ANTIOXIDANTS

Antioxidants are critical for good health — including healthy oral tissues.

Sources for antioxidants

Maintaining a good balance of oxidants and antioxidants is important for oral health as well as systemic health. Factors such as pollutants, alcohol, nicotine, hydrogen peroxide and dental compounds and procedures can upset the balance of oxidants in oral tissues, causing oxidative stress. Fortunately, antioxidants can counteract the imbalance.

There are several thousand antioxidants, including enzymes, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients and compounds. Some antioxidants are produced within the body; others, such as vitamins A and C, must be provided by external sources. A healthy, varied diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains and nuts is an excellent source of antioxidants. Antioxidants may be supplied by other external means as well.

Research has also shown that antioxidant molecules only work on specific free radicals or in one area or tissue type. Also, certain combinations of antioxidants can work together synergistically for even greater impact.

Limitations to oral ingestion

Antioxidants ingested from foods, pills or other supplements, are digested and absorbed into the bloodstream. Increasing the amount of ingested antioxidants may increase the concentration in the bloodstream, but this may not be effective or safe. There is no way to ensure that antioxidants circulating in the bloodstream hit a specific target, such as oral tissues, or that there is a sufficient amount to be effective.

Further, the body cannot stockpile antioxidants for later use; excess amounts are excreted in urine. Some antioxidants in very high doses (e.g., vitamin E or vitamin A) can be toxic. In other words, megadoses of ingested antioxidants are of questionable benefit for oral or systemic health.

Topical antioxidants

An emerging field of science and health is the use of topically applied antioxidants. Scientific and clinical research has already shown that certain antioxidants applied topically can be counteract the damaging effects of free radicals on skin cells.

Studies published in peer-reviewed journals have identified a handful of antioxidants that are highly effective in protecting human skin from ultraviolet light-induced skin damage and oxidative stress. Specific combinations of vitamin C, vitamin E, ferulic acid, and phloretin have been shown to reduce the amount of free radical compounds associated with UV-induced inflammation, i.e., sunburn. Based on the results of these scientific studies, the antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E, ferulic acid and phloretin) have been formulated into compounds for topical application to skin cells. Further research has confirmed that this form of application is effective in counteracting the damage caused by UV rays on the skin.

New Research: Topical antioxidants on oral cells

The success of topical antioxidants on skin cells suggests a promise of similar effectiveness of topical compounds on cells in the oral cavity. Research studies are currently under way to examine the effectiveness of combinations of antioxidants applied topically to oral cells. Results from clinical studies, though incomplete, are positive. In addition, these published research studies confirmed that antioxidants that work on skin cells also have an effect on oral (gingival and periodontal) cells

Combinations of antioxidants reverse the inhibitory effects of nicotine on wound-healing associated cell migration.
(Antioxidants Counteract Nicotine and Promote Migration via RacGTP in Oral Fibroblast Cells, J. Periodontology, 2010 Nov; 81(11): 1675-90. Epub 2010 Jul. 17.)
Nicotine impairs migration of gingival and periodontal fibroblasts. Treatment with combinations of antioxidants showed synergistic effects in restoring cell migration after wound creation.
(Antioxidants Increased In Vitro Wound Healing of Nicotine-Treated Oral Fibroblasts, FASEB J. April 2010 24 (Meeting Abstract Supplement 181.2).
Antioxidants may have beneficial effects on regulating fibroblast proliferation during gingival healing or periodontal repair.
(Antioxidants Promote Proliferation of Human Gingival and Periodontal Ligament Fibroblasts, presented at AADR Annual Meeting, March 3-6, 2010.)

Featured Research

The effect of an antioxidant gel compared to chlorhexidine during the soft tissue healing process: An animal study

This is the first evidence in an animal model that the AO gel (PerioSciences) healed gingival wounds faster than Chlorhexidine.

Poster: Bioactive Polyphenol Antioxidants Protect Oral Fibroblasts from ROS Inducing Agents

Oral tissues acquire oxidative damage from exposure to free radicals generated by lifestyle choices, the environment and some dental procedures. In this study, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), ethanol (EtOH) and nicotine...

Salivary antioxidants and oral health in children with autism

101 subjects with autism between ages 6 and 12 year were part of this study, along with 50 normal healthy siblings of the same age group as the control group, to evaluate...

Use of Antioxidants in Oral Healthcare

There is increasing attention to the potential benefit from the use of antioxidants in the field of dental medicine. In general, antioxidants may be available through oral ingestion, diet or...

Wiki: Antioxidants

An antioxidant is a molecule capable of inhibiting the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions...

Peer Reviewed Scientific Articles

Chemical genoprotection: reducing biological damage to as low as reasonably achievable levels

This in vitro study evaluates the antioxidant substances present in the human diet with an antimutagenic productive capacity against genotoxic damage induced by exposure to X-rays in an attempt to reduce biological damage to as low a level as reasonably...

