Troubled Gums? Overcome Gum Disease With Vitamin C

Vitamin C plays a role in maintaining your health. In addition to maintaining a healthy heart and immunity, these nutrients can overcome gum disease.

Troubled Gums? Overcome Gum Disease With Vitamin C

Studies show that vitamin C may also have an important role in preventing periodontitis or gum disease. In addition, research shows that periodontitis increases the risk of heart disease, and there is strong scientific evidence that vitamin C is helpful in reducing this risk.

Read: 10 Benefits of Vitamin C for Bright Skin

What is gum disease?

Gum disease is inflammation of the tissues and structures that surround your teeth. It begins with the formation of plaque – a sticky, colorless coating on teeth – when bacteria, which are normally present in your mouth, interact with mucus and food particles.

In the absence of oral hygiene, this plaque begins to harden below the gum line and the teeth cannot form with tartar or regular flossing.

Tartar contains bacteria, which release toxins and cause infection. It also activates your immune system to prevent bacterial attacks and infections, which eventually lead to chronic inflammation.

Initially, it can cause inflammation along the gum line, making it sensitive, red and swollen. This stage, called gingivitis, is the earliest form of gum disease.

Over time, gingivitis can progress to a more serious condition called periodontitis, which is characterized by receding, painful, and bleeding gums.

Continued inflammation leads to the formation of pockets or spaces between the teeth and gums.

This space filled with tartar and bacteria gradually deepens, causing more infection and inflammation. This includes causing the structures that support the teeth to be connective tissue and even the alveolar bone. 

Signs of Gum Disease

1. Swollen, red or tender gums
2. receding gums
3. Bleeding gums or gums that are prone to bleeding
4. loose teeth
5. Bad breath
6. pus between the teeth and gums

The link between vitamin C deficiency and gum disease

There are many factors that increase your risk of developing gum disease – including poor oral hygiene, age, smoking, diabetes, hormonal changes in girls and women, medications that reduce airflow in the mouth and genetics.

In addition, inadequate nutrition and vitamin C deficiency, in particular, are other significant risk factors.

Read: Anti Aging Vitamin C: Benefits and How to Consume

The best way to prevent any stage of gum disease is to practice good oral hygiene by making regular visits to your dentist. But can gingivitis or periodontitis also be prevented by taking vitamin C supplements?

A recent clinical trial of the effects of guava and synthetic vitamin C on the development of gingival inflammation under these conditions was found.

It was concluded that “consumption of guava 200g/day or synthetic vitamin C 200mg/day, before and during the oral hygiene abstention period, had a preventive effect on the development of experimental gingivitis” in non-smoking young adults.

Another 2016 study found that “Vitamin C is an effective adjunct treatment in reducing varying degrees of chronic gingival inflammation.”

A 2013 study showed that vitamin C levels were lower in healthy people with gingivitis and diabetics with periodontitis. It was also reported that daily vitamin C supplementation reduced bleeding in people with gingivitis and diabetics with periodontitis.

Nutrients are important in maintaining your overall health and oral health is certainly not a guarantee.
A randomized 2016 study found that a diet low in carbohydrates, rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, and rich in vitamins C and D, antioxidants and fiber can significantly reduce inflammation associated with gingivitis and periodontitis.
In addition, daily supplementation of CoQ10 has also been shown to control gum inflammation, improve gum health, heal inflamed gums, reduce gum pocket depth and strengthen gum tissue immunity.

What makes vitamin C so useful in preventing gum disease?

Antioxidant protection

Gum disease is a chronic condition. The deep pockets or spaces around the gum line present in people with periodontal disease provide a favorable environment for pathogenic bacteria to grow, supporting bacteria and their toxins to then migrate into the bloodstream.

This leads to an increased immune response, resulting in increased oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1ß, prostaglandin E2, and C-reactive protein.

Reduces oxidative stress and inflammation in the body by providing it with proper nutrition can be of great help in treating infections and gum disease.
And that's where vitamin C helps. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant known for its action of neutralizing free radicals that cause inflammation and disease.

Collagen synthesis

Vitamin C is not only an important antioxidant, but also functions as an important cofactor in carrying out a number of critical enzymatic reactions. One such process is the synthesis of collagen, a fibrous protein that provides structure and strength to various connective tissues including gums, skin, ligaments, blood vessels and bones. Vitamin C also helps in wound healing and the formation of new connective tissue.

Vitamin C deficiency causes impaired collagen production, which causes gum tissue to fall apart. Bleeding and swollen gums are a sign of scurvy, a condition that develops when you have a chronic deficiency of vitamin C in your body.

That's the article Troubled Gums? Overcome Gum Disease With Vitamin C. Hopefully useful.