5 Collagen-Boosting Foods To Keep Your Teeth & Gums Strong

Collagen is literally the substance that holds your body together. It’s the most abundant protein in the human body and is found in the tendons, skin, muscles, bones, and teeth. 

Collagen has become more widely known in recent years, especially in the beauty industry, because of its ability to strengthen, repair, and hydrate the skin. But collagen also plays a vital role in strengthening the connective tissues that make up your teeth, bones, gums and periodontal ligaments. 

Collagen and oral health

When thinking about your oral health, collagen may not be the first thing that springs to mind, but it is very important in helping to bind our teeth together and keep them firmly placed in the gums. There have also been many studies to show that a lack of collagen is linked to a loss of teeth. Collagen is, in fact, made up of the fibers that are in the connective tissues that make up our teeth and bones.

So what foods maximize the production of collagen so we can keep our teeth and gums in tip-top shape?

Bone broth

If you’ve read some of our other articles, you will know what big fans we are of bone broth. There really is no other food that rivals it when it comes to the repair of connective tissues. As our article about bone broth for teeth and gums points out, bone broth is packed full of essential minerals and nutrients that our teeth and gums need such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc.

To guarantee the quality of your broth, try making your own with bones obtained from a reputable local butcher. Refer to our article for instructions on how to make a delicious and nutritious bone broth. 

Seafood and organic meats

There is a lot of research claiming that marine collagen is a better form of collagen than grass fed (bovine) collagen as it is most easily absorbed by the body. 

Fish, in general, is already a great option as it’s rich in the amino acids needed to produce collagen. But it is also made up of type 1 collagen: the type of collagen that makes up 70% of our skin and is itself the most abundant collagen in the body. 

Lamb and grass-fed beef are both high in zinc, which is the mineral required for the production of connective tissue. What’s more, both lamb and beef contain three of the amino acids that make up collagen: glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline.

Eggs

If you’re someone that enjoys their eggs in the morning, then you’ll be pleased to know that egg protein contains 18 essential amino acids needed by humans to build and restore connective tissues.

Eggs also naturally contain collagen-promoting nutrients such as B vitamins, vitamin E, and sulfur.

Sulfate-Containing Veggies

Certified doctor of natural medicine and clinical nutritionist, Dr. Josh Axe, says sulfate, combined with chondroitin (found naturally in your body), forms cartilage. He also explains that sulfate is required for the process of sulfation “to produce glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate, both of which help facilitate cartilage production and repair.”

Vegetables that contain sulfate include asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, leeks, garlic, and onions.

Bioflavonoids and vitamin C rich fruits 

Vitamin C plays a major role in the production of collagen. Without adequate amounts of vitamin C, our bodies cannot form or store collagen. This makes vitamin C an absolute mandatory factor in collagen synthesis. It is literally the vitamin responsible for holding cells together during the creation of collagen. Citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes are all great sources of vitamin C. So get juicing!

As for bioflavonoids, their importance comes from their ability to significantly enhance the absorption of vitamin C.  Berries, cherries, cinnamon, acai, red cabbage and cranberries contain a type of flavonoid called anthocyanins, which helps strengthen connective tissue by forming particular links between collagen fibers.  

Our tooth powder has more vitamin C than a whole orange with every use

Did you know that every time you brush your teeth with Good-Gums tooth & gum powder you are getting a huge hit of vitamin C, more than you would if you ate a whole orange? 

Our gums are some of the most absorptive tissues in the body, so it is essential that we feed them with all-natural, nutrient-rich vitamins, herbs and minerals that not only aid gum health, but also benefit the health of our entire body. So with every use of our all-natural tooth and gum formula, you and your gums are receiving all the immune-boosting, cell repairing, and collagen-boosting benefits, which continue to work all day long!

Our gum cells are regenerating at a rapid rate every day, so by choosing to use a product jam-packed full of ingredients that help our cells repair and regenerate, we allow our body’s natural ability to heal itself and quite literally let nature do the work.

Click here to try our all-natural tooth powder.