Rinsing with Green Tea Improves Oral Health

Rinse with green tea and keep your teeth happy. (Photo by Daria)

I've written before about the protective effects of green tea against dental caries. Several studies have shown that green tea helps tooth and gum health by reducing harmful bacteria, increasing enamel strength and inhibiting the breakdown of starch to sugar.

Black tea, cocoa and coffee protect against oral problems too, but green tea seems to be the most effective. A new study sheds more light on how drinking green tea improve oral defense mechanisms through oral peroxidases (OPOs) (link).

The two major defensive peroxidases of the mouth are salivary peroxidase (SPO) and myeloperoxidase (MPO). Their function depends partly on diet and probably also on genes.
In the abstract, the authors mention that their earlier study showed that elderly people who drank green tea for 3 months had higher levels of oral peroxidase activity than non-drinkers. In this study, they compared the effects of green tea on OPO in vivo and in vitro.

Adding a green tea infusion to saliva increased oral peroxidase activity by 280%, while black tea increased it by only 54%. Adding only epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the main polyphenol in green tea, increased activity by 42%. The effect was dose-dependent, which I assume here means that the stronger the tea, the greater the effect.

In human subjects, green tea gave a very similar result. Mouth rinsing with a green tea infusion resulted in a 268% increase in OPO activity. Thus, while green tea extracts may be more useful than just drinking regular green tea for some purposes, for dental health drinking and/or rinsing is probably the most effective way.

Note, however, that higher levels of salivary peroxidase don't necessarily mean better oral health; in fact, people with more dental caries and gingivitis tend to have higher SPO activity (link). My guess is that this is a defense mechanism against the harmful effects of excess hydrogen peroxide, which is excreted by oral bacteria. In other words, the stronger the attack, the stronger the defense.

In the case of green tea it seems that increasing SPO really does lead to better oral health, though.

For more information on green tea and dental health, see these posts:

Drinking 10 Cups of Green Tea Daily and Not Smoking Could Add 12 Years to Your Life
Green Tea Extract Enhances Abdominal Fat Loss from Exercise
Vegetable vs. Animal Sources of Vitamin A: Why Eating Carrots Isn't Enough
Genes, Diet and Oral Health: Why Do Some People Get Cavities and Others Don't?

Read More......

Vegetable vs. Animal Sources of Vitamin A: Why Eating Carrots Isn't Enough

Think you're getting enough vitamin A from carrots? Think again. (Photo by Ben Hussman)

In the comment section of my previous post on genes, diet and cavities, a couple of readers commented that vitamin A is necessary for proper dental health. I replied that I get plenty of beta-carotene (the vitamin A precursor found in vegetables and fruits) from red palm oil, which I use for most of my cooking these days.

Today, however, I came across a couple of papers looking at how well humans actually absorb beta-carotene and convert it to vitamin A (link, link). To my surprise, the conversion rate was much poorer than I'd previously thought. The first paper, which looked at beta-carotene absorption in 11 men, had this to say:

The vitamin A activity of ß-carotene is variable. The carotene in fruit, grains, and oils seems to be more effective as a source of vitamin A than that in dark-green leafy vegetables.

So, not all sources of beta-carotene are equally good in terms of absorption. The conversion rate also depends on the amount of beta-carotene (the higher the amount, the lower the rate) and whether fat is included or not.

Strikingly, only 6 of the 11 men included in the study absorbed and converted the beta-carotene they were given. The remaining 5 were classified as non-responders. The authors conclude that the vitamin A activity of beta-carotene can be "surprisingly low and variable". Even in those who did respond to supplementation, mean absorption was only ~4% and the conversion ratio was ~0.05.

In a similar study on 11 women, the same thing happened: only 6 of the women absorbed and converted beta-carotene enough to be measurable, while 5 women were non-responders. In those who did respond, mean absorption was ~6% and the conversion ratio ~0.1. This confirms earlier findings reporting that women absorb and convert beta-carotene more efficiently than men; the same also appears to be true in rats.

These figures suggest that the commonly accepted conversion rates of beta-carotene from plant sources may be too optimistic. Even red palm oil might not be up to par with animal sources. In one study, switching from green leafy vegetables to red palm oil did increase retinol levels, but only in subjects who were vitamin A deficient to begin with (link). And for many Westerners who don't eat palm oil or organ meats, the reality is even worse:

Also, it seems that the vitamin A activity of ß-carotene that is not dissolved in oil and emulsified is low and variable. Most ß-carotene in the American diet is not consumed in an emulsified form with fat. Our intent was to replicate a typical diet to develop better leads for how the body utilizes its given resources. The fat content of the meal that accompanied the doses in our study was the recommended amount, 30%. Many professionals recommend lower-fat diets.