Definite, probable or dubious: antioxidants trilogy in clinical dentistry

Recent years have shown the presence of free radicals in causation and progression of various dental diseases and antioxidant usage in dental therapeutics. Antioxidant micronutrients are important not only for limiting oxidative and tissue damage, but also in preventing increased...

Evidence of oxidative stress in temporomandibular disorders: a pilot study

Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of many conditions and is caused by free radicals in concentrations that overwhelm the natural scavenging mechanisms and cause pain and inflammation. This investigation sought to determine whether pain from temporomandibular disorders was...

Healthy properties of proanthocyanidins

Proanthocyanidins have a putative role as antioxidants, and are able to produce antiadhesive actions against bacteria in urinary and dental infections, including Escherichia coli and Streptococcus mutans. Hence, proanthocyanidins are considered as beneficial molecules in preventing or treating many diseases...

In vivo astaxanthin treatment partially prevents antioxidant alterations in dental pulp from alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is elevated in diabetes, particularly amongst those who have poor glycemic control, and it has been hypothesized that increased ROS generation in longstanding diabetes might result in oxidative damage to DNA (Wyatt et...

Interaction between dental metals and antioxidants, assessed by cytotoxicity assay and ESR spectroscopy

Among dental metals, copper showed the highest cytotoxicity against human oral squamous cell carcinoma and human submandibular gland carcinoma cells, followed by palladium-alloy, gold and silver. Normal human cells (gingival fibroblast, pulp cells, periodontal ligament fibroblast) were relatively resistant to...

Nitrogen dioxide-dependent oxidation of uric acid in the human oral cavity under acidic conditions: implications for its occurrence in acidic dental plaque.

Important to keep oral cavity pH at higher levels to prevent periodontal diseases. The results of this study seem to contribute to the understanding of the induction of periodontal diseases in the context of nitrite-dependent production of nitrogen oxides in...

Oxidant-antioxidant status in blood and tumor tissue of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients.

An increase in the oxidative stress in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients is associated with a deficient antioxidant defense mechanism. This oxidant-antioxidant imbalance may be considered as one of the factors responsible for pathogenesis of cancer. Future studies regarding assessment...

Poster: Bioactive Polyphenol Antioxidants Protect Oral Fibroblasts from ROS Inducing Agents

Redox status in periodontal and systemic inflammatory conditions including associated neoplasias: antioxidants as adjunctive therapy?

The aetiopathogenesis of periodontal diseases is initiated by microbial biofilm which could lead to a hyperinflammatory status in aggressive forms of the disease; and cause an imbalance in the redox status, resulting in oxidative stress-induced damage. There is increasing documentation...

Salivary antioxidants and oral health in children with autism

101 subjects with autism between ages 6 and 12 year were part of this study, along with 50 normal healthy siblings of the same age group as the control group, to evaluate the oral health status of children with autism and to...

Salivary antioxidants in patients with type 1 or 2 diabetes and inflammatory periodontal disease: a case-control study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare salivary concentrations of reduced, oxidized glutathione, uric acid, ascorbic acid, and total antioxidant capacity in subjects with diabetes and systemically healthy subjects with inflammatory periodontal disease. This study concludes that...

Supplementation of green tea catechins in dentifrices suppresses gingival oxidative stress and periodontal inflammation

Adding green tea catechins to a dentifrice may contribute to prevention of periodontal inflammation by decreasing gingival oxidative stress and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

The effect of an antioxidant gel compared to chlorhexidine during the soft tissue healing process: An animal study

This is the first evidence in an animal model that the AO gel (PerioSciences) healed gingival wounds faster than Chlorhexidine.

The Role of Polyphenolic Antioxidants in Health, Disease, and Aging

Polyphenolic antioxidants from dietary sources may help lower the incidence of certain cancers, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, and DNA damage and even may have antiaging properties. This review critically examines polyphenolic antioxidants, such as flavonoids, curcumene, and resveratrol in health,...

Total antioxidant capacity of saliva and its relation with early childhood caries and rampant caries.

Dental caries is an infectious and communicable disease and multiple factors influence the initiation and progression of the disease. Recently it has been claimed that oxidative stress may play an important role in the onset and the development of several...

Use of Antioxidants in Oral Healthcare

There is increasing attention to the potential benefit from the use of antioxidants in the field of dental medicine. In general, antioxidants may be available through oral ingestion, diet or vitamin supplements, and in nutraceuticals. In addition, treatment of oral...

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

Vitamin and mineral supplements are designed to treat and prevent deficiency syndromes and promote health. Consumers frequently misuse them, as they are guided by the belief that these supplements will prevent diseases and cure symptoms. Scientific evidence demonstrates their limited...

Other Publications

Dental Health: Vitamins For Dental Health

Gingivitis is a form of periodontal disease defined as chronic inflammation of the gums. Infection invades the tissues of the gums and the periodontal ligaments and even the alveolar bone where the teeth attach. One of the most proven ways...