Antioxidants And Oral Health

Are antioxidants good for our oral health? The answer is YES!

According to a presentation at the 2019 ADA FDI World Dental Congress, presented by Karen Davis, RDH, antioxidants found in dark chocolate and berries can help boost oral health!

Antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, E, and K can help reduce plaque, prevent gum disease, aid in healing mouth sores, and promote collagen synthesis.

Davis recommends "consuming a healthy supply of antioxidants daily".

You're in luck because antioxidants can be found in many types of foods, such as:

• Dark chocolate
• Dark-colored berries (blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries)
• Spinach
• Kale
• Nuts 
• Cinnamon
• Tumeric

If you are prone to gum inflammation you can even apply antioxidants topically. The major benefit of applying antioxidants topically is that it is immediately absorbed into the mouth tissues and start releasing anti-inflammatory agents right away!