Now there's something for the low-fat raw food vegetarians to chew on. On the other hand, the absorption of retinol, found in animal sources such as liver and eggs, appears to be much higher. Most of the estimates I've seen on various websites are between 60-90%, but even that may be too conservative, as the only actual study I could find showed that absorption was >99% (link).

Since my vitamin D levels are already good, and I take vitamin K2 supplements, the missing link in the trinity of dental health could indeed be vitamin A in my case. While I do eat eggs every now and then, their retinol content is only about 10% of that of liver. I guess it's time to put organs on the menu.

For more information dental health, see these posts:

Genes, Diet and Oral Health: Why Do Some People Get Cavities and Others Don't?
Tea, Coffee and Cocoa: All Good for Your Teeth
Dental Health Effects of Green and Black Tea
Preventing Mouth Ulcers with Tea Tree Oil Toothpaste - Results after Two Months

Read More......

Genes, Diet and Oral Health: Why Do Some People Get Cavities and Others Don't?

Getting rid of candies didn't prevent me from getting caries. (Photo by exper)

As you may know, I have something of an ongoing experiment with dental health. This includes reducing cavities, preventing gingivitis and the receding of gums, and also finding safe ways of whitening teeth.

In previous updates, the main focus has been on the teeth whitening aspect. The last product I purchased was called "Plus White 5 Minute Bleach Whitening Gel". Compared to the supposedly teeth whitening toothpastes out there, this product does seem more effective.

However, in recent months, I've noticed increased sensitivity along the gumline. Specifically, the gums next to two of my upper teeth seem to be the problem. The whitening gel probably has very little to do with it, but it doesn't solve the problem either. In the short term, whitening gels can increase sensitivity, so for the time being, I've turned my focus elsewhere – to preventing caries and improving gum health.

The motivation for this post is that I've struggled with these things my whole life, and despite my various experiments with diet, I've yet to find a proper solution to the problem. When I was a kid, the common explanation was that too much candy and soda was the reason for dental cavities – despite the fact that scientists had already shown that carbohydrates in general give rise to the bacteria that cause caries. So when I got a bit older, I cut back on candy and soda, hoping it would be enough.

Unfortunately, it wasn't. Apart from the Snickers Bars and Coca-Cola I'd occasionally enjoyed that were now gone, my diet remained the same. It took me a long time to discover that all carbs are essentially sugars, that all acidic drinks make the issue worse, and that it's not just Coke and candy that are the problem. You can get cavities just as easily by eating bread and drinking apple juice. Then it was time to get rid of those too.

When I reduced my carb consumption and switched to a more paleo-like diet, my dental health improved, but it still didn't stop me from getting a new cavity every now and then. Furthermore, I knew several people who ate junk food and drank acidic sodas all the time, and yet had never had cavities. Some didn't even brush their teeth every day, let alone floss. When we were kids, my brother and I had very similar diets, and yet I was the only one to get cavities.

These things have led me to believe that genes play a more important part than most dentists would have you believe. Kind of like some people stay thin no matter how much they eat. But, just like in the case of weight loss, your genes do not necessarily determine your fate – it just means you have to know what you're doing. People who don't have the genes for staying naturally thin have to be more careful with what they eat if they want to avoid weight gain. Similarly, people who get cavities easily have to be more careful with dental health.

While keeping your teeth clean by brushing, flossing and chewing gum prevents cavities, I'm wondering whether all the cleaning really strikes the problem at the root (no pun intended). If genetics do play a role, what is it specifically about some people's genes that keeps them from getting cavities, despite their poor dental health habits?

One important factor in cavity formation is saliva. The surfaces of teeth are constantly going through a process of demineralization and remineralization. The balance depends, in part, on salivary flow and the pH of saliva, with the mineral content probably playing a role as well. I know my mouth often feels kind of dry and acidic, which can't be a good thing for remineralization. What is unclear to me is how to affect these things.

There are a million websites out there listing foods that are "acid-forming" or "alkaline-forming", but the classification seems very unscientific. Some list apples as acid-forming because apples themselves are acidic, some list them as alkaline-forming because they claim we should look at what happens after digestion. Here's a quote from one such website:

All foods are "burned" in the body -- more commonly called "digested" -- leaving an ash as the result of the "burning", or the digestion. This food ash can be neutral, acid or alkaline, depending largely on the mineral composition of the foods.

