Omega-3s Can Help Your Teeth

Eating more foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids may reduce your risk of periodontitis, an inflammatory disease that causes your gum tissue to separate from your teeth, possibly leading to tooth loss.

A recent study that looked at the diets of more than 9,000 adults over a five-year period showed that those who consumed omega-3 fatty acids had less periodontitis than those who didn’t. The study also suggested that it didn’t matter whether people consumed omega-3 as food, such as tuna, salmon or sardines, or as dietary supplements.

One type of omega-3 fatty acid that’s found in fatty fish, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), was most beneficial in reducing periodontal disease, according to researchers writing in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.