Mediterranean-style meals could be doing wonders for your gum health, fresh research from King's College London has revealed.
Scientists found that people who enjoy plenty of vegetables, fruits, olive oil and legumes tend to have healthier gums with less inflammation.
The study, which appeared in the Journal of Periodontology, looked at 200 hospital patients through dental examinations, blood tests and dietary questionnaires.
They discovered that people who stuck closely to Mediterranean eating patterns showed lower levels of inflammatory markers in their blood compared to people whose diets strayed from this approach.
Gum disease is precursor for more serious health issues
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But the findings differed for those who ate red meat, who showed more severe gum disease compared to those following Mediterranean-style eating patterns.
Blood tests revealed that red meat eaters had higher levels of inflammatory markers circulating in their bodies, including substances called Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP). This is a striking contrast to what they found in people eating Mediterranean-style foods.
The research team at King's College London examined all 200 participants through the university's Oral, Dental and Craniofacial Biobank, giving them a comprehensive picture of how diet affects gum health.
The benefits of eating plant-based Mediterranean foods were clear as people whose meals featured plenty of vegetables, fruits, olive oil and legumes had noticeably lower levels of various inflammatory markers in their blood.
This makes sense when you consider what's in these foods. Plant-based diets are packed with beneficial molecules, including micronutrients and phytochemicals that can help reduce inflammation throughout the body.
The Mediterranean diet has long been celebrated for its health benefits. It's been linked to lower risks of heart disease, brain disorders and certain cancers. Now it seems we can add better gum health to that impressive list.
Dr Giuseppe Mainas, who led the research as first author, believes these findings point to something important.
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Mediterranean-style meals feature vegetables, fruits, olive oil and legumes
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"Our findings suggest that a balanced, Mediterranean-type diet could potentially reduce gum disease and systemic inflammation," he said.
The team thinks diet, gum disease and inflammation are all connected and should be considered together when treating patients with periodontitis.
Professor Luigi Nibali, the study's lead author, is excited about what this could mean. "Our research shows the potential effect that a nutrient-dense, plant-rich diet could play in improving the nation's gum health," he said.
"Nevertheless, more investigation is needed to develop personalised approaches to help people manage their gum health."
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