Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a prevalent yet preventable condition that affects a significant portion of the global population. Gum disease is characterized by inflammation of the gums and supporting structures of the teeth.
Gum disease can lead to serious health complications if left untreated, including tooth loss and systemic health issues. In this article, we will discuss the root cause of gum disease and natural prevention and treatment options.
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What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a common condition that affects the soft tissue around the teeth. Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease and can be found in up to 90% of the population.
Gingivitis is characterized by inflammation of the gums and can present with swelling, redness, and bleeding during brushing or flossing. Gingivitis is reversible with proper treatment and attention to oral hygiene.
If gingivitis is left untreated, it can progress to periodontitis. Periodontitis occurs when pathogenic bacteria penetrate deeper into the periodontium, resulting in bad breath, receding gums, and pus formation between the teeth and gums.
Recognizing early signs of gingivitis and implementing intervention can help prevent the progression of gum disease and preserve oral health (22).
What is Root Cause Medicine?
Root cause medicine is a holistic approach to healthcare that looks beyond symptom management and focuses on identifying and addressing the underlying factors leading to disease. It focuses on each patient as an individual and examines physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual imbalances in the body.
While conventional medicine only examines labs and symptoms, root cause medicine includes nutrition, lifestyle, genetic abnormalities, and underlying infections and toxicity in the body.
By applying the principles of root cause medicine to oral health and gum disease, practitioners can offer more comprehensive and personalized treatment approaches that address underlying factors contributing to disease (57).
Identifying the 4 Most Common Root Causes of Gum Disease
There might be a genetic factor influencing someone’s predisposition to getting gum disease. However, the following root causes tend to have an even larger impact on oral health:
1. Nutrient Deplete Diet:
Nutrition plays an important role in maintaining oral health, influencing the risk of developing cavities, gum disease, and even oral cancer. A high-sugar, high-saturated fat, and low-fiber diet has been shown to increase the risk of periodontal disease.
In addition, alcohol abuse is correlated with an increase in gum disease.
On the contrary, a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids, low sugar, and high fiber diet reduces the risk of periodontal disease. Specifically, following a Mediterranean diet, vegetarian diet, or DASH diet is correlated with a decrease in gum disease (32).
2. Poor Gut Health:
Gut dysbiosis is correlated with various diseases throughout the human body. There is microbial transmission between the oral cavity and gut microbiome, emphasizing the presence of an oral gut microbiome axis.
The link between oral health and gut dysbiosis is bi-directional. For example, in patients with Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD), studies show a direct change in the oral microbiome leading to early stages of gum disease.
It is also predicted that inflammation within the gut from Crohn's, Celiac, IBS, etc, triggers an immune response resulting in proinflammatory cytokines entering systemic circulation and affecting the oral microbiome.
Furthermore, oral pathogens such as P. gingivalis, a bacteria implicated in gingivitis, produce damage to the gut lining which can lead to gastrointestinal disease (2, 7, 33).
3. High Stress:
When under stress, the body releases cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline which have all been associated with changes in the oral microbiome. Increased cortisol levels produce shifts in the oral cavity closely linked to those with periodontal disease.
Additionally, the secretion of noradrenaline and adrenaline promoted the growth of Actinomyces, Eikenella, and Campylobacter within the oral cavity. These findings suggest hormonal changes when under stress are correlated with a rise in pathogenic bacteria promoting the development of gum disease (34).
To learn more about the connection between stress and oral health, read this article:
4. Exposure to Environmental Toxins:
Smoking tobacco increases your risk of developing periodontal disease by 5-20-fold. Individuals who regularly smoke cigarettes are at greater risk for developing bone loss, deep periodontal pockets of inflammation, and tooth loss. It has also been shown that smoking is correlated with a decrease in the effectiveness of treatments.
In addition to smoking, the presence of elevated heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury is associated with an increased risk of developing periodontitis (21, 22).
How to Prevent and Treat Gum Disease
After understanding the root causes, the pathway to treatment becomes much clearer.
First, Increase Nutrients in the Diet:
Nutrients provide the building blocks for gum health, which is why increasing nutrients is the best way to start a treatment plan.
- Micronutrients such as vitamins C, A, E, folic acid, and calcium are necessary for maintaining periodontal health and preventing gum disease.