I'm not sure how scientifically valid this theory is in the first place, but I do know that even those who promote the "food ash" theory disagree on which foods leave acid or alkaline ash. One person will tell you plums are acid-forming, while others will tell you they're alkaline-forming. I doubt any of them have actually burned plums and studied the ashes.

So, expect some dental health related posts in the upcoming weeks and months, as I go through some of the papers on the subject. I'm also interested in hearing your comments, especially if you've previously suffered from cavities but managed to find a solution.

Meanwhile, for more information on dental health, see these posts:

Tea, Coffee and Cocoa: All Good for Your Teeth
Dental Health Effects of Green and Black Tea
The Role of Coenzyme Q10 in Oral Health
Whitening Teeth & Healing Gums: In Search of the Perfect Toothpaste

Read More......

Teeth Whitening Experiment: Plus White 5 Minute Bleach Whitening Gel

Do vampires dream of electric teeth?

It's been about three months since my last update on the teeth whitening experiment. This experiment is my attempt to find safe ways to whiten my teeth and keep gums from receding. Given that I drink copious amounts of green tea and coffee daily, the whitening part has proven rather challenging.

For those who haven't been following the blog for very long, here's a quick recap. The first toothpaste I tried was Beverly Hills Formula Natural White, which I found in a grocery store while abroad. On paper, this toothpaste had all the good stuff – including coenzyme Q10 and green tea extract – but I didn't really see any real results. For the next few months I turned to Colgate Sensation White with its "micro-cleaning crystals". Again, no visible whitening of the teeth.

After Colgate it was time to try an ordinary store brand. The product I tried contained a combination of hydrated silica and triglycerides, which were supposed to work together to remove plaque and whiten the teeth. Granted, my teeth didn't get any more discolored despite all that tea, coffee, dark chocolate, and turmeric, but still, they didn't get any whiter either.

So now, after discovering that none of these whitening toothpastes seem to have any real whitening effect, I've brought out the big guns. Or at least slightly bigger than those pathetic toothpastes. This product is called Plus White 5 Minute Bleach Whitening Gel (for sensitive teeth), which is not a toothpaste per se but a gel that you leave on the teeth for a few minutes.

The whitening effect of this gel is based on hydrogen peroxide, a common ingredient in DIY teeth whitening products, and best of all, a substance actually proven to whiten teeth. You could probably make a very similar gel at home if you got your hands on some hydrogen peroxide, but I took the easy way and ordered the product online (since they don't sell Plus White in Europe, at least not in Finland). With international shipping it was a bit costly, but if you live in the US, you can get this stuff for a few dollars in several retail stores.

The instructions say to apply the gel on the teeth twice a day and leave it on for five minutes. After two weeks of use, you can start applying it less often. I'm going to start by applying it once a day to track any possible whitening effects more carefully. I'll probably be too lazy to take pictures, though, as it's a hassle to get the lighting right to make any worthwhile comparisons of tooth color. But rest assured, once I see results (or once I run out of the stuff), you'll be the first to know.

I have to say this is the first teeth whitening product that I actually expect to work. But then, I've seen absolutely no effect from so many supplements I've experimented with that I won't be too surprised if it doesn't. I'm just worried that if this doesn't work, the next step is going be an expensive visit to the dentist.

For more information on oral health, see these posts:

Tea, Coffee and Cocoa: All Good for Your Teeth
Dental Health Effects of Green and Black Tea
The Role of Coenzyme Q10 in Oral Health
Preventing Mouth Ulcers with Tea Tree Oil Toothpaste - Results after Two Months

Read More......

Whitening Teeth & Healing Gums – Experiment Update: Colgate Sensation White

The search for the perfect teeth whitening toothpaste continues. (Photo by jet platypus)

It's time for another update on my teeth whitening & gum healing experiment, which has been going on for quite a while now. As you may have guessed, the idea behind the experiment is to find safe and easy ways to whiten teeth and stop gums from receding.

To recap, for the past months I've been brushing my teeth with Colgate's Sensation White. This toothpaste has something called "micro-cleaning crystals", which are supposed to get rid of stains from coffee, tea, etc. According to Colgate, regular use will have a whitening effect in general. As a sign of confidence, the toothpaste even comes with a color strip to compare your teeth against.

I thought the included color strip was a great idea, but in practice, it's surprisingly difficult to find an exact match for your teeth color. So I decided to just rely on visual inspection. Subjective as it may be, I can say with a fair amount of certainty that my teeth are no whiter than they were before using Colgate. In fact, I would go as far as to say that they may have gotten even more discolored during these months.

