LOOKING GOOD: BRIGHTEN THAT SMILE
Few things are more important to good looks than a great smile, and keeping your teeth, gums and mouth in fit condition are among the most important prerequisites.
To mention that proper nutrition is essential is, in every way, saying a mouthful. In fact, problems that occur in the mouth are usually a fairly good indicator of a person's general health.
Studies done at the National Institute of Dental Research in Bethesda, Maryland, seem to indicate that many people who have gum disease also suffer from diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and cataracts, and frequently have the same or very similar dietary deficiencies.
But deficiencies can be rectified, especially if you have regular checkups by a good oral mechanic - a nutritionally oriented dentist.
In the meantime, you might be able to alleviate a lot of problems by increasing your intake of high-fibre foods - which require circulation-enhancing chemicals - and by being aware of telltale symptoms and their nutritional remedies.
Mindell's Mouth Shape-Up
Symptom Remedy
Tooth decay Keep intake of refined sugars to an absolute minimum and increase the amount of fresh vegetables in your diet. (Have at least 2 green vegetables with lunch and dinner.) Also, if you can't brush after meals, chew a piece of aged cheese - cheddar or Swiss. Cheese can slow down decay caused by sugar.
Periodontal problems Increase calcium-rich foods in your diet. Try to have at least 3 servings of dark-green leafy vegetables daily. Be sure you're getting adequate amounts of vitamins À, Ñ, Å, and zinc, too. A high-potency multiple vitamin with chelated minerals, taken twice daily with meals, would be good insurance.
Bleeding gums Supplement your diet with Vitamin Ñ complex, 1,000 mg., 3 times daily. Since stress can contribute to this condition, a vitamin  complex, 50-100 mg. would be advisable, 1-3 times daily. Rinsing the mouth with comfrey tea has also been found to help.
Canker sores Increase intake of foods rich in folic acid, iron, niacin, and vitamin Â12. Take a high-potency multiple vitamins with chelated minerals a.m. and p.m. When the sores are painful, it's wise to keep away from tobacco; salty, tart, or rough-textured foods; as well as acidic beverages.
Stinging or burning gums Increase protein intake in diet and double up on fruits and
(often caused by dentures) vegetables. Supplement diet with vitamin C, 1,000 mg., 1-2 times daily. Rinse mouth twice daily with comfrey tea.
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Thin tooth enamel Avoid soft drinking water. Supplement diet with a high-potency chelated multiple mineral, a.m. and p.m.
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GENERAL HEALTH
