Question and Answers Gum disease prevention

Gum disease prevention

Gum disease prevention

My boyfriend has been told he will definitely lose his teeth at a relatively young age due to gum disease. He cleans and flosses thoroughly and visits the dental hygienist twice a year but what herbs or nutrients should he be using?

Peridontal or gum disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss and like many other mouth problems, it can be a sign of underlying nutritional deficiencies. Bleeding gums, for example, may signal vitamin C deficiency. Cracking at the corners of the mouth may suggest a lack of vitamin B2 (riboflavin).

Gingivitis or inflammation of the gums is the first stage of peridontal disease. It is caused by plaque - those sticky deposits of bacteria, mucous and food particles - but can be treated and prevented by rubbing a good quality tea tree oil onto the gums, so this is something your boyfriend needs to incorporate into his cleaning and flossing routines.

Five times stronger than the best household detergent, the active ingredient is called Terpinen-4-ol. It has both antibacterial and antifungal properties but the concentration varies wildly between different brands. I use the super strength Dessert Essence brand, which is eco-harvested, 100% organic and as pure as you can get it.

Thanks to a vast body of anecdotal evidence, CoEnzyme Q10 - the energy-boosting nutrient - has become the leading supplement that holistic dentists prescribe for the treatment of gum disease. There is still very little clinical research to support this, although Japanese researchers reported that giving gum disease patients 60mg a day for eight weeks brought about dramatic improvements. Take at least 60mg and not more than 100mg.