If you have noticed that you have bleeding gums you have a Vitamin C deficiency.
Vitamin C deficiency was identified as scurvy in the 1700’s when sailors who did not have access to fresh fruits and vegetables developed bleeding gums, gum disease and blotchy skin.
In this report published by Harvard Medical School, more than 10,000 patients who were diagnosed with bleeding gums had low Vitamin C levels.
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient. It is important for making collagen, fighting infection and removing toxins from the body. Vitamin C is stored in the adrenal glands which are the stress glands. When the brain perceives a threat such as infection or a stressful situation or danger, the adrenal glands get a phone call from the brain to start releasing Vitamin C. When the body is under chronic stress, the adrenal glands can become depleted, resulting in a Vitamin C deficiency. Even if you don’t get full blown scurvy, you can still be experiencing a functional Vitamin C deficiency. This can present as gum disease or bleeding gums.
Surprising Facts About Vitamin C Deficiency
You might be wondering how on earth it is possible to have a Vitamin C deficiency with the abundant fruits and vegetables in our supermarkets.
First, consider that Vitamin C is sensitive to light and heat. if you are drinking pasteurized juice, it won’s have much Vitamin C. If you cook your vegetables the heat will inactivate the Vitamin C. If you cut your fruit and wait a few days to eat it, the Vitamin C becomes inactivated. You need to cut the fruit and enjoy immediately and drink freshly squeezed juice and raw vegetables.
You may have noticed bottled juices that contain Ascorbic Acid. This is not Vitamin C. Ascorbic acid is one part of the Vitamin C complex. It is made synthetically by using corn starch from corns exposed to pesticides and contains mycotoxins. The corn starch is mixed with sulphuric acid to make ascorbic acid that is a preservative. This is not the natural Vitamin C that your body needs and relying on ascorbic acid may not help you avoid a Vitamin C deficiency.
If you are insulin-resistant or you have a lot of sugar in your system you will not absorb Vitamin C and could develop a Vitamin C deficiency even if you are eating fresh fruits and vegetables. This is because sugar and Vitamin C are very similar and use the same channels to get inside the cells. So the more sugar you have in your bloodstream, the less Vitamin C will be absorbed. Since insulin resistance is becoming more and more common, this is one of the reasons we are seeing more Vitamin C deficiency.
How To Choose The Right Vitamin C Supplement
On days when we are feeling calm and balanced, we can probably get our Vitamin C from eating a handful of cherries or other fruits. But when our bodies are experiencing stress, such a flu or chronic infections like gum disease or emotional stress, we need more Vitamin C and it may be necessary to supplement. Look for Natural Vitamin C, also called C-Complex or Whole C that is made from fruit. When my patients are recovering from surgery, I recommend taking a natural Vitamin C supplement three times a day for two weeks to speed up the recovery and also to detoxify the body.
The Best Treatment For Bleeding Gums
If you are experiencing bleeding gums or you have been told you need to have teeth pulled because of gum disease, there is hope. I recommend LANAP laser treatment for gum disease, the only periodontal procedure that is FDA-approved to reverse gum disease. You can read more about LANAP on my website.
My approach to treating gum diseases is to combine advanced technologies with natural remedies and ancient wisdom. If you feel this approach is right for you, feel free to schedule a consultation in my Beverly Hills office. Call 310-205-0900 or email us at [email protected]. I look forward to helping you fight gum disease and keep your natural teeth for as long as possible.