Antioxidant Foods
Oral Antioxidants
I love to read the latest medical research findings. When I happen upon something that’s relevant to my patients and the general public, I like to pass it on. I recently learned some things about dental stem cell research and baby teeth and wrote about it in my FocusedCareDental.com blog. Well, I guess the media found it interesting too, because the topic got picked up on numerous online news sites.
While “oral antioxidants” may not be the media darlings that “stem cells” are, these molecules play a role in everyone’s health. Researchers have been studying salivary antioxidant activity and its relationship to oral inflammation, healing of mouth wounds and systemic disease. Links have been found between oral inflammation and diabetes, cardiovascular disease and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as conditions ranging from obesity to diminished fertility and premature birth.
The Saliva Defense System
Naturally occurring antioxidants in the saliva are part of the body’s defense system. They protect your cells from damage caused by an overabundance of free radicals. Free radicals are produced in the body after exposure to things like radiation, environmental pollutants and certain foods all leading to illness and aging.
Researchers have been studying the role of oxidation in oral health – particularly as it relates to periodontitis, chronic dry mouth, oral cancer, and malfunction of the jaw joint (TMJ). Smokers, patients under stress and those with these diseases have been found to have reduced antioxidant activity in their saliva. Oxidation in the oral cavity is thought to lead to mouth inflammation, so I think increasing antioxidant levels in the mouth is a valid component of a comprehensive oral hygiene program – especially if patients have had mouth surgery, teeth extractions or oral ulcers or lesions and need extra healing.
In fact, there is a topical oral antioxidant gel that has been available since 2010 called AO ProVantage. It contains ferulic acid and phloretin, two antioxidants that counteract free radical activity in skin cells. Researchers at Baylor College of Dentistry’s Department of Biomedical Sciences in Dallas, Texas, also recently linked these two substances to oral cell regeneration, according to a study released this month at the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. (Note: Currently, AO ProVantage is available only through a dentist or other health care professional.)
I think amping up the antioxidant levels in the mouth is a valid approach to promote healing of oral wounds and inflammation. When teamed with a nutritious chemical-free diet, brushing, flossing, professional dental cleanings, moderate exercise, stress reduction and good sleep on a consistent basis, I think we might see “spit therapy” play a role in the measurable reduction of disease. It’s a tall order, but we dentists can dream can’t we?
If you have oral inflammation or it’s been a while since you’ve been in for a checkup, call our Encino dental office to schedule an appointment at (818) 385-3681 or email us.
Best Regards, AM
Tip of the Day:
Eat foods high in beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein and Vitamins A, C and E and you’ll be well on your way to an antioxidant-rich diet: carrots, blueberries, beans, mangos, spinach, apricots, squash, watermelon, pumpkin, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, nuts, grains, cantaloupe, asparagus, papaya, eggs, collard greens, kale, broccoli, red wine, grape juice, figs, raisins, strawberries, peppers, avocados, spices, fresh herbs and cocoa. (I saved the best for last!)
