Makes Sense
Sugar is bad for your teeth and gums. Whole grain diets help regulate blood sugar and control diabetes. So, will eating whole grain diets reduce gum disease risk? It seems so…
Whole grain-rich diet may reduce gum disease risk (press release)
Eating lots of whole grains may do more than lower a person’s risk of developing diabetes or heart disease, as has been previously reported. New study findings suggest a diet rich in whole grains may lower the likelihood of developing periodontitis, or gum disease, as well.
“A diet that is beneficial for general health is also good for oral health,” study co-author Dr. Anwar T. Merchant, of McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, told Reuters Health, adding that “periodontitis may be prevented by diet.”
Diabetes and high levels of blood sugar are known to increase a person’s risk and severity of periodontitis, while whole grains and fiber have been shown to improve ability to process blood sugar. Yet, whether whole grain consumption is associated with a lower risk of periodontitis had not previously been studied.