Vitamin C for Gum Health

I wanted to briefly write about vitamin C and bleeding gums. I recently read a study about bleeding gums being a symptom of vitamin C deficiency. The researchers examined 15 different clinical trials and found that a tendency to have bleeding gums was related to a deficiency in vitamin C, and found that increasing their vitamin C intake was able to help reverse their bleeding issues.

Vitamin C has many benefits: from enhancing immune functioning as well as being beneficial to cardiovascular health, it can even help to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. It’s a great supplement for overall health.

Vitamin C is easily obtained through fresh fruits, though supplementing can be a good idea when you might not be regularly eating enough fresh produce. One of our favorites is our American Health Ester C, since studies have shown that it stays working in the body longer than regular vitamin C. Another we especially recommend is Nutrigold’s Vitamin C Gold, which is directly sourced from organic berries, so it’s extremely gentle and well absorbed. Both our 1000mg Ester C capsules and our Vitamin C Gold are on sale this month, so be sure to stop by.

Also, here’s an article on supplements beneficial for gum health on our website here:

Healthy Q & A: Gum Disease

A New Oral Probiotic for Stronger Teeth

We have an interesting new oral product that I wanted to mention since it’s really unique. It’s a new oral probiotic by Jarrow. Usually oral probiotics help with combating bad breath and mainting a healthy bacterial balance in the mouth (things I’m all for), but in addition to that, this new one by Jarrow actually has specific identified strains that have been shown in research to literally help preserve the health of tooth enamel and dentin (dentin is the sensitive layer underneath the enamel on our teeth). Years of chewing, grinding, and biting wears down our tooth enamel- the hard, protective layer on the outside of our teeth- so a new way to strengthen that enamel and prevent future loss is an amazing thing.

As someone who has struggled with dental issues, I’m super excited about this new probiotic since it’s the first I have ever seen that can actually help strengthen teeth. Jarrow’s probiotic is a lozenge, and you want to have it in your mouth for at least a good five minutes, either by just sucking on it like a peppermint (it’s actually peppermint flavored- ha!), or in between your gums and cheek. 

It’s recommended for adults or children over 3, since children younger than three are not likely to be able to follow the directions of keeping it in their mouth and not eating it right away. We definitely recommend trying it for maintaining a fresh, healthy, and strong mouth!
 

My Magic Mud Teeth Whitener

This stuff has to be seen to be believed for whitening teeth. It uses activated charcoal and bentonite clay, which help to deeply clean and remove toxins, and also whitens and polishes teeth. Results can begin to be seen after just one use, and it whitens more and more over time. Also, unlike most conventional tooth whiteners, it is gentle on tooth enamel and can even reduce tooth sensitivity.

Here’s their hilarious “How To” page. 

Using a jar of black powder to whiten your teeth seems a little weird, but it really is an amazing product! Look here for some pretty incredible reviews.

My Magic Mud is chemical free, fluoride free, gluten free, and vegan. One jar has enough for 150 uses. I’d very much recommend giving it a try! Sarah at the store has been using it and says that her teeth are definitely whiter, and also feel cleaner in the morning (the first few days she said she couldn’t stop licking her teeth with her tongue since they felt so clean, lol).

I’ve used it and really like it (though I have to admit, it gives your toothbrush a grayish tint, so you may want to hide your toothbrush when you have company over, haha).

Healthy Q & A: Gum Disease

Q:

I’ve been diagnosed with the beginning stages of gum disease.  I wanted to know if there was anything supplement wise that could help.

A:

There are a number of things that can help.  CoQ10 is the first I’d recommend.  It’s a potent antioxidant best known for its benefits to heart health, but research has shown it to be beneficial to gingivitis and periodontal disease.   CoQ10 can help to strengthen gums and may help to prevent gums from receding.  Research has found that people with periodontal disease have low levels of CoQ10 in their gums, and that supplementing with CoQ10 (by pill or by rubbing on the gums) may enhance healing and tissue repair.  One placebo controlled study found that applying CoQ10 topically to the gums reduced gum loss and the depth of dental pockets after three weeks.

Oral probiotics can also be helpful, by increasing the balance of good bacteria in the mouth, they can help to reduce the amount of bad bacteria which contributes to gum and periodontal disease.  Nature’s Plus has one that’s particularly nice, it contains CoQ10 as well as probiotics strains which are especially targeted for oral health.

A high potency multivitamin would also be a good idea, since it would contain a number of vitamins which are beneficial for healing and reducing inflammation like Vitamin A, C, E, and folic acid.

Tea tree mouthwash can also be beneficial for people with gum disease.  Tea tree oil contains natural antibacterial and antiseptic properties which can help to heal gum infections and fight bad breath.   We also have tea tree treated dental floss which is a wonderful product to use with gum and periodontal disease since it brings the antibacterial tea tree oil around the gumline and between teeth.