News from the American Dental Association (ADA)
A recent article by the ADA indicates a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Veteans’ Affairs showed that men over the age of 65 eating high fiber fruits had a much lower level of alveolar bone loss, lower risk of tooth loss and lower propensity for gum disease.
These studies were conducted over a period of 15 years with 625 participants and the results were published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society in February.
High Fiber Can Reduce Risk for Hyperglycemia and Hypertension
The theory of these studies is that high fiber fruits require more chewing and more chewing develops more saliva. Increased saliva is the natural way of eliminating harmful bacteria from the mouth. The absence of harmful bacteria in the mouth can reduce the risk of hyperglycemia and hypertension, both being risk factors for gum disease.
General Overall Good Health
Eating high fiber fruits with at least 2.5 grams of fiber per serving can give your body a higher vitamin intake, which, in turn, will contribute to your improved overall health. Add to that flossing and brushing after meals, some exercise, decreased smoking and you will find that the harm that bad food and careless habits can introduce to your body can be changed, by you, by making healthier choices of what foods you consume and which healthy habits you adopt.
Can An Apple A Day Keep the Doctor Away?
Apples, bananas, oranges, blueberries, legumes and grains all help keep you healthy, but regular dental checkups are the insurance of catching any problem before it can seriously affect your health.
Start your regular checkup schedule today. Call New Jersey Dentist, Dr. Ron Rotem at 732-228-4028 and know that making good food choices will always pay off with lower health risk factors.
