Topical Antioxidants Related to Gum Health

Antioxidants may be introduced to the body through oral ingestion. An emerging field of science and health is the use of topically applied antioxidants. Scientific and clinical research has already shown that certain antioxidants applied topically can be effective in counteracting the damaging effects of free radicals on skin cells. Ongoing research is demonstrating that topical application of certain antioxidants can be effective on oral cells as well.

Antioxidants proven to control UV damage on skin cells

After years of research, scientists have identified a handful of antioxidants that are highly effective in protecting human skin from ultraviolet light-induced skin damage and oxidative stress. Specific combinations of vitamin C, vitamin E, ferulic acid, and phloretin have been shown to reduce the amount of free radical compounds associated with UV-induced inflammation, i.e., sunburn. The results of these studies have been published in peer-reviewed journals and accepted by the scientific and dermatological communities.

Topical antioxidants effective on skin cells

Based on the results of these scientific studies, the antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E, ferulic acid and phloretin) have been formulated into compounds for topical application to skin cells. Further research has confirmed that this form of application is effective in counteracting the damage caused by UV rays on the skin. The success of topical antioxidants on skin cells suggests a promise of similar effectiveness of topical compounds on cells in the oral cavity.

Research on antioxidants and oral cells

Scientists are now conducting further research on these antioxidants to measure their effectiveness in oral tissues. Combinations of antioxidants include ferulic acid (F), phloretin (P), resveratrol (R), and tetrahydrocurcumin (T). In a series of tests, scientists sought to determine any toxicity of the antioxidants as well as their effectiveness at reversing toxicity of alcohol (ethanol), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and nicotine. These findings have been published in abstract form, and have been presented at the annual meetings of both the International Association for Dental Research and the American Association for Dental Research. Additional studies showed cell migration and Rac-GTP activity when an in vitro wound was exposed to nicotine. Results indicating that these combinations of antioxidants reverse the inhibitory effects of nicotine on wound-healing associated cell migration have been recently published in the online version of the Journal of Periodontology.

Antioxidants counteract ethanol and hydrogen peroxide

Toxicity tests were conducted on human gingival fibroblast cells (HGF) and human periodontal ligament (HPDL) cells. Both types of cells were exposed to 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% molecular concentrations of alcohol and of hydrogen peroxide, and treated with a combination of three of the antioxidants (RFT, PFR, and PFT). One sample was untreated as a control. Samples were examined after 30 minutes and again after 24 hours. In all cases, the samples of HGF and HPDL cells that were treated with one of the combinations of antioxidants had less cell death (apoptosis) in the presence of ethanol and peroxide than the control cells that were untreated.

Antioxidants and nicotine

For the nicotine tests, HGF and HPDL cells were cultured in petri dishes. A scratch through the cultured cells simulated a wound. Each wound was then exposed to concentrations of 0, 6, 8 and 10 millimolar solutions of nicotine and treated with single, double and triple antioxidants. Results, that is, of cell migration to heal the wound were observed after one hour, five hours and ten hours. Here again, in all cases, the samples treated even with a single antioxidant showed significantly more cell migration than those exposed to nicotine with no mediating antioxidant.

In summary, these tests revealed no cytotoxic effects of the antioxidants; so the antioxidants may be considered non-toxic for oral tissues. These same antioxidants, by themselves and in combinations of two or three, did effectively reverse the toxic effects of alcohol, H2O2, and nicotine. Finally, when in vitro cells were wounded, nicotine inhibited Rac-GTP activity and the cells migration to heal the wound. The antioxidants, however, reversed the inhibition associated with restored Rac-GTP activity.

Further research is proposed to look at in vivo effectiveness of topical antioxidants on oral tissues, testing certain combinations of antioxidants for cell migration/wound healing in the presence of toxins. Additional studies will look at systemic uptake of antioxidants and whether there is an effect on C-reactive protein (CRP), a systemic marker of inflammation that can be measured in the blood.

Topical antioxidants on oral cells

An additional area of research currently underway is the effectiveness of combinations of antioxidants when they are applied topically to oral cells. Results from clinical studies, though incomplete, are positive.