This is most likely due to the fact that I drink several cups of green tea per day. While it most likely has a smaller effect than black tea, it still stains teeth in the long run. Another culprit is coffee, which I love. None of the supposed nootropics I've tried so far give me that mood-lifting energy boost quite like coffee does.

Two cups per day is my maximum at the moment. While it's not as much as many other coffee lovers I know, it probably has a significant effect on teeth color even in these amounts. And then there's dark chocolate, possibly my favourite food in the world. Goes brilliantly with coffee, mind you. I suspect consuming a copious amount of cocoa powder each day doesn't exactly make teeth sparkle, either.

It's important to note here that while staining, coffee, tea and cocoa are all good for dental health in general. It's just that the color and health of your teeth don't necessarily go together. For me, the choice between a longer life and shiny teeth is clear. Combining both would be optimal, of course.

My trust in whitening toothpastes is waning rapidly, but nonetheless, I have chosen another product for testing. This one is an ordinary store brand toothpaste with a claimed whitening effect. According to the label, the patented whitening mechanism is based on a combination triglycerides and hydrated silica. The latter is a common compound in toothpastes, as it a mild abrasive that helps in removing plaque and apparently also whitens teeth to some degree. Triglycerides in toothpaste is a new one for me, however.

I could just stop drinking tea and coffee for the duration of the experiment, but since most people looking to whiten their teeth are probably unwilling to quit enjoying their favourite beverages, I feel the experiment is much more interesting this way. If there's a product out there that can really make teeth whiter despite near-constant bombardment with tea, coffee and chocolate, then hey, we've got it made.

And if such a product indeed exists, I intend to find it.

For more information on dental health, see these posts:

Dental Health Effects of Green and Black Tea
The Role of Coenzyme Q10 in Oral Health
Tea, Coffee and Cocoa: All Good for Your Teeth
Preventing Mouth Ulcers with Tea Tree Oil Toothpaste - Results after Two Months

Read More......

Tea, Coffee and Cocoa: All Good for Your Teeth

The caffeine in coffee is good for dental health. (Photo by Ballistik Coffee Boy)

It may not come as a big surprise to you that green tea is good for dental health. After all, green tea is the miracle cure for pretty much anything, right?

If you're not a huge fan of green tea, worry not: there are other beverages out there that can do the same. In fact, if you're a long time follower of this blog, then you already know that not only green tea but also black tea helps prevent dental caries. Both are also good for the gums.

The good news doesn't stop there, however. A recent review found that in addition to tea, cocoa and coffee showed anti-cariogenic potential as well (link). The reason behind this effect is the polyphenol content in all three. Though each three has different polyphenols that work in different ways, they all appear to get the job done and improve oral health.

Cocoa and dental caries

According to the authors of the review, studies have shown that additing cocoa powder or chocolate to hamster diets reduces their caries incidence. Unsurprisingly, cocoa powder or dark chocolate works better than chocolate with high sugar and low cocoa levels. Water-soluble extracts of cocoa powder also inhibited caries formation in rats.

The two main strains of bacteria that cause caries are Streptococcus sanguinis and Streptococcus mutans. Although the case is not entirely clear, cocoa polyphenols seem to inhibit the growth of the former but not the latter.

Cocoa also reduces plaque formation by inhibiting the enzyme dextransucrase, which forms plaque extracellular polysaccharides from sucrose. In one study, a mouth-rinse made from the ground husk of cocoa beans was effective in reducing plaque scores in children.

Coffee and dental caries

Roasted coffee beans were shown in two studies to be antibacterial against S. mutans. Coffee also appears to interfere with the adsorption of S. mutans to teeth. In another study, coffee did not inhibit the growth of the bacteria, but did reduce the adherence of bacterial cells to dental surface. In other words, while coffee might not kill the bacteria, drinking coffee could prevent it from sticking to your teeth.

The compounds in coffee that are most active in terms of dental health are trigonelline, caffeine and chlorogenic acid. It is possible that the anti-adhesive effect is due to the synergistic action of these (and other) chemicals in coffee.

Tea and dental caries

Since I've already covered the topic of tea and dental health in an earlier post, I'll just go over the review findings briefly here.

Tea polyphenols appear to protect from dental caries primarily through their anti-microbial action. While cocoa and coffee are mostly effective against the adhesion of bacteria on the surface of teeth, tea in addition actually inhibits the growth of several strains of Streptococcus. The polyphenols in tea also reduce the formation of plaque, the production of acidic compounds and the synthesis of glucan from sucrose. Importantly, commercial teas have been shown to inhibit salivary amylase activity, which may significantly reduce caries formation from foods with starch.

