Routine advice from the American Dental Association tells you that if your gums are runny, be sure to brush and brush twice a day as this could be a sign of gingivitis, an early stage of periodontal disease. And that could be true. So if you are worried, see your dentist. However, a new study from the University of Washington suggests that you should also check your vitamin C intake.
“When you see your gums screaming, it’s not the first thing you should think about, I should push more. You should try to find out why your gums are dripping. And Vitamin C deficiency is one possible cause, “said the lead author of the study. Philippe Hujoel, active dentist and professor of oral health sciences at UW School of Dentistry.
Hujoel Study, published February 1 in Nutrition reviews, we analyzed published studies of 15 clinical trials in six countries, involving 1,140 mostly healthy participants, and data from 8,210 U.S. residents surveyed in Study Health and Nutrition Surveys Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The findings showed that bleeding of the gums on slow examination, or gingival swelling bias, and also swelling in the eye, or retinal hemorrhaging, were associated with low levels of vitamin C in the bloodstream. And, the researchers found that an increase in daily intake of vitamin C in those people with low plasma levels of vitamin C helped to reverse these inflammatory issues.
In terms of potential appropriateness, says Hujoel, who is also an associate professor of epidemiology at UW School of Public Health, both gum swelling bias and retinal bleeding may be a factor. a sign of a general problem in a person’s microbiological system, of microbial inflammation tendency in the brain, heart and kidneys.
The study does not imply that reversing the onset of gingival swelling with vitamin C will prevent strokes or other adverse health consequences, Hujoel confirms. However, the findings suggest that vitamin C recommendations designed specifically to protect against scurvy – a deadly disease caused by very low vitamin C levels – are too low, and that low levels of vitamin C can leading to swelling bias, which should not be treated with dental floss.
As a result, Hujoel recommends that people try to monitor their intake of vitamin C by including unprocessed foods such as cabbage, peppers or kiwis in the diet. your diet, and if you can not get tasty food that is rich in vitamin C to consider a supplement of about 100 to 200 milligrams per day.
If someone is on a special diet, such as a paleo diet, it ‘s important to check their vitamin C intake, Hujoel said. “Fruits full of vitamin C like kiwis or oranges are high in sugar and so are usually eliminated from a low-carb diet.”
This avoidance could lead to vitamin C intake which is too low and which is associated with increased inflammation. People who eat only lean meat and avoid offal, the vitamin-rich organ meat, may be at particular risk for low vitamin C.
The link between gum bleeding and vitamin C levels was recognized more than 30 years ago. In fact, two co-authored studies by UW School of Dentistry vice dean Paul Robertson (published in 1986 and 1991) identified gum bleeding as a biological indicator for vitamin C levels.
However, this connection was lost in dental conversations around inflamed gum.
“There was a time before when gingival bleeding was generally considered to be a possible symptom of vitamin C deficiency. But over time, that is drowned out or marginalized by the harassment. this is to manipulate the swollen signal by squeezing or spraying, rather than manipulating the cause, “Hujoel said.
Hujoel’s literature review also concluded that “retinal hemorrhaging and cerebral strokes are associated with increased gingival swelling bias, and that supplementation (vitamin C) reverses the retinal inflammation associated with gingival inflammation. low plasma levels (vitamin C). “
Thus, losing the potential link between bleeding gums and low levels of vitamin C has the potential for adverse health effects.
The authors of the study write: “The basic medicine of oral hygiene and other periodontal interventions is to‘ treat ’microbiological pathologies, even though it plays an effective role in preventing gingival bleeding such as suggested in this meta-analysis, dangerous in that it does not address any potential morbidity and mortality associated with the systemic pathologies associated with microvascular. “
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Co-authors include Tomotaka Kato, Department of Oral Health Sciences, UW School of Dentistry; Isabel Hujoel, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic; and Margaux LA Hujoel, Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health TH Chan.
For more information, contact Hujoel at [email protected].
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