Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a condition in which the gums, deeper supporting tissue, and potentially the bone surrounding teeth become infected and inflamed.

Gum disease starts with plaque on the teeth, 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 from teeth 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.

* See an illustration of 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

* Red, swollen gums
* Bleeding while brushing or flossing
* Receding gums
* Chronic bad breath
* Loose teeth or widening space between gums and teeth

Natural Remedies for Gum Disease

Here are seven natural remedies that are used to treat 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, brussels 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.

* Relaxation Response
* Mindfulness Meditation
* Diaphragmatic Breathing

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. For more information on coenzyme q10, read the Coenzyme Q10 Fact Sheet,

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. For more information on tea tree oil, read the Tea Tree Oil Fact Sheet.

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 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. Another study found that the Oral-B ProfessionalCare 7000, which has an oscillating, rotating head, was more effective at reducing plaque and bleeding of gingivitis compared with another electric toothbrush.

Eat more of the “Good Fats”

Hormones that regulate Serotonin, our bodies’ main mood-boosting chemical, are stimulated by fat consumption. Before reaching for a piece of cake or a cookie, try a piece of salmon. Not all fats are created equal and you should AVOID saturated fats. Instead, eat foods
containing ‘good fats’ such as fish, nuts and olive oil. These foods help with depression and low self esteem by boosting Serotonin.

Get Your Vitamin D

Serotonin is affected by Vitamin D. Studies have shown that consumption Vitamin D makes people feel better. Particularly those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Advertisements with tantalizing promises of improved health, prevention of cancer and heart disease, and greater energy have lured millions of Americans to spend billions of dollars on the purchase of multivitamins.

An article in the February 9 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine reported that multivitamin use did not protect the 161,808 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative Study from common forms of cancer, heart attacks, or strokes. And the numbers of deaths during the 8 years of the study were the same in vitamin users as in non-users. Still, it is important to recognize that this was an observational study, not a more meaningful clinical trial. Although these findings apply only to women, other studies have failed to show benefits of multivitamins in older men.

These results are not at all surprising for several reasons. No large study has shown that multivitamins significantly benefit healthy men and women. In addition, for some years physicians prescribed folic acid and vitamins B12 and B6 in the hopes of preventing heart attacks and strokes by lowering blood levels of homocysteine. (High blood levels of homocysteine are associated with an increased risk of coronary and other vascular diseases.) A number of recent studies, however, have shown that, while these vitamins do lower homocysteine levels, they do not prevent heart attacks or strokes.

Many doctors have also prescribed the antioxidants vitamin E and beta-carotene to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Alas, studies have now proven that these supplements are not protective–and may even be harmful.

No one denies that an adequate intake of vitamins is essential; however, vitamins can and should be obtained from eating enough healthy foods rather than from swallowing vitamin supplements.

Then what about vitamins being a great source of energy? Some multivitamin ads do indeed claim that their supplements boost energy; and some professional athletes gobble handfuls of vitamin pills to increase their energy and strength. But researchers proved long ago that energy comes from calories, not vitamins. The highly touted cholesterol-lowering effects of substances added to some multivitamin supplements? Still unproven.

All this is not to say that specific vitamins supplements are never desirable. Vitamins can be valuable in certain situations:

* Folic acid supplements in women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant can help to prevent serious neural-tube defects that affect the baby’s brain and spine.
* Supplements that contain more vitamin D and calcium than is present in regular multivitamin pills can help older men, and especially women, avoid osteoporosis and bone fractures.
* Supplements of vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, zinc, and copper may slow the progression of vision loss in people with early macular degeneration.

And multivitamins are beneficial for some entire groups of people:

* those on a very-low-calorie weight-loss diet
* strict vegetarians
* heavy alcohol drinkers
* individuals who are not getting an adequate diet because they are too sick or too poor–or live by themselves and are unable to prepare proper meals for themselves

I also agree with a comment made by one of the coauthors of the Archives of Internal Medicine article about postmenopausal women mentioned above. An 8-year follow-up period may not be long enough to show that multivitamins protect against cancers that take many years to develop.

All the same, the results of the studies on vitamins so far point to one conclusion: Healthy people who eat enough calories from a varied diet do not benefit from multivitamin supplements.

Cancer is the second most prominent killer of Americans—second only to heart disease. But there’s increasing scientific evidence that certain supplements and foods reduce risks from a variety of cancers.

Of course, deciding what supplements to take and food to consume isn’t a simple task. There’s a bewildering amount of new and sometimes conflicting information on cancer-preventive food and supplements. And it seems as if not a week goes by without a new report suggesting a supplement can reduce your cancer risk.

Take the medical view on the benefits or danger of the sun, for example. We all know exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays causes skin cancer. But just recently, the NY Times, BBC and others reported that your cancer prevention supplement routine should include high doses of Vitamin D (200-600 units per day). The skin makes vitmain D when exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. (See recent study concluding that ). A few months ago Reuters and MSNBC supported this view when they reported that ovarian cancer rates are lower in sunny areas. And skin cancer risks are reduced if you drink green tea — and perhaps coffee. And if you drink coffee, you just might lower your risk of developing liver cancer. We’re confused already!

