Periodontal disease begins with gum inflammation and progresses to pockets of infection, bone loss, and loosening of the teeth. It is present in 90% of individuals over the age of 65.
Conventional prevention and treatment include regular flossing, using mouthwash that contains extracts of the herb thyme (such as thymol, found in Listerine), and using special toothbrushing appliances. If the condition becomes advanced, special deep-cleaning techniques and even surgery may be necessary.
Treatment
Proposed Treatments for Periodontal Disease:
Folate
Preliminary studies suggest that folate mouthwash may help in periodontal
disease. However, oral folate supplementation does not appear to be especially
effective.
Cranberry Juice
One test tube study suggests that cranberry juice might be useful for treating
or preventing gum disease. However, there is one kink to work out before
cranberry could be practical for this purpose: the sweeteners added to cranberry
juice arent good for your teeth, but without them cranberry juice is very
bitter.
Coenzyme Q10
The supplement CoQ10 is sometimes claimed to be an effective treatment for
periodontal disease. However, the studies on which this idea is based are too
flawed to be taken as meaningful.
Other Herbs and Supplements
A small double-blind placebo-controlled trial found extremely weak evidence that
chew candy containing green tea might reduce gum inflammation in individuals
with periodontal disease (gingivitis).
Other treatments proposed for periodontal disease include zinc, vitamin C,
calcium, magnesium, vitamin B12, bloodroot, and tea tree oil. However, as yet
none of these suggestions can be regarded as proven.
Xylitol
Xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar that appears to help suppress the
development of cavities when it is used in gum, candy or toothpaste. Highly
preliminary evidence suggests that it may help prevent gum disease, as well.