Following surgical or periodontal procedures, the oral surgeon and dental hygiene team — not to mention the patient — turn their focus to wound healing. During the healing process, we address infection by using antibacterial agents. But healing also depends on controlling inflammation, and in the fight against inflammation, antibacterials are only one weapon in the arsenal. Antioxidants are another important weapon.
It is essential to maintain sufficient levels of salivary antioxidants in the oral cavity. Although the body takes in antioxidants through good nutrition, many people do not maintain a healthy, antioxidant-rich diet. Pills and other supplements are not a reliable source of antioxidants. Moreover, ingested antioxidants circulating in the bloodstream may or may not be effective in enhancing the salivary antioxidants in the oral cavity. An emerging means of augmenting the natural salivary antioxidants is topical application of antioxidants on oral tissues.
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