- Increasing the intake of carotenoids through consuming carrots, sweet potatoes, and green leafy vegetables aids in supporting vitamin A levels.
- Increasing citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruit supports healthy vitamin C levels.
- For more specific guidance on following this type of diet, you can read more about the Mediterranean diet (32).
Nutrient-dense foods that also have anti-inflammatory properties are another important group to add to the diet.
- Shifting total fat intake to include more omega-3 fatty acids supports healthy inflammation levels and has been shown to decrease the risk of gum disease.
- Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids include olive oil, salmon, flaxseed, walnuts, and soybeans (32).
The intake of dietary fiber in the diet is inversely correlated with periodontal disease. Examples of foods high in fiber are fruits, oats, vegetables, and beans.
In addition to incorporating healthy food choices, supplementing with xylitol and CoQ10 has shown a significant reduction in gingival inflammation and pathogenic bacteria (31, 32).
Second, Improve Gut Health:
In addition to a healthy diet, implementing probiotics and fermented foods can beneficially impact our gut microbiome. A healthier gut microbiome is linked to improved oral health.
Fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kefir, kimchi, and yogurt contain beneficial probiotics aiding in a healthy gut. It has also been shown that a diet high in fermented foods decreases signs of inflammation in the gut.
Incorporating probiotic and prebiotic supplements also aids in improving gut health by regulating the colonization of healthy strains of bacteria and decreasing pathogenic strains (30, 47).
If poor gut health is significant, providers should target this more directly. Here are helpful articles to learn more about improving gut health:
- How to Heal Your Gut Naturally With Functional Nutrition
- Natural Anti-Inflammatory Agents for Gut Health: An Evidence-Based Review
- How to Create a Gut Healthy Nutrition Meal Plan
- Fueling Your Gut: The Best Foods To Restore Gut Health
Third, Reduce Stress With Stress Management Techniques
Because stress hormones are closely correlated with an increase in periodontal disease, stress management is a critical part of a well-rounded oral health treatment plan.
Implementing stress reduction techniques such as meditation, yoga, and regular exercise are effective methods in calming stress hormones.
One study showed that practicing yoga accelerates treatment outcomes by decreasing stress in periodontal disease. Further research has shown practicing pranayama, a type of yoga, results in a decrease in salivary cortisol and, thus, a decrease in the level of plaque and gingival inflammation (1, 38).
Finally, Decrease Toxic Load and Support Gentle Detoxification
Periodontal disease is associated with increased exposure to heavy metals and smoking tobacco. These metals can be found either within the cigarettes themselves, in unclean water, or in contaminated foods.
To decrease exposure to environmental toxins, it is recommended to eat primarily organic-grown food, avoid processed foods, eliminate plastics, and avoid aluminum-based cooking equipment.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, one-quarter of Americans are exposed to toxicants within the water supply. To decrease this exposure, it is recommended to install a carbon-based filter into the main water line of your home (35).
It also may be beneficial to implement the following practices that support the body’s detoxification pathways:
- Eat or supplement additional specific nutrients such as B vitamins, sulfur-rich foods, and antioxidants like vitamins C and E because they all support the liver and protect against oxidative stress.
- Supplement with milk thistle, NAC, and curcumin, which can also enhance kidney and liver detoxification (54).
- Dosages need to be discussed with a healthcare practitioner who can make a recommendation based on total medical history.
How to Integrate Root Cause Medicine with Conventional Dental Care
Holistic dentistry approaches gum disease with a focus on oral health and its relation to other organ systems. Conventional dentistry focuses on treating symptoms rather than looking at the underlying cause.
It is important to treat periodontal disease with a holistic approach to identify the root causes of disease and make the necessary lifestyle adjustments needed to correct underlying pathology.
Functional medicine practitioners and dentists must collaborate to optimize patient outcomes. By working together, medical professionals and dentists can address both the dental aspects of gum disease and its systemic implications (52).
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Key Takeaways
- The adoption of root-cause medicine in treating periodontal disease offers significant promise in both the prevention and treatment of gum disease.
- Patients need to integrate holistic health strategies such as proper nutrition and stress management techniques when treating periodontal disease.
- Readers should be encouraged to seek out healthcare practitioners who embrace a comprehensive approach to dental care.
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