Green tea, black tea and oolong tea (which is somewhere between the two in terms of fermentation time) have all been shown to be beneficial for oral health. Even though white tea has not been studied, it very likely has much of the same benefits as green tea. Due to its light color, it may also stain teeth less than green or black tea.

Conclusion

Tea, coffee and cocoa are all beneficial for dental health. Tea appears to be the best choice, since the polyphenols in tea are not only able to inhibit the adherence of bacteria to teeth, but also prevent the growth of cariogenic bacteria.

Tea is also effective against S. sanguinis and S. mutans, the two main strains responsible for caries, while coffee and cocoa seem to only work against the latter. While the effects of coffee have only been tested in vitro, cocoa has been shown to prevent caries formation in animals and reduce plaque in humans.

For more information on oral health, see these posts:

The Role of Coenzyme Q10 in Oral Health
Whitening Teeth & Healing Gums – Experiment Update
Dental Health Effects of Green and Black Tea
Preventing Mouth Ulcers with Tea Tree Oil Toothpaste - Results after Two Months

Read More......

Whitening Teeth & Healing Gums – Experiment Update

Drinking coffee and keeping teeth sparkling white can be a challenge. (Photo by karpov)

This is an update on my oral health experiment, the one where I look for safe and effective ways to whiten teeth and keep gums healthy.

For the past months, I've been using a toothpaste called Beverly Hills Formula Natural White. It has several interesting ingredients such as coenzyme Q10 and green tea extract, both of which have been shown to have oral health benefits. The manufacturer's website also claims it's more effective in whitening teeth than other toothpastes.

As I mentioned in my previous post, one of the reasons I decided to take on this experiment was to prevent discoloration of teeth from coffee and tea – two beverages I've grown increasingly fond of. I've noticed that my teeth aren't as white as they used to be, and I assume tea and coffee have something to do with it. However, I enjoy both of them way too much to just drinking them, so I'd much rather experiment with toothpastes and various other things.

So what have the results been? Compared to when I started this experiment, there hasn't been any whitening or darkening in color. You could argue that this counts as a success, since I've drank coffee and tea throughout this time, but I argue otherwise. What I want to see is a whitening effect despite drinking coffee and tea, which Beverly Hills Formula Natural White failed to deliver.

That's something of a disappointment, since I think that a lot of the stuff in this toothpaste actually is good for teeth and gums – perhaps there's just not enough of the active ingredients to make a real difference. One pleasant outcome has been the lack of mouth ulcers during the past several months, though that might be due to something else entirely. In any case, it's time to move on.

My next toothpaste is Colgate's Sensation White. The magic behind this product are apparently its "micro-cleaning crystals", which may or may not be pure marketing nonsense. I guess we'll find out soon enough. Apart from the crystals, the rest of the ingredients look like they could be found in any average toothpaste.

I have to give credit to Colgate for including a color scale with the tube, though. Very handy for tracking success in teeth whitening.

For more information on dental health, see these posts:

Whitening Teeth & Healing Gums: In Search of the Perfect Toothpaste
Dental Health Effects of Green and Black Tea
The Role of Coenzyme Q10 in Oral Health
Preventing Mouth Ulcers with Tea Tree Oil Toothpaste - Results after Two Months

Read More......

Coenzyme Q10 for Exercise & Better Health – Experiment Conclusion

The effects of CoQ10 supplementation on exercise are still unclear. (Photo by ericmcgregor)

This post marks the end of my experiment with CoQ10. The idea was to see whether taking coenzyme Q10 would have an effect on general health and exercise performance.

I've been taking 200 mg of CoQ10 (the ubiquinone form – for an explanation of the differences between different forms see this post) somewhat irregularly since summer. I actually had supplements to last me only three months, but I've had a couple of longer breaks in between to see whether I would notice a difference.

As with many other supplement experiments, I didn't. I've tried taking a capsule before going to the gym to see if it boosts my performance, but I haven't seen any noticeable effects. No effects from taking a capsule later in the day, either. This is not really surprising, since the studies on CoQ10 and exercise, though many, are inconclusive (for a more detailed discussion of CoQ10, exercise and oxidative stress, see this post).

Any other health benefits are pretty hard to tell, but I think it's safe to say that it hasn't made me immune to all disease, because I've caught a few colds during this experiment.

