With summer’s sizzling hot temperatures and beautiful days, there is a great opportunity for traveling across the world. One of the most popular trips around this time is an Alaskan Cruise. Along the Alaskan waters, you may come across one of the most popular delicacies of the sea, the wild Alaskan salmon. Not only is wild Alaskan salmon fresh and delicious, but also provides copious amounts of the antioxidant amino acid taurine, heart-healthy vitamin B12, anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, immune-supportive selenium, energy-producing phosphorus, muscle-building protein, heart-healthy niacin, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, potassium, and bone-building vitamin D. Although plants also include the anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, they are almost entirely different from those found in fish. When it comes to heart and brain health, nothing beats the power of seafood omega-3 fatty acids.
So how can omega-3s help with your oral health? Where there is inflammation in your gums or other types of gum disease, the omega-3 fatty acids are there to help. Periodontitis is the “chronic inflammation of the gums that causes teeth to deteriorate and the gums to recede, exposing deep pockets of tissue in which bacteria thrive and cause severe infections as well as tooth loss. Studies have shown a strong link between the increased consumption of omega-3s and significant reductions in the inflammation of the gums. As a condition that affects up to half of the U.S. population, the implications of reducing it through a dietary supplement are huge. A Harvard study from 2014 paired dietary DHA omega-3 supplements with a low dose of aspirin and found significant reductions in depth of pockets in the gums of those with periodontitis, improving support of the teeth and lessening the chances of infection”(AD, Roseville).
Whether you have gum disease or not, adding a fish oil supplement to your diet is an easy way to meet the recommended intake of omega-3s. The benefits to your teeth and gums can improve your oral health as well as offer vital prevention in the development of periodontal disease. If you’d like more dental health advice or are currently dealing with periodontal disease, contact us at (310) 205-0900.