Eat your oranges!

Vitamin C and Gum Disease

A Study in 2000 showed people who consume less than the recommendeddietary allowance (RDA) for vitamin C is 1.5 timesmore at risk of developing severe Gingivitis. Gingivitis is the mildestform of Periodontal disease, and it causes the gums to becomered, swollen and bleed easily.

Since Vitamin C is known as a powerful scavenger of reactiveoxygen species, which form part of the body’s antioxidant defensesystem, low levels of dietary Vitamin C may compromisethe body’s ability to neutralize these tissue destructive oxidants.

However, people need to keep in mind that vitamins, dietarysupplements and good nutrition are not cures for PeriodontalDisease. Patients must also brush and floss, and ask their dentistabout the state of their periodontal health to help prevent toothloss.