PERIODONTAL OR GUM DISEASE, AND ALVEOLAR BONE LOSS

by Dr. Lawrence Wilson

© January 2010, L.D. Wilson Consultants, Inc.

 

All information in this article is for educational purposes only.  It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.

 

            A case history.  Jean, age 40, was referred for nutritional balancing by her dentist because of persistent gum disease.  Her gums were infected, receding, and bled easily.  She brushed and flossed according to her dentist's instructions.  She took vitamin C and a multi-vitamin, but without much results.  Jean's diet was fairly good.  However, she smoked half a pack of cigarettes per day.

            Jean's first hair mineral test revealed extremely slow oxidation.  Her calcium level was above 400 mg% (normal is 40), and the magnesium level was 35 mg% (normal is 6).  Sodium and potassium were low.  Her copper level was slightly elevated at 4.0 mg%.  Cadmium was also elevated at 0.5 mg%.  Zinc was within the normal range at 16 mg%.  Phosphorus was 11 mg%.  These readings are not uncommon in people with periodontal disease and alveolar bone loss.

 

HIGH CALCIUM AND BONE LOSS

 

              The high hair tissue calcium and magnesium levels indicate that calcium is precipitating out of the blood, and depositing into the soft tissues.  This occurs because calcium is not remaining enough in an ionized form in the blood.  The reason for the is low serum or tissue sodium and potassium levels.  Sodium and potassium are solvents needed to keep calcium in a soluble or ionized form in the blood.

            Demineralization.  As calcium leaves the blood, the body withdraws calcium from the bones to replenish the supply of calcium in the blood.  Eventually, this leads to demineralization of the bones, including at times the alveolar bone structures.  Often demineralization is seen first in the jaws and teeth where it is more visible than in other bone structures.

 

THE ROLE OF COPPER

 

              Jean's copper reading is deceptive.  Whenever the calcium level is very high, our research indicates that copper is not being used properly in the body.  It is biounavailable.  That is, it is present, but not bound to a protein in such a way as to be usable to the body.

The hair copper level might be elevated, but if copper is sequestered in body tissues, the hair reading may appear normal or even low.  When copper is not available, calcium cannot be maintained in the bones and bone loss occurs. 

           

Copper And Gum Tissues.  Excessive unbound copper also has a harmful effect upon protein structures, including collagen and other connective tissues that compose the gums.  Tissue destruction occurs because unbound copper disrupts the sulfide-sulfide bonds that are essential for protein integrity.  Copper also oxidizes vitamin C, increasing the body's need for this vitamin.  Just taking an extra 500 mg of vitamin C may not satisfy the body's need when copper imbalance is present.

            Copper imbalance also affects the level of zinc, vitamin B6 and other nutrients.  Zinc is essential for protein synthesis, and hence for gum regeneration.

 

CADMIUM AND ZINC

 

            This patient had a very high cadmium level.  In fact, it was about 50 times the ideal level of 0.01 mg%!  Elevated cadmium may be a factor in Jean's gum problems.  Cadmium is a highly toxic metal that displaces zinc in the body.  Jean's zinc level is within the normal range.  However, when cadmium is present, it displaces zinc and can elevate the zinc reading, causing the zinc reading to appear better than it actually is.

 

            Hair Phosphorus, Zinc and Cadmium Toxicity.  An indicator that Jean is zinc-deficient is her low phosphorus level.  The hair phosphorus level is a reflection of the rate of protein synthesis in the body. 

A low reading such as Jean has indicates increased protein breakdown.  This may be due to a low protein diet or poor digestion of protein.  Often, however, the cause is a hidden zinc deficiency. 

Zinc is required for protein synthesis for the vital enzyme RNA transferase.  This enzyme is required for RNA synthesis and thus for protein synthesis.  Protein synthesis, in plain English, is the rebuilding of our body tissues adequately. 

 

LOW ENERGY AND HEALING

 

            Jean's slow oxidation rate reflects sluggish adrenal and thyroid glandular activity.  As a result, Jean does not generate adequate biochemical energy at the cellular level.  The thyroid and adrenals are the main mediators of energy production in the body. 

Not only does this contribute to fatigue, but low energy impairs Jean's ability to rebuild her gum tissues and all of her tissues.  Low energy also prevents Jean from expelling toxic metals such as cadmium.  In summary, the mineral analysis reveals several contributing factors for gum disease:

 

1) Slow oxidation, causing low energy levels.

2) Calcium imbalance, causing bone loss and other problems.

3) Excessive free copper, which oxidizes vitamin C and damages protein structures.

4) Zinc deficiency, which interferes with protein synthesis.

5) Cadmium toxicity, interfering with zinc utilization.

 

NUTRITIONAL BALANCING PROGRAM FOR JEAN

 

            The Diet.  Jean went on a program that consisted of the slow oxidizer diet.  This is discussed in several other articles on this website.  However, it basically involves eating many steamed vegetables every day, high-quality program at least twice daily and cutting down or eliminating all sweet and sugars, especially refined sugars.  She also avoided all wheat products and most pasteurized and homogenized dairy products, most of which are highly allergic foods and not of the best quality.

She was also told to eat more organic food and to follow excellent eating habits, such as regular, sit-down, peaceful meals with perhaps a protein snack between meals.

 

            Supplements.  Jean was also given a regimen of nutritional supplements including Megapan, zinc, GB-3, Limcomin, Paramin and Selenase, a 100 mcg, food-based selenium supplement.  For more information about these products, click on the product name for an article about each one.

She also took adrenal and thyroid glandular support and a product called Endo AC that contains a lot of bioflavinoids.  These are substances made from the rinds of citrus fruits that assist with capillary fragility and easy bleeding.  It probably was not needed, but I added it due to the bleeding of the gums and loss of gum tissue elasticity. 

 

            Lifestyle.  Jean was also to get at least 9 or 10 hours of sleep daily and to do only mild to moderate exercise because she is really exhausted.  She was asked to drink distilled or spring water only in quantities of at least 3 quarts daily and to minimize her exposure to all toxins, including of course cigarettes to the best of her ability.

 

            Detoxification.  Jean was also advised to use a near infrared light sauna and to do colon cleansing for at least a few months to reduce the burden of toxic metals and toxic chemicals in her body.  I do not know if she followed through on this aspect of her program, but I know it enhances the program a lot.

 

Results.  Jean felt an increase in her energy level and wellbeing within two weeks of beginning her nutrition program.             Some patients respond faster than others to a nutrition program that corrects all the above imbalances.  Most often improvement in the gum condition occurs within 6 to 12 months.

Jean did not notice an appreciable decrease in her gum problems for almost a year.  Then she noticed much less infection and a healthier color and consistency of her gum tissue.  Perhaps her progress was slowed because she continued to smoke cigarettes.

            Jean has had no recurrence of her gum problems for several years.  Another patient, of the same age, had significant alveolar bone loss as her main complaint.  After nine months on the nutrition program, she actually regrew several millimeters of alveolar bone, much to the surprise of her dentist.

 

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