High fiber intake linked to healthier gums

A new analysis of data from the VA Dental Longitudinal Study shows that eating more fiber—especially certain fruits, vegetables, and grains—slows the progression of periodontal disease in older men. The researchers, from the VA Boston Healthcare System and other sites, found that men who reported eating greater quantities of high-fiber foods—those with more than 2.5 grams of dietary fiber per serving—had less gum disease. Each additional serving in the daily diet cut the risk of lost teeth by about a third, and the risk of bone loss by about a quarter. The high-fiber foods that seemed to have the most benefit were apples, bananas, prunes, oranges, blueberries, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, spinach, peanuts, oatmeal, and other grains. (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, April 2012).