New Research: Reduce Your Risk of Dental Disease with Omega-3s

Most people know the value of Omega-3s. You may regularly eat foods rich in this wonder-nutrient to improve your overall health. Yet what is one outstanding fact about Omega-3s is that they have recently been reported to improve dental health and avoid dental-related diseases.

According to recent studies, dental disease is 1.5 times more present in individuals with low DHA levels. DHA stands for docosahexaenoic acid. Specifically, these studies show that people with low levels of DHA have higher risks for periodontal disease, other chronic diseases, and tooth loss. The risks of cardiovascular diseases often lead people to adding omega-3s to their diet, yet the unknown factors of dental diseases have thus far remained a silent health issue.

Over the years, the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids have been made public and actually have been documented as far back as the 1970’s by several physicians. To name a few, polyunsaturated fatty acids are linked to increasing blood lipids; reducing the risks of high blood pressure, heart ailments, and thrombosis as well as improving vascular functions.
 
Details of the Study

The Japanese researchers responsible for the most recent discoveries looked at 55 individuals of approximately 74 years of age. The group was divided in two and given omega-3s in the amounts of 947.1 milligrams and 635.2 milligrams, respectively.

The research was held over a five year period. The scientists showed an average of 7.8% of the individuals developed periodontal disease in the first group. This is compared to the individuals with lower DHA intake who experienced 1.5 times higher incidence of the disease.

The findings of this particular study give promise to progress in fighting tooth decay as well as other dental diseases and complications.
 
So How Does the DHA Work?

The anti-inflammatory benefits of the fatty acids are what seem to aid in preventing dental diseases. These anti-inflammatory properties also help to reduce the bacteria that cause periodontal diseases and destruction of the alveolar bone in the mouth and teeth. DHA inhibits mouth acids from metabolizing, which is what leads to the dangerous inflammation.

So, if you want to keep your own teeth for your lifetime, adding omega-3s to your diet will improve your chances greatly! Not only that, but you’re also taking proactive steps to lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. The health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids simply cannot be overlooked.

Where Can You Find Omega-3s?

Omega-3s are present in fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel, flax seeds, walnuts, and even foods like strawberries and broccoli. However, to make sure that you’re getting enough DHA, you may want to think about adding dietary supplements to your diet that contain fish oil or krill oil.