Bleeding gums are a fairly common problem. Despite this, few people, having discovered such ailment, turn to a doctor, and even behind this problem could be a nutritional deficiency, such as vitamin C deficiency.
Most of the time, bleeding is attributed to a bad toothbrush or a lack of vitamins. Unfortunately, in fact, the reasons for such a problem can be much broader: from really harmless to very serious.
Lack of vitamin C is one of the risk factors for gingivitis. The disease is accompanied by periodontal inflammation, swelling and bleeding.
Vitamin C is an essential trace element for the correct and healthy functioning of the body. Therefore, its deficiency can lead to a decrease in quality of life.
What symptoms indicate vitamin C hypovitaminosis?
Vitamin C or ascorbic acid (antiscorbutic vitamin) is necessary for the formation of collagen and connective tissue, it holds blood vessels, bone tissue, skin, tendons and teeth together.
With the help of ascorbic acid, the body copes with many toxins and poisons. By combining with vitamin C, toxic substances are rendered harmless and excreted in the urine, vitamin C is a water-soluble compound and is not stored for future use, so a person must consume it daily with food.
Why Vitamin C Deficiency Causes Bleeding Gums
With low levels of vitamin C in the body, internal bleeding occurs, wounds heal poorly, gums bleed.
Vitamin C participates in the synthesis and formation of collagen, which is one of the most important proteins in human bone tissue. An acute lack of vitamin C, known as scurvy, has claimed many lives some centuries ago. Symptoms of deficiency of this vitamin can be periodontal bleeding and subsequent loss of dental units. A severe lack of vitamin C leads to the destruction of the vessels that feed the gums, the connective tissue that supports the teeth loosens and cannot hold the dental units in the bone.
Vitamin C to prevent other ailments
Vitamin C is an important antioxidant that controls the formation of free radicals, unstable particles that damage cells and cause disease. With good amounts of vitamin C, we are better protected from certain types of cancer and heart disease.
Vitamin C is most effectively absorbed from food when it comes to bioflavonoids known as vitamin P, which are found naturally in foods rich in vitamin C, such as orange peel, mango, papaya, kiwi, red and green bell peppers, and others foods rich in vitamin C.