Every week we receive questions from patients regarding natural supplements that claim to help the health of their gums. There is a lot of information on the web about such supplements that claim to help; unfortunately, there are no large studies that follow good research standards that allow us to state, unequivocally, “This is the best thing since sliced bread!” for your gums.
A good source of evidence-based research reviews can be found at the Cochrane Review or at the American Dental Associations Evidence Based Dentistry Database. My personal search of the web found an excellent review written by Cathy Wong that was published by About.com and includes references for additional reading. Update: About.com rebranded itself as DotDash, and you can find Cathy Wong’s article here.
A Bit About Gum Disease
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a condition in which the gums, deeper supporting tissue, and potentially the bone surrounding the teeth become infected and inflamed. Gum disease starts with plaque, a sticky white substance that coats teeth. It’s formed when bacteria in the mouth mixes with saliva and residues from starchy foods and sugar in your diet.
If plaque isn’t properly removed by brushing and flossing, it accumulates and hardens underneath the gumline into tartar. Once tartar builds up, it’s much more difficult to remove than plaque and usually requires a cleaning at the dentist.
Over time, it can lead to inflamed gums, or gingivitis. This is a mild form of gum disease. One of the most common symptoms is darker red gums that bleed with brushing or flossing. Professional cleaning can reverse gingivitis.
If there is bleeding with pain, it is a symptom that the infection and inflammation has spread to the deeper tissues and bone, called periodontitis. After the age of 30, periodontitis is responsible for tooth loss, more so than cavities.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
If you think you might have gum disease, consider these common symptoms:
- Red, swollen gums
- Bleeding while brushing or flossing
- Receding gums
- Chronic bad breath
- Tooth sensitivity
- Loose teeth or widening space between gums and teeth
Natural Remedies That May Help
Here are seven natural remedies that can be tried to help mitigate gum disease.
1) Vitamin C
The link between vitamin C deficiency and gum disease is well known. Back in the 18th century, sailors ate limes during long trips at sea to keep their gums from bleeding. A study in the Journal of Periodontology found that people with low intakes of vitamin C had higher rates of periodontal disease.
Researchers looked at 12,419 adults in the United States. People who consumed less than the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of 60 mg per day were 1.5 the risk of developing severe gingivitis as people who consumed more than 180 mg. Vitamin C is believed to help gum disease because vitamin C is an antioxidant and is needed to repair connective tissue and accelerate bone regeneration.
To boost your intake of vitamin C, eat foods rich in vitamin C, such as grapefruit, oranges, kiwi fruit, mango, papaya, strawberry, red pepper, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and cantaloupe. Vitamin C can also be taken in supplement form. Avoid chewable vitamin C, because the acidity may promote the erosion of tooth enamel over time.
2) Vitamin D
Vitamin D has been found to have anti-inflammatory effects and may reduce susceptibility to gum disease. A study by the Boston University evaluated the association between vitamin D status and gingivitis. They analyzed data from 77,503 teeth in 6700 people in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and found that people with higher blood levels of vitamin D were less likely to experience bleeding gums during gingival probing.
Sun exposure is one of the most important sources of vitamin D, because UV rays from the sun trigger the synthesis of vitamin D in skin. The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements suggests 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure twice a week, however the further away from the equator you live, the more polluted your city, and the more cloud cover there is, the less likely that this sun exposure will be sufficient. Look for at least 200 IU in a multivitamin.
3) Stress reduction
Stress contributes to gum disease by increasing plaque accumulation. A University of Dusseldorf study examined how exam stress would impact plaque and gum bleeding. All students had a professional tooth cleaning 4 weeks prior to exams and then 4 weeks after exams. They found that students had significantly higher rates of plaque and gingivitis after exams compared to a control group of students that didn’t write exams.
4) Coenzyme Q10
There is some evidence has linking gum disease to lower levels of coenzyme q10, an antioxidant made naturally in the body, found widely in foods, and available in supplement form. Some researchers say that coenzyme q10 is needed to properly repair gum tissue. A study by Osaka University in Japan found improvement in infection and inflammation after 3 weeks of taking a topical coenzyme q10 toothpaste. You can look find toothpaste containing coenzyme q10 at natural grocers, health food stores, and online.
5) Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil has proven antibiotic properties. A topically applied tea tree oil gel was evaluated in a double-blind placebo-controlled study involving 49 people with severe chronic gingivitis. They were told to brush twice a day and were assessed after 4 and 8 weeks. The group that brushed with tea tree oil had a significant reduction in the degree of gingivitis and bleeding. However, tea tree oil gel did not reduce the amount of plaque. Use only commercial tea tree toothpaste, not tea tree oil.
6) Cranberry
Cranberry may help gum disease by preventing bacteria from sticking to teeth. Look for cranberry juice with no added sugar at the health food store. A typical amount is 4 ounces a day. Consult your doctor if you are taking the blood thinner (like warfarin) or have kidney stones.
7) Consider an oscillating rotating electric toothbrush
A Dutch study reviewed randomized controlled trials and found that the use of electric toothbrushes with oscillating, rotating heads for 3 months reduced gingivitis compared to manual brushing with a regular toothbrush. There was also some reduction in plaque, although it was not statistically significant.
Whatever home remedies you try (for whatever ailment you’re attempting to relieve) should always be discussed with your primary care physician. And the BEST REMEDY for gum disease really is regular cleanings at your dentist office and letting them help you asses your current oral health status and help you determine your best course of action.
Sources
- Carinci F, Pezzetti F, Spina AM, Palmieri A, Laino G, De Rosa A, Farina E, Illiano F, Stabellini G, Perrotti V, Piattelli A. Effect of Vitamin C on pre-osteoblast gene expression. Arch Oral Biol. 2005 May;50(5):481-96.
- R, Granrath N, Spahl M, Linz S, Waschul B, Herforth A. Stress, oral health behaviour and clinical outcome. Br J Health Psychol. 2005 May;10(Pt 2):269-83.
- Dietrich T, Nunn M, Dawson-Hughes B, Bischoff-Ferrari HA. Association between serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and gingival inflammation. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Sep;82(3):575-80.
- Hanioka T, Tanaka M, Ojima M, Shizukuishi S, Folkers K. Effect of topical application of coenzyme Q10 on adult periodontitis. Mol Aspects Med. 1994;15 Suppl:s241-8.
- Nishida M, Grossi SG, Dunford RG, Ho AW, Trevisan M, Genco RJ. Dietary vitamin C and the risk for periodontal disease. J Periodontol. 2000 Aug;71(8):1215-23.
National Institutes of Health Fact Sheet on vitamin D - Soukoulis S, Hirsch R. The effects of a tea tree oil-containing gel on plaque and chronic gingivitis. Aust Dent J. 2004 Jun;49(2):78-83.
