Because of the association between gum disease and systemic
inflammation, researchers have begun looking at anti-inflammatory
nutrients in the context of gum disease. In one study, 30 adults with
gum disease were given a variety of polyunsaturated fatty acids,
including omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil (up to 3000 mg daily) and
omega-6 fatty acids from borage oil (up to 3000 mg daily). At the end
of the study, clinically significant improvements were measured in both
gingival inflammation and the depth of gum pockets (Rosenstein ED et al
2003). Another preliminary human study found that omega-3 fatty acids
tended to reduce inflammation, but called for more thorough research
(Campan P et al 1997). However, in light of the established connection
between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and inflammation, and the fatty
acids’ lack of side effects, it is reasonable for people with gum
disease to consider using these supplements. Other anti-inflammatory
supplements include ginger and curcumin, though neither of these has
been studied in the context of inflammatory gum disease.
Vitamin Depot Online Foundation Recommendations
Healthy teeth and gums depend on regular brushing and flossing, as
well as trips to a dentist every three or four months for cleaning and
monitoring. It is also important to make lifestyle changes to protect
your gums, including:
Stopping smoking
Consuming a diet low in fat and high in fresh fruit and vegetables
Reducing intake of sugar, which reacts with bacteria to form plaque
Your choice of toothpaste is important. Today, the market is flooded
with very strong toothpastes that contain whitening agents (usually
hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide). A toothpaste is now available
that has been fortified with coenzyme Q10, folic acid, tea tree oil,
and other nutrients that are directly delivered to the gums every time
one brushes. This novel toothpaste also contains a mild solution of 0.2
percent hydrogen peroxide.
A mouthwash containing tea tree oil, peppermint, eucalyptus, and
other soothing nutrients may also be helpful. A mouth spray called
MistOral III™ contains CoQ10, vitamin E, camu-camu, peelu, vitamin K1,
gotu kola extract, propolis extract, and many other herbal ingredients.
The recommended daily usage is to spray this along the gum lines and
swish it through the mouth and teeth several times.
In addition, a number of nutrients have been shown to improve the health of the gums, including:
An aggressive program of dietary supplementation should not be
launched without the supervision of a qualified physician. Several of
the nutrients suggested in this protocol may have adverse effects.
These include:
Calcium
Do not take calcium if you have hypercalcemia.
Do not take calcium if you form calcium-containing kidney stones.
Ingesting calcium without food can increase the risk of kidney stones in women and possibly men.
Calcium can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as constipation, bloating, gas, and flatulence.
Large doses of calcium carbonate (12 grams or more daily or 5
grams or more of elemental calcium daily) can cause milk-alkali
syndrome, nephrocalcinosis, or renal insufficiency.
Coenzyme Q10
See your doctor and monitor your blood glucose level frequently if
you take CoQ10 and have diabetes. Several clinical reports suggest that
taking CoQ10 may improve glycemic control and the function of beta
cells in people who have type 2 diabetes.
Statin drugs (such as lovastatin, simvastatin, and pravastatin) are known to decrease CoQ10 levels.
EPA/DHA
Consult your doctor before taking EPA/DHA if you take warfarin
(Coumadin). Taking EPA/DHA with warfarin may increase the risk of
bleeding.
Discontinue using EPA/DHA 2 weeks before any surgical procedure.
Folic acid
Consult your doctor before taking folic acid if you have a vitamin B12 deficiency.
Daily doses of more than 1 milligram of folic acid can
precipitate or exacerbate the neurological damage caused by a vitamin
B12 deficiency. Green Tea
Consult your doctor before taking green tea extract if you
take aspirin or warfarin (Coumadin). Taking green tea extract and
aspirin or warfarin can increase the risk of bleeding.
Discontinue using green tea extract 2 weeks before any surgical procedure. Green tea extract may decrease platelet aggregation.
Green tea extract contains caffeine, which may produce a
variety of symptoms including restlessness, nausea, headache, muscle
tension, sleep disturbances, and rapid heartbeat.
Magnesium
Do not take magnesium if you have kidney failure or myasthenia gravis.
Niacin (nicotinic acid)
Do not take high doses of nicotinic acid (1.5 to 5 grams daily or
more) if you have liver dysfunction, an unexplained elevation in your
serum aminotransferase (transaminase) level, active peptic ulcer
disease, arterial bleeding, or if you consume large amounts of alcohol.
Consult your doctor before taking high doses of nicotinic
acid if you have a history of jaundice, peptic ulcer disease,
gastritis, disease of the liver or bile ducts, gout, kidney
dysfunction, or cardiovascular disease (especially acute myocardial
infarction or unstable angina).
Consult your doctor before taking high doses of nicotinic
acid if you have diabetes. High doses of nicotinic acid can negatively
affect glucose tolerance. Monitor your serum glucose level frequently
if you take nicotinic acid and have diabetes.
Have your doctor monitor your serum aminotransferase level if you take high-doses of nicotinic acid.
Nicotinic acid may cause flushing, principally of the face,
neck, and chest. This flushing is thought to be
prostaglandin-prostacyclin mediated. Histamine may also play a role in
the flushing.
Nicotinic acid can cause dizziness, palpitations, rapid
heartbeat, shortness of breath, sweating, chills, insomnia, nausea,
vomiting, abdominal pain, and muscle pain.
High doses of nicotinic acid can cause blurred vision, macular edema, toxic amblyopia, and cystic maculopathy.
Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)
Consult your doctor before taking vitamin B1 for a thiamin
deficiency, lactic acidosis secondary to thiamin deficiency,
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, Wernicke's encephalopathy, or Korsakoff's
psychosis.
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
High doses of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) may interfere with the Abbott TDx drugs-of-abuse assay.
Riboflavin absorption is increased in hypothyroidism and decreased in hyperthyroidism.
If you are taking nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors,
even a mild riboflavin deficiency can increase your risk of lactic
acidosis.
Vitamin B6
Individuals who are being treated with levodopa without taking
carbidopa at the same time should avoid doses of 5 milligrams or
greater daily of vitamin B6.
Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)
Do not take cyanocobalamin if you have Leber's optic atrophy.
Vitamin C
Do not take vitamin C if you have a history of kidney stones or of
kidney insufficiency (defined as having a serum creatine level greater
than 2 milligrams per deciliter and/or a creatinine clearance less than
30 milliliters per minute.
Consult your doctor before taking large amounts of vitamin C
if you have hemochromatosis, thalassemia, sideroblastic anemia, sickle
cell anemia, or erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)
deficiency. You can experience iron overload if you have one of these
conditions and use large amounts of vitamin C.
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