Still, I must say that the data on CoQ10 and older people is quite promising. Since levels of coenzyme Q10 drop with age and supplementation (especially with ubiquinol) seems to be an effective way to raise them, anyone over the age of forty would be wise to consider reading up on the possible benefits – and the negative effects of too little CoQ10 in the body.

However, at this point I don't see enough reason for me to continue taking it. The price is quite high, and the possible positive effects of CoQ10 on young, healthy people are mostly unknown.

I've saved the last remaining capsules to see whether rubbing the stuff on my gums does anything. The studies suggest that using CoQ10 both topically and orally promotes oral health, but during the months of eating the stuff I noticed no change in the small gingival pocket I have near one of my teeth.

Who knows, maybe topicals are the way to go here. Look out for an update in the coming weeks!

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Dental Health Effects of Green and Black Tea

Chinese black tea is one way to prevent dental caries and bad breath. (Photo by ralphunden)

In my previous post, I summarized the studies on dental health and coenzyme Q10. This time I turn to the oral health effects of tea, as green tea extract is one of the ingredients in the toothpaste I'm currently testing.

Both green tea and black tea seem to be beneficial for teeth and gums, as is suggested by this study from 2001, which concludes that various components in tea, notably catechins, may have anti-cariogenic activity. According to the study, tea has a bactericidal effect against Streptococcus mutans, which is a bacteria commonly found in the oral cavity and a significant contributor to tooth decay. Tea also prevents bacterial adherence to teeth, limits the biosynthesis of sticky glucan, and inhibits amylases, which break starch down into sugar.

A study from 1998 concludes that green tea extracts strongly inhibited different kinds of bacteria. An earlier study showed that green tea extract increased the acid resistance of tooth enamel; the same effect was noticed even when fluoride was removed from the extract.

This study from 2006 studied the effects of epigallocatechin gallate (or EGCg), one of the catechins in green tea. The results suggest that EGCg is effective in reducing bacteria and acid production in dental plaque. Another study concludes that the catechins in green tea may reduce periodontal breakdown associated with periodontal disease.

Black tea is not without its oral benefits either. According to researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago, polyphenols in black tea prevent the growth of bacteria responsible for bad breath. At higher concentrations the polyphenols apparently inhibited the growth completely, while at lower concentrations the growth was cut by 30 percent.

In this study, hamsters were fed either a regular diet or a cariogenic high-sucrose diet. When the hamsters in the two groups were given a standardized black tea extract instead of water, they had significantly lower caries formation. This effect was even more clear in the cariogenic diet group. Similar results were reported in another study, which concludes that consumption of black tea for two weeks attenuated the development and progression of caries in rats.

Like green tea, black tea works without the fluoride too, as this study from 1995 points out. The authors note, however, that when combined with fluoride, components such as tannin, catechin, caffeine and tocopherol had the best effect. The best combination was a solution of tannic acid and fluoride.

Together these studies strongly suggest that drinking tea, green or black, is helpful in preventing dental caries. However, as black tea stains teeth more than green tea does, it might be a good idea to choose green tea if you're concerned about teeth coloring. You might even consider white tea, which probably has a lot of the same effects of green tea and will likely stain the teeth even less, as it's not as dark in color as green or black tea.

For more information on green tea and black tea, see these posts:

Green Tea, Black Tea & Oolong Tea Increas Insulin Activity by More than 1500%
Drinking 10 Cups of Green Tea Daily and Not Smoking Could Add 12 Years to Your Life
Black Tea is More Effective in Reducing Superoxide Dismutase than Green Tea
Green Tea Reduces the Formation of AGEs

Read More......

The Role of Coenzyme Q10 in Oral Health

Coenzyme Q10 is said to promote gum health. (Photo by Conor Lawless)

In my last post, I mentioned that I would go through the ingredient list in the toothpaste I'm testing and present the studies associated with their effect on gums and teeth. First up is coenzyme Q10, which I'm also taking internally for another experiment.

The earliest study on CoQ10 and periodontal disease measured levels of CoQ10 in gingival tissues and reported that the levels were significantly lower in subjects with periodontal disease. The results were confirmed in a later study from 1974. This suggests that a deficiency in CoQ10 can cause problems in mouth health, but does not necessarily mean that taking more CoQ10 will fix problems in non-deficient subjects.

In one study from 1975 a patient with severe periodontal disease was treated with CoQ10. Apparently it was administered orally and was effective in reducing the symptoms after eight weeks. Another study from the same year studied eight patients with periodontitis and concluded that periodontal pocket depth decreased after only 5-7 days. The healing was viewed as "extraordinarily effective". The different forms of CoQ were administered orally instead of topically.

