You take vitamins to stay healthy. Do your teeth need vitamins, too? In short: yes!…
The Foods You Eat Can Impact the Health of Your Gums

Do you want to make sure that your gums are as healthy as possible? If so, then you want to keep a close eye on your diet. Your gums take a lot of the nutrients out of the food you eat, and make you healthier as a result. If you eat the right foods, you help to keep your gums healthy, plus you keep them able to fight off things like gum disease more effectively. Here are a few foods you should regularly eat if you want the healthiest gums possible.
Onions Are One of the Top Foods for Optimal Gum Health
Taking a bite of a raw onion can help improve the overall health of your gums. The juices that come out of an onion have been shown to kill off many different strains of bacteria. This can include the types of bacteria that can lead to gum disease. Add a slice to a deli sandwich or a few pieces to a fresh salad to get it into your diet each day. The more you eat, the healthier your gums can be.
Mushrooms Can Rid the Mouth of Microbes
One of the better foods to help get rid of microbes within the mouth which would otherwise lead to tooth decay is by adding mushrooms into your diet. Ideally, you want to eat varieties like shitake. They are packed full of anti-microbial agents that can keep both your teeth and gums incredibly healthy.
Make Sure to Indulge in Sweet Potatoes
When you want healthy gums, then you also want to eat some sweet potatoes regularly. They help to maintain the elasticity and membranes within your gum tissue because they fill your oral cavity with Vitamin A. You can eat them baked, mashed, fried, boiled, and even steamed, so add them into your dinner anywhere you would otherwise add in regular potatoes.
We Can Also Help
Here at Cooper Family Dentistry, we can also help you in your quest to keep your gums healthy. We can help you with regular cleanings and exams, plus, we can also help with treatment should any of the earliest signs of gum disease become present. Contact us today and let us help guide you down the path towards healthier gums by not only adding the right foods to your diet, but also by ensuring you are getting the best dental care possible.


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.