CoQ10 And Vitamin C Can Help Reverse Gum Disease
Frequent bleeding when you brush your teeth, swollen and sensitive gums, pain when chewing and bad breath can all signal gingivitis ? an infection of the gums that a staggering seven out of ten people suffer from to varying degrees.
It’s important that you don’t ignore these symptoms, as left untreated gingivitis can lead to more serious problems like periodontitis? leaving you vulnerable to persistent infections, pain and loss of teeth.
Gum disease not only causes troublesome symptoms, like pain and bad breath, it also increases your risk of heart disease or stroke.
The first obvious step to avoiding gum disease and its serious consequences is to take good care of your teeth and gums. This should include regular visits to your dentist (at least twice a year for regular check-ups), twice daily brushing for a minimum of two minutes each time (consider investing in an electric toothbrush if you don’t already have one, as they’re extremely effective at removing plaque before it has a chance to harden) and cleaning in between teeth daily with interdental brushes or floss.
Studies show CoQ10 and vitamin C can help reverse gum disease
Co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a heart critical nutrient that protects the gums and reduces the risk of infection in the spaces between the teeth. It works at a cellular and biochemical level, helping to promote strong, active and healthy cells whether they are in the heart or in the gums. In fact, some experts believe that periodontal disease can be an indicator of a CoQ10 deficiency in the mouth and other tissues of the body and ultimately acts as a red flag for underlying heart disease or even cancer.
Research has shown that supplementing with CoQ10 can halt the deterioration of the gums and allow healing to occur. One clinical trial found that CoQ10 significantly reduced the depth of gum pockets, swelling, bleeding, redness, pain, the production of pus and looseness of teeth in patients with periodontal disease.
Other researchers have described the improved rate of healing of periodontal disease due to CoQ10 as “very impressive” and “extraordinary” ? not terms that scientists tend to use lightly!
Make sure you take CoQ10 in its most active form, ubiquinol: Take one to three capsules a day. You can apply the oil from these capsules directly on your gums. Both methods have been found to have beneficial results.
Vitamin C works in two different ways to promote gum health. First, it is an antioxidant ? meaning that it works along the same lines as co-enzyme Q10 by preventing free radical damage to the gums.
The second way it works is by increasing the production of collagen ? the natural fibrous tissue that supports your gums. This strengthens your gums and makes any infection difficult to spread.
People who are deficient in vitamin C have a higher risk of developing gum disease and supplements of this vitamin have been shown to improve the condition of the periodontal tissues in people with low levels.
So make sure that you eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, not only to increase your intake of vitamin C but also the flavonoids that are found alongside it and which have also been shown to reduce gum inflammation. Grapefruit extract and cranberries are both good sources of the vitamin ? they also have natural antibiotic activities that are beneficial for overcoming gum infections. If you have gum disease or want to prevent it, take 1,000mg of vitamin C each day.
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Sources:
Am J Epidemiol 2000; 151(3): 273-82
Biomedical and Clinical Aspects of Coenzyme Q, Vol 1. Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press, Amsterdam, 1977, pp. 251-265
Int J Vit Nutr Res 1983; 53: 312; Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol 1975; 12: 111
Int J Vit Nutr Res 1982; 52: 333-41
Oral Surg Oral Med Pathol 1961; 14: 847-55
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I use CoQ10 after I brushed my teeth and just rub it into my gums. I have not had bleeding gums for years. Just break open the capsule and use the liquid inside to rub on your gums. It really works!