Can an Apple a Day Keep the Dentist Away Too?
Posted by Laura Nelson on June 21, 2010
Antioxidants and Periodontal Disease
By Dr. Ruth Martens, M.D., D. Ht
We, as doctors, sometimes forget that the mouth is not separate from the rest of the body and what happens there (unlike Las Vegas) doesn’t always stay there.
Periodontal disease is infection of the connecting tissues and bone surrounding a tooth. If the inflammation is limited to the gums, it is called gingivitis. Periodontal disease is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Up to 80% of Americans over age 45 have some form of periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease is a systemic disease that manifests in the mouth. Periodontal disease is now linked to oral cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung infection, pre term and low weight babies, osteoporosis and other chronic disease. More than 90% of systemic diseases have signs and symptoms in the mouth as part of their picture.
Free radicals play an important destructive role in the development and progress of periodontal tissue. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals in body tissues. Patients with periodontal disease tend to have a lower antioxidant capacity–both locally and systemically. Patients with low levels of certain vitamins and minerals have up to a 13 fold greater risk of periodontal disease.
Over 200 studies and clinical trials have clearly established the close relationship between antioxidants, free radicals and periodontal disease. No known studies have been found that contradict these findings. In 1999, Dr. Grossi showed selenium has the strongest association with gum disease. Low levels of vitamins A, C alpha-carotene, and beta-crotoxanathin also increase risk. In general, the body uses zinc, copper, vitamin E, B2, B6, beta-carotene and systemic glutathione to defend against inflammation.
Lester Packer of UC Berkeley wrote extensively of the collective interaction of vitamins as an antioxidant network. They function better together and some recharge others. This means that as tempting as it may be to run out and pick up the supplements in the last paragraph, a supplement with the proper ratios of vitamins, minerals, bioflavonoids and a full complement of antioxidant compounds has even stronger effects than taking individual components separately.
Up to now the primary clinical weapons against periodontal disease have been scaling and root planning (SRP), antibiotics and surgery. We know from clinical research that SRP is ineffective up to 40% of the time. When it does work, SRP reduces pocket depths by a little over 1mm on average. SRP is topical. It does nothing to address the systemic nature of periodontal disease. Surgery may be effective as a last resort, but it is painful and expensive. Antibiotics help but are temporary and do not prevent long-term recurrences.
Antioxidant therapy produces up to 3 times the pocket depth reduction of SRP alone. There is a dramatic reduction in bleeding. Antioxidants work systemically to support the body’s natural immune system. A clinical study done at Loma Linda University in 2000 gave antioxidant supplements to subjects and showed 23-44% reduction in pocket depth in just 30 days. I’ve seen improvement just as quickly in my own patients.
Foods such as salmon, walnuts, avocados, olive oil, canola oil and gac fruit are anti-inflammatory. Green tea can actually kill bacteria. Sugar weakens the immune defense and should be reduced to prevent and reduce inflammation.
Your overall antioxidant status can be measured by a simple test using the Pharmanex BioPhotonic Scanner. After adding supplements or changing your diet, this test can then be repeated to determine if you are succeeding in bolstering your immune system.
The bottom line is a large percentage of acute and chronic inflammation can be prevented or reduced by antioxidant supplements and foods. Don’t delay. Get that apple today.
References for this article and an archive of previous articles are available at www.martenshealth.com. Dr. Ruth Martens is a family physician specializing in natural medicine and classical homeopathy in Wheaton. For more information or to make an appointment, call (630) 668-5595.
Tags:Health & Fitness
