Periodontal disease is a big deal. Your gums can get really inflamed and infected, making you cringe just from thinking about brushing your teeth.  Traditional methods for clearing out bacteria try to clean out the pockets of your gums by scraping at the roots of your teeth.  This is a cool term for the scraping procedure:  subgingival scaling and root planing. But what if there was a new twist on this?  What if a simple antioxidant, could be added to the mix?  Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, has been bandied around as a possible treatment for periodontal disease.

        Researchers dug up all studies published up to May 2024.  They screened five different databases and  found only studies that included randomized controlled trials.  They were interested in finding out the efficacy of CoQ10 as an adjunctive therapy  in patients with Periodontal Disease.  The studies they found focused on subgingival scaling and root planing either with or without CoQ10.  They wanted to know if using CoQ10 could help with the scraping process.  They were expecting  any additional help to be secondary to the cleaning method.  This means that they didn't expect that the CoQ10 itself would cause a reduction in pocket depth or clinical attachment level.  The researchers found studies that used CoQ10 in different ways.  Some used it locally, either topically or by directly applying it into the gums.  There were more studies that used it orally, as a supplement.

        What they found was a little surprising.  They found that local applications of CoQ10 did not have a significant effect on periodontal health.  This was a little bit of a disappointment, because this is how it has been used in the past. The researchers conducted the studies to find out if it was worth using, but it turns out it isn't.  The question was: does it make a difference if you take CoQ10 orally.  There is a difference. Those who took CoQ10 orally experienced a greater reduction in pocket depth and more improvement in their clinical attachment levels. This is in comparison to people who weren't taking CoQ10 orally.

        But there is a catch.  The certainty of the evidence?  It was described as very low.   This means it's not conclusive evidence.  So, while there was a difference, it's not definitive.  Still, the researchers noted that daily oral supplementation with 120 mg of CoQ10 resulted in better periodontal health after 12 weeks.  It is interesting, though, how CoQ10 affects the body in different ways when it is used differently; it seems to have a better effect when used orally as opposed to topical applications.

        It is thought that this antioxidant could help reduce inflammation.  It is known that inflammation is a natural response of the body to infection.  It's protective, but in excess it can be destructive.  Inflammation is the body's response to the bacteria in the gums.

        One thing to think about is:  if CoQ10 can help with periodontal disease, how does it help?   It is thought that inflammation is the main cause of periodontal disease.  It is known that CoQ10 can reduce inflammation.  Using CoQ10 orally may be a better way to reduce inflammation and improve periodontal health.

        So, what does all this mean?  Well, it means that using CoQ10 supplements might help with periodontal disease.  It also means that the way you use CoQ10 may be important.  It doesn't seem like it matters if you apply it directly to the gums, but it does seem to matter if you take it orally.  The effect seems to be stronger this way.  It also means that this is not the be-all and end-all.  More research is needed to confirm these findings.  It is important to remember that this is a preliminary finding.  It is not conclusive evidence.  But it is a start.  It is a step in the right direction.  It is a step towards understanding how CoQ10 can help with periodontal disease.

        In the meantime, if you're suffering from periodontal disease, it might be worth talking to your dentist about using CoQ10 supplements.  But remember, this is not a replacement for traditional treatment.  It is an adjunctive therapy.  It is a supplement to traditional treatment.  It is not a replacement for traditional treatment.  It is not a replacement for brushing and flossing.  It is not a replacement for regular dental check-ups.  It is not a replacement for professional cleaning.  It is not a replacement for any of the traditional treatments for periodontal disease.

The Surprising Secret Weapon for Gums

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