Only you, with the advice of your physician or health expert, can decide what cancer prevention supplement routine is appropriate for you and your family. This Cancer Prevention Supplement Guide is intended as a starting point to help research and ask the right questions about the cancer prevention supplement routine that makes sense for you given the weight of evidence and, of course, the risks and costs.

Several supplements (including or extracted from herbs, vitamins and super foods) have been shown in clinical trials to be associated with reduction in the risk of cancer. Although this is not a definitive list of cancer fighting supplements, it provides information and support on what we’ve found to be the most promising cancer prevention supplement recommendations and can provide a starting place for your to develop your own cancer prevention supplement routine.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D helps maintain blood levels of calcium, by keeping calcium in the body and sparing the calcium stored in your bones.

* Vitamin D and Colorectal Cancer: A higher intake of vitamin D is associated with a reduced incidence of colorectal cancer. Studies have showed that higher rates of colon cancer occur in the northern parts of the United States (where there is less sunlight) than in the southwest, Hawaii, and Florida. Researchers have advanced the theory that vitamin D, which the body can make in the skin after sun exposure, reduces colorectal cancer risk. Of course, sun exposure also brings skin cancer risk. See this article on natural sunscreens and protect yourself naturally without toxic substances.
* Vitamin D and breast cancer: insights from animal models. Vitamin D has also been associated with reduction in breast cancer. See the latest report: Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk: results of a randomized trial abstracted in the American Journal of Nutritional Medicine. ol. 85, No. 6, 1586-1591, June 2007.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, which combats free radicals. Some experts believe that Vitamin E works better when combined in synergy with other antioxidants such as Selenium, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Beta-Carotene or mixed carotenoids. Vitamin E may inhibit a variety of cancers including esophageal, stomach, lung, and prostate.
CoQ10

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is used by the body to transform food into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy on which the body runs. CoQ10 is found primarily in fish and meat, but the amounts in food are far less than what can be obtained from supplements. Some research suggests that a fat-soluble form of CoQ10 is absorbed better than CoQ10 in granular (powder) form. Adult levels of supplementation are usually 30–90 mg per day, although people with specific health conditions may supplement with higher levels (with the involvement of a physician). Animal Studies reported by the National Cancer Institute have found that coenzyme Q10 boosts the immune system and helps the body fight certain infections and types of cancer.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that has a number of biological functions. Good food sources of Vitamin C include broccoli, red peppers, currants, Brussels sprouts, parsley, potatoes, citrus fuit, and strawberries. Vitamin C has been shown by several studies to reduce the risk of several cancers including colon cancer and breast cancer (Br J Cancer. 1992 Oct;66(4):673) and bladder cancer. In addition to natural and supplement form, scientists have found that high doses of Vitamin C injected in the blood stream fight cancer.

Vitamin B Complexes

Vitamin B6 helps synthesize and maintain DNA. Vitamin B12 and folate work together to protect our DNA. Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) found that the vitamin may actually help reduce colorectal cancer risk. Folate, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12 intake have been linked to a reduced risk of breast cancer. A Vitamin B12 (folate) deficiency has been linked to an elevated rate of DNA damage, which is an important risk factor for cancer. Radioactive B12 has even been used by the Mayo Clinic to help locate cancer.

Antioxidants

According to Dr. Richard Cutler, former Director of the National Institute of Aging, “the amount of antioxidants in your body is directly proportional to how long you will live.” (See Benefits of Antioxidants). Antioxidants occur naturally in a variety of foods or in the form of supplements, and they include a family of naturally formed components like vitamin A, beta-carotene, lycopene, vitamin E, and more. They are believed to protect cells from free radicals, harmful oxygen molecules thought to damage cells that result in cancer. Also check out the National Cancer Insititute study on antioxidants and lung cancer.
Green Tea

The polyphenols in green tea have also been associated with reduced risk of several types of cancer in humans. Several animal and test tube studies have demonstrated an anticancer effect of polyphenols from green tea. In one of these studies, a polyphenol called catechin from green tea effectively inhibited metastasis (uncontrolled spread) of melanoma (skin cancer) cells. (See Mukhtar H, Ahmad N., Green tea in chemoprevention of cancer. Toxicol Sci 1999;52(2 Suppl):111–7; Katiyar SK, Mukhtar H. Tea consumption and cancer. Nihal Ahmad, Hasan Mukhtar , Cutaneous Photochemoprotection by Green Tea: A Brief Review; Rev Nutr Diet 1996;79:154–84 ; Kohlmeier L, Weterings KG, Steck S, Kok FJ. Tea and cancer prevention: an evaluation of the epidemiologic literature. Nutr Cancer 1997;27:1–13 [review]

Cancer Prevention Supplement Guide: Foods

(supplements for many of these foods are available)
By eating a rainbow of food colors or by emphasizing certain foods listed below, you can incorporate a variety of protective phytochemicals into your diet. These foods limit the free radical initiation and DNA damage caused by these carcinogens and therefore appear to lower the incidence of various types of cancer. They include:

* Beans
* Berries
* Cruciferous Vegetables
* Dark Green Leafy Vegetables
* Flaxseed
* Garlic
* Grapes and Grape Juice
* Green Tea
* Soy
* Tomatoes
* Whole Grains