Periodontal disease or gum disease is one of the most common diseases affecting nearly half of the UK population.  What also remains clear is that gum disease is linked to numerous other diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. However, did you know that vitamin C for gum disease taken daily may reduce the risk of gum disease and may also help to reduce the severity of the symptoms including bleeding gums?

Vitamin C and gum disease

Gum disease is often missed because in the early stages it is not painful. One should look out for signs of gum disease such as bleeding gums, bad breath or halitosis, and teeth that may begin to loosen.

Vitamin C is an essential vitamin required for numerous processes carried out within our bodies. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect our cells and tissues from oxidative stress.

Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums that causes inflammation of the gums, periodontitis, which in turn can result in tooth loss. Bleeding gums are a sign of gingivitis which is an early stage of periodontal disease.

Increased bleeding is one of the symptoms of scurvy which is associated with severe vitamin C deficiency. Scurvy affected 18th century sailors who had no access to fresh fruits and vegetables. This nevertheless seems to point to a potential cause of gum bleeding related to low levels of vitamin C, not sufficiently low to cause scurvy but low enough to cause gum bleeding and gum disease. This theory is backed up by a study which showed that those with severe periodontal disease had significant vitamin C deficiency than those with mild periodontal disease.¹

A study published online in Feb 2021 by Nutrition Reviews involving 1,140 healthy people as well as data from 8,210 from the CDC’s Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, concluded that low vitamin C levels in the bloodstream were associated with an increased risk for gum bleeding with gentle probing. The researchers also observed that increasing vitamin C intake may help resolve the problem.

A review of the databases found that deficiencies of vitamin C were linked to periodontal disease. ²

We all know that smoking is very bad for our health but smoking also increases the risk of periodontal disease. Aside from undesirable possible staining of teeth, smoking depletes vitamin C levels in the body with the result that smokers commonly are more likely to suffer from periodontitis than non-smokers. Additionally, the symptoms of periodontal disease were greater in smokers than non-smokers.³

Another study indicated that lower levels of vitamin C intake were associated with greater risk of gum disease. This study found that higher levels of vitamin C were linked to lower plaque formation on the surface of teeth. These results confirm that taking vitamin C for gum disease is important both from the preventative and treatment point of view. ⁴

Taking Vitamin C for gum disease

There are many vitamin C supplements on the market and whilst many people will choose vitamin C tablets for gum disease, there is a better form of vitamin C supplement called Liposomal Vitamin C.

Unlike most vitamin C supplements which are readily excreted out, Liposomal vitamin C surrounds this vitamin with a phospholipid “bubble” that allows it to enter the bloodstream and is then subsequently delivered to all tissues.

Dose Liposomal Vitamin C provides two forms of vitamin C, one for immediate delivery and the other for a longer period, to provide greater amounts of vitamin C for gums throughout the day.

All these studies appear to indicate that taking vitamin C for gum disease, when used in conjunction with proper oral healthcare, brushing teeth properly, flossing daily, and regular dental check-ups might help combat gum disease and reduce plaque.

References:

1. Assaf M, Rabi H. Assessment of Vitamin C Levels in Periodontal Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study in Palestine. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2022 Jul;14(Suppl 1):S903-S6.
2. O’Connor JP, Milledge KL, O'Leary F, et al. Poor dietary intake of nutrients and food groups are associated with increased risk of periodontal disease among community-dwelling older adults: a systematic literature review. Nutr Rev. 2020 Feb 1;78(2):175-88.
3. Yoshihara A, Nakashima K, Suwama K, et al. Interaction between serum vitamin C levels and smoking on the periodontal condition in older adults. J Periodontal Res. 2022 Jun;57(3):587-93.
4. Guasti L, Cianferotti L, Pampaloni B, et al. Evaluation of food and nutrient intake in a population of subjects affected by periodontal disease with different levels of bone mineral density. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023;14:1098366.

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