Having problems with your teeth and gums? Coenzyme Q10 may help. Clinical research indicates that CoQ10 benefits periodontal disease, both as a treatment and a preventative.
Periodontal disease – a widespread problem characterized by swelling, bleeding, pain, and redness of the gums – is the most common cause of tooth loss in adults. The disease is caused by plaque-forming bacteria, which create inflammation and deterioration of the gum tissue. This deterioration often results in the loss of teeth.
It’s estimated that 90% of Americans will experience gum disease during their lifetime, and 25% of Americans over 60 will lose teeth due to the disease.
But bad as loss of teeth is, it isn’t the worst possible result of gum disease. Studies suggest that the natural inflammatory response to the bacteria may have adverse effects throughout the body, including damage to the heart.
Low levels of CoQ10 associated with with gum disease
Dentists agree that good oral hygiene is the first line of defense against gum disease, but research has shown that the coenzyme can also play an important role in both prevention and treatment.
A natural substance found in every cell, the coenzyme plays two important roles in overall health. Its primary function is to assist in the production of energy at the cellular level, and it is also a powerful antioxidant, capable of neutralizing the damaging effects of free radicals (chemically unstable molecules formed during the process of cellular oxidation). In both respects, it is important to tissue health.
In the early 1970s pioneering studies indicated that gum tissue taken from patients with periodontal disease was low in the coenzyme and since that time studies have repeatedly confirmed that low CoQ10 levels are definitely associated with periodontal disease.
Supplementation effectively halts disease and may reverse it
Numerous animal studies and clinical trials involving human periodontal disease patients indicate that supplemental dosage of the coenzyme can effectively halt the progression of the disease.
In addition, several small studies have shown that additional CoQ10 can actually reverse the effects of the disease, and when used in conjunction with other treatments can result in faster and more complete healing than expected with standard treatments alone.
CoQ10 is known to boost the immune system, which in turn enables the body to more effectively fight infection. It is believed that supplements promote faster healing by increasing the amount of cellular energy available for tissue repair.