Three of the five researchers listed in that study did another study a year later, this time with eighteen patients with periodontal disease. Only CoQ10 was used. Again, the periodontal pockets improved in the group taking CoQ10 compared to the placebo group.

In a newer study from 2003, ten male patients were given topical CoQ10 once a week for six weeks. After three weeks, significant improvements in gingival index and bleeding on probing were seen only in the periodontal pockets that CoQ10 was applied to.

In addition to these studies, there is a patent claim from 2002 that suggests dissolving lozenges containing CoQ10 are effective in inhibiting microbial growth in gingival tissue.

Unfortunately, the amounts of CoQ10 administered orally are not available in the abstracts, so it's difficult to say how much is needed to see results. However, I doubt that they are much larger than the 200 mg I'm taking, as this is the highest amount per capsule I have seen on the market. Then again, I've yet to see any improvements in gum health (more spesifically, the one gingival pocket), and I've taken it for a lot longer than the subjects in the studies. Either oral CoQ10 only works in patients with severe periodontitis, or very high quantities are needed, or the studies are somehow flawed.

Interestingly, when CoQ10 is administered topically, it is usually mixed with soybean oil, which is one of the ingredients in the gel capsules; so, in theory, my first idea of opening the capsules and rubbing the contents on my gums might not have been such a bad thought after all. For now, however, I'm sticking with the toothpaste.

For more information on coenzyme Q10 and oral health, see these posts:

Coenzyme Q10, Exercise and Oxidative Stress
Coenzyme Q10 for Exercise & Better Health - Experiment Conclusion
Dental Health Effects of Green and Black Tea
Whitening Teeth & Healing Gums: In Search of the Perfect Toothpaste

Read More......

Whitening Teeth & Healing Gums: In Search of the Perfect Toothpaste

Finding the right toothpaste can be a daunting task. (Photo by Clean Wal-Mart)

I mentioned in an earlier post that there is some evidence that coenzyme Q10 may be useful in treating periodontitis. I quickly gave up the idea of opening the CoQ10 gel capsules (which I'm taking for another experiment) and rubbing the contens on my teeth, so things have been pretty quiet on that front lately. Luckily, I found a toothpaste that has, among other things, coenzyme Q10 in it. Testing this product is a logical sequel to the not-so-successful experiments with tea tree oil toothpaste.

The toothpaste is made by Purity Labs and is called Beverly Hills Formula Natural White, which doesn't really sound all that convincing - in fact, the name sounds like any other toothpaste, only a little tackier. The only thing that matters to me, though, are the ingredients, among which are aloe vera, echinachea, xylitol, CoQ10 and green tea extract. Not your average ingredient list. Here's a quote from their website:

Aloe Vera is proven to strengthen the body’s defensive system and contains various ingredients which can help to protect against peritonitis and other diseases that can start in the mouth. Echinacea on the other hand acts as an effective ingredient against bacteria and viruses. Green Tea extracts have adverse effects on the bacteria that cause dental caries and other infections. Q10 protects against periodontal decline, decreases decay as well as healing gums whilst naturally combating the causes of plaque, tartar, bad breath, cavities and gum problems. Beverly Hills Formula Natural does not contain SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate), or any artificial colours or flavours.

I bought the toothpaste because I wanted to whiten my teeth, which have been getting a little discolored lately - probably due to the copious amounts of coffee, black tea and green tea I've been drinking during my hunger-controlling experiments. Whiteness will thus be the first criteria against which the success of this experiment will be measured. The second criteria is the slight gingival recession I have next to one of my teeth. If the ingredients truly are effective, I expect my gums to be in top shape when the tube is empty.

I will analyse the ingredients and the possible science behind them in future posts. Until then, let the brushing begin!

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Coenzyme Q10 for Energy & General Health - Results after One Week

Does coenzyme Q10 help with energy levels and exercise? You tell me. (Photo by Aki Jinn)

So far, I haven't noticed anything different after taking 200 mg of CoQ10 daily for about a week. I've read some anecdotal evidence of CoQ10 boosting energy levels and the immune system, but I can't say the same. My throat still hurts, and yesterday having taken a capsule I went to the gym and working out felt pretty much the same as always.

I ran across an interesting study that claims CoQ10 might be effective in treating periodontitis. I have a mild gingival recession going on one of my upper teeth, which I would like to treat, but I haven't found an effective way to do so. My dentist said it's normal and that oral fluoride would help, but I'm skeptical of its effectiveness and also a little concerned about using fluoride at all.

