It’s not entirely unusual for a dentist to suggest coenzyme Q10 as a good anti-inflammatory supplement for preventing or treating early stages of gum disease. But a new study raises skepticism.
The molecule—often referred to as CoQ10—is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties. CoQ10 deficiencies have been found to be deficient in patients with periodontal disease, the inflammation resulting from a bacterial attack in the mouth—commonly called gum disease.
Gum disease is a spectrum of inflammation that begins when pathogenic bacteria break down the tissues that support teeth. It can lead to tooth loss, as well as systemic inflammation that puts a person at risk for a host of serious diseases such as cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and autoimmune diseases, according to a 2021 article in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. Nearly half of adults over the age of 30 in the United States have periodontal disease with just over 70 percent of occurrences in those over the age of 65….