Do vegetarians have less of a chance of getting gum disease?

Question

SInce meat has all the bacteria in it....is this a possibility?

i know you still have to brush of course

Answer 1

Not according to the dentist I just went to when I got a cleaning.

If a person doesn't floss, brush, and care for their teeth - they are more prone to problems.  It really is that simple.

Answer 2

Actually, yes there is at least a couple reasons why vegetarian is better for teeth health. One of the main ones is that the meat fibers don't get caught up between the teeth then rotting and irritating things. Healthier, happier gums were one of the unintended but most welcome side benefits I'd not been expecting when I went flesh-free (and yes, I was flossing -- a lot because the stuck food was so annoying -- and I still floss).

Vegetarians are also more likely to eat foods that condition teeth and nurture teeth health such as foods high in vitamin C (potatoes are actually quite high in C, more than oranges). Beans, seeds, leafy vegs, seaweeds, figs are all better sources of calcium than dairy products.

But, regardless of your diet everyone should be on alert to get enough vitamin D (the sunshine vitamin) because we don't get enough, that which is in milk is put there from sheep lanolin (and isn't enough either -- but is not much different than mixing a vitamin pill in with your food), people with dark skin, farther away from the ecuador (especially in the winter months), who don't get out during the peak sun times (10am to 3pm), who wear sunscreen, who shouldn't get sun because of the meds they take, etc., just do not get enough sun to convert vitamin D. 1000 IU is a good daily dose especially since it's not only important for gum and bone health but they are finding out it's very important in easing or preventing diabetes, arthritis, MS, depression, muscle pain, fibromyalgia symptoms, and more but in this case also periodontal (gum) disease:

http://www.perio.org/consumer/vitaminD.h...

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Periodontal diseases are bacterial infections that, if left untreated, may cause damage to the bone and even tooth loss. A number of infectious diseases have been linked with low levels of vitamin D, and it has been demonstrated that vitamin D can suppress proinflammatory cytokine production. (Proinflammatory cytokines are molecules that have destructive effects throughout the body.)

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More on gingivitis and Vitamin D:

http://mednews.wustl.edu/tips/page/norma...

EDIT TO ADD:

This article from Prevention on how veggies help good teeth health:

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Crunchy foods, including apples, celery, and carrots, act like little toothbrushes when you chew them, and they actually help scrub away stubborn stains over time. Their cleansing effect on your teeth may be noticeable--if ever so slightly--especially if you're a coffee drinker who wasn't eating apples every day to begin with.

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http://www.prevention.com/cda/article/tr...

Answer 3

Hey,

A small piece of Spinach caught between your teeth, can cause just as much damage!

Anything that is easily perishable, can damage your teeth!