Bleeding and inflamed gums are a common health problem. Sometimes this is a warning of poor overall health and an increased risk of disease. It is important to pay attention to your gums and your overall health in general. Look after your gums because this can improve your overall health.

Periodontitis means inflammation of the gums. Research has shown that people with a severe case of gum disease are at increased risk of some types of cancer, especially lung and colon cancer. Researchers believe it’s because the type of bacteria you have living in your mouth strongly affects the health of your immune system. This finding was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.  It included 7466 individuals, who were part of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study. 

Probing depth and gingival recession were measured at six different sites in the study participants’ mouth, to determine the severity of periodontitis. Results showed that people with severe periodontitis are at 24 percent higher risk of lung or colorectal cancer. What does your mouth have to do with distant parts of your body? An enormous amount. The type of bugs you have living in your mouth are similar to the bugs living in your gut. Your intestines are home to approximately 70 to 80 percent of your immune system. The health of your immune system determines whether you contract an infection, as well as your long term risk of cancer.

Modern diets, stress, antibiotics and food intolerance can lead to the overgrowth of harmful mouth and intestinal bugs. This can cause unpleasant gut symptoms, as well as serious health problems in the future. It is important to keep in mind that sore or bleeding gums are a big red flag that something is wrong with your health. Nutrient deficiencies, (particularly vitamin C and vitamin D), malabsorption (due to leaky gut, food sensitivities or gut infections), immune system problems and inflammation can all be responsible for gum disease. Perhaps you need to have a careful look at your gums, and have them checked regularly by a dentist.

Tips for keeping your mouth healthy

  • Make sure you are consuming adequate vitamin C. Vitamin C is found in fresh, raw fruits and vegetables. Many people find it difficult to consume enough fresh produce, and much of the produce sold in stores today isn’t that fresh anyway. Vitamin C is a fragile vitamin and easily breaks down. We need vitamin C to keep our gums healthy because it is required for collagen production. Bleeding gums is a very common symptom of vitamin C deficiency. If your gums bleed while you brush your teeth, you are allowing gum bacteria to enter your bloodstream. From there it can travel to any organ of your body and create disease.
  • A healthy digestive system is critical for good overall health, and digestion begins in your mouth. A lot of the patients I see are following a healthy diet; often it’s quite a restrictive diet, yet they still suffer with poor health. This is usually because they have a gut issue such as bacterial overgrowth, leaky gut and dysbiosis. My 15 Day Cleanse is specifically designed to address these conditions.
  • Vitamin D is essential for healthy immune system function, and deficiency promotes overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the body. Gum disease is more prevalent in people without sufficient vitamin D in their body. I encourage all my readers to get a blood test for vitamin D, because you are probably deficient unless you work outdoors or have outdoor hobbies.
  • Try to avoid consuming acidic beverages. Fruit juice, soda and sports drinks can all wear away your tooth enamel, leaving your teeth more exposed and vulnerable. All soft drinks can leach minerals from your bones and teeth. Calcium and magnesium are the most important minerals. Many people don’t get enough magnesium in their diet and their magnesium requirement is higher because stress and alcohol deplete the body of this mineral.
  • Don’t make sugar or grains a large part of your diet. Research has shown that when humans were hunters and gatherers and based their diets on meat, their mouths housed different types of bacteria that were less likely to cause tooth decay and gum disease. Bacteria in your mouth can ferment carbohydrate and produce acid. The acid can wear away your tooth enamel and lead to dental caries.

Reference

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.