Eat More Fish For A Healthier Smile!

Everyone wants beautiful hair, vibrant skin, and a bright smile. There are countless products on the market promising that a cream or lotion will give you a youthful glow. But real beauty comes from what you feed your body, not what you put “on” it.

With that said recent studies have shown that eating foods with a high omega-3 fatty acid content can give a tremendous boost to our health as well as maintaining our youth. A Healthy body and oral health go hand in hand.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Your Health

Eating healthy goes a long way. The dietary choices we make can effect many aspects of our health. The truth is, if we give our bodies what we need, we will benefit with increased energy, higher disease resistance, and increased healing. Keeping our teeth healthy, enables us to eat the nutritious foods our bodies need. Proper nutrition helps us live stronger, healthier lives. Omega 3 fatty acids are extremely important for overall health.

Studies have shown that omega 3 fatty acids found in fish (like salmon) can help keep skin smooth and healthy as well as our teeth and gums. The study was published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that people who consumed more fish over their life tended to have fewer wrinkles than those who ate more red meat products.

There was also a link found that showed lower prevalence of periodontal disease in those same subjects. In the study of over 9,000 people, those with diets high in omega 3 were about 25% less likely to develop periodontal disease. It is believed that the Omega 3 fatty acids may help calm down the inflammation caused by oral infections.

Great Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Seafood

You should eat fish a few times each week. Researchers say 2-3 times per week is ideal. The FDA latest dietary guidelines suggest consuming 8 ounces per week to get an average total daily intake of 250 mg. of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), two main types of omega-3s. The following are some of the more popular fish and shellfish as well as their approximate total content of those two fatty acids per 4-ounce portion:

-Salmon (Atlantic, Chinook, Coho): 1,200-2,400 mg.

-Anchovies: 2,300-2,400 mg.

-Bluefin tuna: 1,700 mg; yellowfin tuna: 150-350; canned: 150-300 mg.

-Sardines: 1,100-1,600 mg.

-Trout: 1,000-1,100 mg.

-Crab: 200-550 mg.

-Cod: 200 mg.

-Scallops: 200 mg.

-Lobsters: 200 mg.

-Tilapia: 150 mg.

-Shrimp: 100 mg.

Other Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Beans

Nuts and seeds

Spinach

Winter squash

Broccoli and cauliflower

Conclusion

The health and appearance of your smile has a lot to do with what we put in our bodies. Leading a healthy lifestyle will allow us to maintain our teeth and gums for a lifetime. Consuming fish, or fish oil supplements, are a great way to boost your dental health, and immune system. Diet alone will not replace regular dental examinations or regular professional cleanings. The combination of a healthy diet and good oral hygiene will help in staving off the effects of periodontal disease and keep you smiling for many years to come!