Diets high in sugar and refined carbohydrate like bread, crackers and breakfast cereal promote plaque accumulation and unhealthy oral microbes. Limit those foods or avoid them completely.

Eat lot of vegetables. Ideally you would eat two or three cups of chopped vegetables per day. Try to have as wide a variety of vegetables as you can; avoid eating the same few varieties each day. Cooked vegetables are fine but some of the vegetables you eat must be raw. Making your own raw vegetable juices is a tasty way to increase your vegetable intake. Try to base your diet on home cooked meals comprised of protein, vegetables and natural fats.

Green tea can protect your gums against infection. Research published in the Journal of Peridontology has found that the antioxidants present in green tea have an anti-inflammatory effect on the gums. Green tea contains 30 to 40 percent water soluble antioxidants (polyphenols), while black tea contains between three and ten percent. This particular study recruited 940 Japanese men aged between 49 and 59. Each cup of green tea consumed had a significantly beneficial effect on the health of the gums.

Co-enzyme Q10 helps to protect against periodontal disease. Co-Q10 is a powerful antioxidant and recent studies have shown that it has an affinity for gum tissue. It is found in high quantities in beef and lamb heart.

MSM helps to strengthen the gums. MSM stands for Methyl Sulfonyl Methane. It is a natural form of sulfur, which the body uses to produce connective tissue. The gums have a high requirement for sulphur.  Ideally MSM is taken in powder form combined with vitamin C and zinc, which are also needed for collagen synthesis.