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Questions About Specific Health Issues

Type O with Receding Gums


QUESTION

What helps with non-diseased receding gums? (I'm an O- with primary biliary cirrhosis and just found ER4YT three weeks ago. I feel better already just eliminating wheat & dairy and eating more meat-Thanks!)



ANSWER

Gum repair is one of the most energy-intensive functions performed by the body, and gum (or gingival) tissue is one of the most sensitive to the efects of free-radical damage. Since your gum loss id 'non-diseased' you may want to examine the problem from a whole body perspective.

I would recommend that you get your antioxidant levels checked. A simple, inexpensive way to do that is the use the Oxystress Test from NAP. If you level of oxidative stress is high (and I suspect it is becasue of the history of biliary cirrhosis) you can try a few of the suggestions below:

  • Co Enzyme Q10: The demand for the nutrient skyrockets when gum tissue is under stress. 50-100 mg daily taken with a fatty meal for 3-4 months helps enhance tissue recovery.(1)



  • Soy and avocado (more for type A's): Help block the degradation of preelastic fibres and mature elastic fibres by and enzyme called human leukocyte elastase (HLE). Avocado and soybean have fractions called 'unsaponifiables' which may be beneficial in patients with gingival inflammation and parodontitis, since HLE plays a major role in these disease states. (2)



  • Selenium: This powerful antioxidant has been proven to block free radical damage to gum tissue. (3)



  • Folic acid: Especially as a mouth rinse, has been long know to help prevet gum recession in pregnant or otherwise health individuals. If you pharmacy doesn't stock it, you can make a simple rinse by dissolving 2 400mcg tablets of folic acid into a shot glass of warm water, and swishing it around.(4)



    • 1. Crit Rev Oral Biol Med 1999;10(4):458-76 Oxidative injury and inflammatory periodontal diseases: the challenge of anti-oxidants to free radicals and reactive oxygen species. Battino M, Bullon P, Wilson M, Newman H

    2. Pathol Biol (Paris) 1998 Sep;46(7):571-6 Morphometric analysis of human gingival elastic fibres degradation by human leukocyte elastase protective effect of avocado and soybean unsaponifiables (ASU).

    3. J Clin Periodontol 1994 Jan;21(1):45-7 Reduction of collagen degradation in experimental granulation tissue by vitamin E and selenium. Asman B, Wijkander P, Hjerpe A

    4. J Clin Periodontol 1984 Oct;11(9):619-28 Folate mouthwash: effects on established gingivitis in periodontal patients. Pack AR




    The Ask Dr. D'Adamo internet advice column ran from 1996 to 2009, at which time Dr. D'Adamo's teaching and programming responsibilities no longer allowed him to devote time and resources to directly answering visitor questions. However we've recently reorganized this treasure-trove of material and made it again available to his readership. He occasionally posts new entries. These are marked with a NEW tag.



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