Healthy eating, weight management benefit gums

Scientists are increasingly investigating the potential of certain foods and plant compounds shown to have a positive effect on oral health.

This week researchers from the Case Western Reserve University in the US who examined data from 12,110 individuals reported that those who exercised, had healthy eating habits and maintained a normal weight were 40 per cent less likely to develop periodontitis.

More than 30 per cent of the population is thought to suffer from periodontitis, an infection of the gums that can result in tooth loss, but also leads to heart disease, diabetes and pre-term labour.

The trial, published in the August issue of the Journal of Periodontology (vol 76, issue 8, pp1362-6), also showed that periodontis was reduced by 29 per cent for those individuals who only met two of the healthy behaviours and 16 percent in those that met at least one.

Courtesy of nutraingredients.com