February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. The National Children’s Dental Health Month is a…
Five Great Foods for Optimizing Your Gum Health

There are many different foods that are touted for their benefits to your teeth, but what about your gums, do they not have any allies in the culinary world? On the contrary! There are quite a few different foods that can help to keep your gums healthy. If you have been trying to maintain a healthy diet, include these foods as often as you can to help your gums stay healthy and pink, too!
Best Foods for Great Gum Health
Apples are great for both your teeth and gums, among other parts of your body. They are hard enough to help to keep your teeth clean, but also push down on the gums to help them stay healthy. Try and aim for one apple each day, but rinse your mouth when you are done. The last thing you want to do is leave that acid on your teeth.
Ginger is a great thing for gums. The healing properties of ginger root have been touted for years, and the natural anti-inflammatory benefits can keep your gums from swelling up. Add this to any meal you can throughout the day, but try and make it a daily part of your healthy diet.
Onions, while leaving you with less-than-desirable breath, are great little microbe fighters. They are naturally anti-microbial, allowing your mouth to stay healthier as long as you are making them a regular part of your daily diet.
On top of fiber, leafy greens are also good at keeping your gums in tip-top shape. They require you to work harder than usual to chew them up, which makes you produce more saliva. This helps to keep the acids and bacteria in your mouth low, and your smile healthy.
Milk is not only a bone-builder, but it also helps keep your smile bright. The casein in the milk reduces the acids that you have in your mouth, which keeps your gums healthier and you at less of a risk of gum disease.
Regular Checkups Help, Too
Come in and see us at Cooper Family Dentistry to make sure that your gums are staying healthy, too. Your foods are important, but they are no substitute for regular dental care. We can take a peek at what is going on in your mouth, and help you keep your gums, and the teeth they surround, nice and healthy for many years to come.


Dr. Jordan Cooper is from Jacksonville, AR. His father is Dr. James Cooper, a Jonesboro, AR native and practicing dentist of 39 years and his mother, Tracy Cooper, is a dental hygienist from Little Rock. Dr. Cooper graduated high school from Central Arkansas Christian, after which he entered at the University of Arkansas as a Chancellor’s Scholar in 1998.
Dr. David Cole is a graduate from the University of Arkansas, receiving his degree in 2016, and is a huge Razorback fan! He then went to dental school at the University of Tennessee where he received his D.D.S. in 2021. He looks forward to getting to know the Central Arkansas area, and serving his community!
Dr. Rasmussen is a Hot Springs native who graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 2017 (Go Bears). After receiving his D.D.S from The University of Tennessee in 2021, he is looking forward to serving the central Arkansas community and the wonderful people who live here.

Dr. James Cooper was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He studied at the University of New Mexico and graduated from dental school from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. After 2 years of dental experience with the Army, Dr. Cooper moved to Jacksonville in 1973 to practice dentistry.