Section: Antioxidants & Oral Health

Polyphenolic antioxidants from dietary sources may help lower the incidence of certain cancers, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, and DNA damage and even may have antiaging properties. This review critically examines polyphenolic antioxidants, such as flavonoids, curcumene, and resveratrol in health, disease, and aging with the hope that a better understanding of the many mechanisms involved ... Read more

Vitamin and mineral supplements are designed to treat and prevent deficiency syndromes and promote health. Consumers frequently misuse them, as they are guided by the belief that these supplements will prevent diseases and cure symptoms. Scientific evidence demonstrates their limited usefulness in systemic disease prevention or treatment. The author reviews demonstrated benefits in select diseases.

Dental caries is an infectious and communicable disease and multiple factors influence the initiation and progression of the disease. Recently it has been claimed that oxidative stress may play an important role in the onset and the development of several inflammatory oral pathologies and dental caries may also be included. Saliva could constitute a first ... Read more

An increase in the oxidative stress in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients is associated with a deficient antioxidant defense mechanism. This oxidant-antioxidant imbalance may be considered as one of the factors responsible for pathogenesis of cancer. Future studies regarding assessment of oxidant-antioxidant status in OSCC patients in view of selecting appropriate mode of therapy and ... Read more

The aetiopathogenesis of periodontal diseases is initiated by microbial biofilm which could lead to a hyperinflammatory status in aggressive forms of the disease; and cause an imbalance in the redox status, resulting in oxidative stress-induced damage. There is increasing documentation of the link between periodontal and other inflammatory diseases driven by a pro-oxidant profile. This ... Read more

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare salivary concentrations of reduced, oxidized glutathione, uric acid, ascorbic acid, and total antioxidant capacity in subjects with diabetes and systemically healthy subjects with inflammatory periodontal disease. This study concludes that the decrease in salivary reduced-glutathione levels in patients with type 1 diabetes may have a ... Read more

Proanthocyanidins have a putative role as antioxidants, and are able to produce antiadhesive actions against bacteria in urinary and dental infections, including Escherichia coli and Streptococcus mutans. Hence, proanthocyanidins are considered as beneficial molecules in preventing or treating many diseases and pathological conditions. Therefore, finding out more about condensed tannins bioavailability, and understanding the regulatory ... Read more

Important to keep oral cavity pH at higher levels to prevent periodontal diseases. The results of this study seem to contribute to the understanding of the induction of periodontal diseases in the context of nitrite-dependent production of nitrogen oxides in acidic dental plaque.

The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is elevated in diabetes, particularly amongst those who have poor glycemic control, and it has been hypothesized that increased ROS generation in longstanding diabetes might result in oxidative damage to DNA (Wyatt et al. 2006). Excessively high levels of free radicals cause damage to cellular proteins, membrane lipids ... Read more