The Top Ten Nutrients for a Healthy Mouth

As Preston Road Dental Care, PA, (PRDC) dentists working with our patients in the health and wellness arena, we have seen many of our patients experience profound improvements in oral and systemic health based on good homecare habits and a nutritional regimen aimed at oral health.  Our recommendations are always specific to oral health, since we practice dentistry, not medicine.  However, the reality is that the mouth and its associated structures are connected to the rest of the body, and any nutritional supplements you take for dental reasons will obviously be disseminated throughout the entire body.

At PRDC we make recommendations strictly from a dental perspective, however, we make those nutritional-supplement recommendations for oral health, and the systemic health benefits that may also result become a welcome bonus for our patients. 

To the old saying about avoiding bargains on parachutes and brain surgeons, we might add something about avoiding bargains on nutritional supplements.  It is critical for the supplement to be pure, have the actual amount of ingredients in it that are stated on the label, and he highly absorbable in order to be biodegradable.  A PRDC we recommend and carry only pharmaceutical-grade supplements that use standardized extracts from all-natural ingredients, all certified organic.  This means that the products we carry meet these criteria and are also certified free of chemical and biological residue.  The line that we carry means getting the top ten nutrients are important and all function synergistically, so leaving out any one of them would result in less than optimal health.

The Top Ten Nutrients in Order of Importance:

1. Vitamin C – ascorbic acid.  Dosage 500-1000 mg/day.  Required for healthy gum tissue, and to prevent swollen, bleeding gums, tooth loss, impaired ability to heal, and sometimes even death from scurvy.

2. Bioflavonoids – Dosage 500 mg/day.  Usually derived from lemons, oranges, and grapefruits.  Required for formation of collagen, the protein building block for gum tissue, cartilage, and bone.  Plays an important role in maintaining a competent immune system.  Water-soluble nutrients necessary for proper functioning and absorption of Vitamin C.

3. Coenzyme Q10  (Co Q10) – Dosage 60-180 mg/day.  So profoundly important to health that few adults should be doing without it as a nutritional supplement.  Virtually required for formation of collagen, which is the principal component of gum tissue and skin.  Efficacy in reducing gingival inflammation and perio pocket depth measurements.  Deficiencies take months to resolve, but in time diminished bleeding, reduced or absent inflammation, and reduced pocket depth, including reattachment.

4. Grape seed extract – 50-100 mg twice daily-supports collahgen structures and helps prevent collagen degradation, helps create stronger collagen by helping to crosslink collagen fibers, and acts as a powerful antioxidant.

5. Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) – 3000 mg/day, in divided doses.  Supplies the organic sulfur for the sulfur-containing amino acids that are necessary for formation of collagen.  Sulcular wall is renewed every three to seven days with the new, healthy gum cells requiring lots of sulfur to create a more effective barrier.  Systematic reduction of inflammation, promotes wound healing, reduces joint pain due to arthritis or TMJ, relief from allergies and sinus problems, and relieves pain of fibromyalgia.  Reduces scar tissue inside and outside the mouth.

6. Vitamin E Complex and Selenium – Dosage vit E 400-800 IU’s/day,  Selenium 100-200 mcg /day.  Potent anioxidant necessary to help gum tissue heal, tunes up immune system.

7. Calcium and Magnesium – Dosage Calcium 1000-2000 mg/day,  Magnesuim 500-600 mg/day.  Required for healthy bone growth and maintenance,  healthy teeth, nerve, and  muscle function.  Consumption of soft drinks depletes calcium.

8. Green Tea Extract – 100-200 mg daily.  Can reverse significant percentage of oral cancers.  Green tea has substances in it that tell abnormal cells to undergo apoptosis (cell suicide)  PRDC recommends drinking at least three cups of green tea daily by swishing it around in your mouth before swallowing it.  Has anti-cavity, antiviral benefits, anti-cancer, and helps destroy the biofilm creating cleaner teeth and oral soft tissues.

 9. Carotenoid Complex – 10,000-20,000 IU daily- converts to Vitamin A.  Strengthens  immune system, necessary for maintenance of mucous membranes (which make most of the inside of the mouth).

10. B Complex –Dosage 10-100 mg daily.  Deficiencies in this vitamin result in sore, inflamed oral tissues, and cracking at the corners of the mouth.  Involved in amino acid metabolism, which combine to make proteins that constitutes most of the makeup of gum tissue, mucosa, and skin.

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