I opened one of the gel capsules to see what the contents looked like, and what came out was an orange substance that resembles palm oil. In addition to CoQ10, the capsules contain soybean oil, gelatin, glycerin, titanium dioxide, riboflavin, water, yellow beeswax, soy lecithin, d-alpha tocopherol and polysorbate 80. Quite a lot of stuff. I don't know whether just rubbing it on my gums will do anything (hell, it might even be harmful), but this could make an interesting experiment.

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Regular vs Tea Tree Oil Toothpaste and Mouth Ulcers - Results after One Week

Regular toothpaste, the stuff of nightmares. (Photo by james_michael_hill)

A while ago I mentioned that I had ran out of the tea tree oil toothpaste I'd been using to get rid of the mouth ulcers that appear every now and then. During the first few weeks I didn't see much difference, but after that there was a longer than usual period of ulcer-free brushing.

A week ago I bought a tube of regular toothpaste, and the very next day I noticed a new ulcer. Whether that had something to do with the toothpaste or not is hard to say, though. Luckily it also went away after a few days - usually it takes at least a week. I did take 1,000 mg of vitamin C daily during the next few days, which may have helped.

I will continue using the regular toothpaste to see whether there is any difference to the tea tree oil toothpaste.

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Preventing Mouth Ulcers with Tea Tree Oil Toothpaste - Results after Two Months

Tea tree toothpaste is spesifically made for wooden teeth. (Photo by GraphicReality)

The tea tree oil toothpaste tube I bought has finally ran out. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I went to the dentist last week and found out I have a dental cavity. Of course, there's no way of knowing whether using the toothpaste had anything to do with it, and in any case, avoiding dental caries wasn't the primary reason I bought the toothpaste.

The real reason was to see whether it would help me get rid of mouth ulcers, and yesterday it struck me that I haven't had a single one since I last mentioned them. This was almost one and a half months ago, which is pretty good, but not really proof of the toothpaste working, since I did have a couple of ulcers during the beginning of the experiment.

I'm afraid I may have to buy another tube to confirm the results. Or I might try a normal toothpaste to see whether the effect was due to something else.

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Preventing Mouth Ulcers with Tea Tree Oil Toothpaste - Results after Seven Weeks

The ancient magic of the tea trees seems to be unnoticeable. (Photo by Richard Saunders)

Yet another setback in what I've come to call the "tea tree oil toothpaste tragedy".

The idea of the experiment was to see whether toothpaste has anything to do with developing mouth ulcers, as some theories suggest. I had such high hopes, but I think I've actually had more mouth ulcers while using the toothpaste than usually.

And as if that wasn't enough, I went to the dentist and was told that I have a new dental cavity as well. Whether that's due to the toothpaste is anyone's guess, but I'm not too happy with the results of this experiment.

I'm going to finish the tube no matter what, but if anyone has ideas on how to stop mouth ulcers from appearing, let's hear them.

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Preventing Mouth Ulcers with Tea Tree Oil Toothpaste - Results after Three Weeks

Sodium lauryl sulfate is what makes toothpaste foam. (Photo by Leo Reynolds)

As I wrote earlier, I was hoping to get rid of the mouth ulcers that appear every now and then by switching from a normal toothpaste to a tea trea oil toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulfate.

Unfortunately, the results have been rather disappointing. During the time I've been using the new toothpaste, I've had two mouth ulcers, which I don't think is an improvement at all. I'm going to continue the experiment until the toothpaste runs out, but seeing as it costs like 5 euros per tube, I won't be buying it again.

Here's the ingredient list: chalk, water, vegetable glycerine, carrageenan, essential tea tree oil, propolis, myrh.

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Preventing Mouth Ulcers with Tea Tree Oil Toothpaste

I have two new experiments going on right now.

The first one is switching to a toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulfate to see whether it prevents mouth ulcers. I've had mouth ulcers since I was a child, and while not a terrible health hazard, they're definitely uncomfortable. One appears perhaps once every month or so, though it varies a lot. Sometimes I'll go for months with zero ulcers, and other times another one appears just as one has healed. I chose a tea tree oil toothpaste because it looked very convincing and tea tree oil is said to have antibacterial properties.

The other experiment has to do with B vitamins. I'll go into further detail later, but I'll begin the experiment by taking supplements that provide me with about twice the Recommended Dietary Allowance. I want to find out whether taking more than is officially suggested results in any positive or negative changes.

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