Freiburg, in Germany.

“According to this, dental teams should address dietary habits and give adequate recommendations in the treatment of gingivitis, since it might be a side effect of a pro-inflammatory western diets,” he adds.

Gingivitis higher among seniors and smokers
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 47.2 percent of adults in the US aged 30 years and older have some form of periodontal disease. Statistics appear to be higher among seniors, as 70.1 percent of adults 65 years and older have periodontal disease. The diagnosis is more common in men (56.4 percent) than women (38.4 percent), those living below the federal poverty level (65.4 percent) and frequent smokers (64.2 percent). 

Factors that increase the risk for gingivitis have been listed as: poor oral hygiene, smoking, diabetes, stress, heredity, crooked teeth, underlying immunodeficiencies (e.g., AIDS), defective fillings, ill-fitting dental bridges, medications causing dry mouth and hormonal changes.

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