Here’s the bad news about gum disease.

If given enough time to advance, you significantly increase your risk for tooth loss.

But here’s some good news about gum disease.

It’s treatable if you catch it early enough.

That’s always our aim at Hawkins Complete Dental Service!

We want all of our patients to have the tools to fight gum disease between regular dental cleanings and exams, which is why today, our Zanesville, OH team is sharing a few things to chew on that will help you prevent gum disease, and reminding you that we offer non-surgical gum disease treatment should it ever attempt to affect to your oral health!

Chew On This To Fight Gum Disease!

When it comes to foods and snacks, it’s important to reach for healthy alternatives to highly-processed convenience foods that are bad for your teeth.

Here are a few things to chew on that can help you fight gum disease!

*Sugar-Free Gum Is Something To Chew On*

Not exactly a food, but a good way to freshen your breath and keep your saliva moving!

Sugarless chewing gum will help your mouth stay hydrated so saliva can do its job to wash away food particles in between your normal brushing and flossing.

*You Know What They Say About An Apple A Day….*

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, as you’ve heard by now. It can also help keep gum disease away for a few reasons:

*Apples scrub your teeth clean as you chew.

*They’re loaded with mouth-healthy vitamins and minerals.

*They add fiber to your diet for better digestion.

*They’re crunchy, which promotes saliva production your teeth and gums need for protection against harmful bacteria.

There’s a reason apples are often referred to as nature’s toothbrush!

*For Crunch & Flavor, Eat More Almonds*

Nuts are packed with protein that will help strengthen your teeth and jawbone, as well as give your mouth saliva-inducing crunch. Almonds are at the top of the list of healthy nuts to snack on, which also add flavor and texture to other dishes like salads, as well as provide a nice midday energy boost.

*Skip The Chips & Snack On Veggies*

Convenience foods have dominated the grocery store aisles for many years, probably as a response to our increasingly fast-paced culture.

But the readily available packaged snacks are full of hidden sugars and refined carbohydrates that do nothing to optimize your health and everything to feed the bad bacteria living inside your mouth.

Instead, spend a Sunday afternoon doing a little bit of meal prep so your convenience foods are a fresh supply of raw veggies for the week.

With celery, carrots, and broccoli, for example, you’ll have healthy snacks on hand that will encourage saliva flow, scrub your teeth clean, and strengthen your teeth!

Schedule An Appointment

As you probably already know, preventing gum disease requires a multifaceted, proactive approach to your dental care.

It’s about best oral hygiene practices, a healthy diet, and routine dental cleanings and exams at Hawkins Complete Dental Service.

We also invite you to visit our Zanesville, OH dentist office for nutritional counseling with Dr. Hawkins to learn more about ways to fuel your body with bone-building, teeth-strengthening foods.

For your next appointment, call us today at 740-214-1301 or fill out our convenient online form.