A new study has raised the intriguing possibility that the oral health of a vegetarian might be better than the oral health of someone who loves to eat meat. The study was carried out by German researchers and found that vegetarians were more likely to have healthy gums compared to meat eaters. People with healthy gums, are less likely to suffer from tooth loss, and are consequently are less likely to require dental implant in Kent.
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation has pointed out that a vegetarian diet is likely to include lots of fresh fruits and vegetables that are known to contain antioxidants.
Having high levels of antioxidants in the diet has been shown to be useful in helping to prevent gum disease. People with chronic gum disease or periodontitis have been found to have low levels of protective antioxidants in their gums, so there’s definitely a lot to be said for eating your greens. In addition to protecting the gums, antioxidants are also thought to be useful in helping to reduce the risk of mouth cancer. People with a poor diet are also more at risk of having certain vitamin deficiencies that could also affect oral health. Saliva contains antibacterial compounds that help defend the body against bacteria, but it also contains natural antioxidants that are important in neutralising free radicals that could otherwise help destroy the gum tissue. Your saliva can only contain all these useful goodies if your body is receiving all the necessary nutrients.
If you are vegetarian you might be sitting there feeling quite smug at the moment, but apparently is not all good news for the non-carnivores. The German study also reveals that vegetarians are more likely to suffer from tooth decay, and for some reason were less likely to visit their dentist regularly in spite of knowing the benefits of regular check-ups.
Dr Carter went on to say that it’s important to tell your dentist in Kent if you are vegetarian or vegan. This is because Dr Rik Trivedi or whoever you’re seeing at our surgery can give you useful information on how to get the necessary nutrients in your diet in order to maintain a healthy mouth. Younger vegetarians may need to take a vitamin supplement if they are still growing and developing.
Everyone can help keep their gums healthy through having regular dental check-ups at Parrock Dental and Implant Centre, so if you are overdue why not give us a call to book an appointment? You can call us on 01474 537191, or alternatively you can check out our website at www.parrockdental.co.uk for lots of useful information on dental health.