Vitamin C - Essential for Gum and Tooth Health

As a disease strongly associated with sailors in the 'Age of Discovery' in the 15th Century, scurvy affects the gums, teeth and skin and can be fatal if left untreated. Typical symptoms include bleeding gums, gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and in advanced cases lost teeth and the inability to ward off infections¹.

Scurvy affected sailors particularly badly as they were at sea for long periods of time, without access to nutrient-rich fresh fruit and vegetables. Their diets mainly consisted of dried and cured meats as well as grains that were able to last the duration of the voyage².

The disease has been recognised for thousands of years, with the first known record of it dating back to the time of the Ancient Greeks. Herbal treatments were often used to counteract the effects of scurvy; however it wasn't until 1932 that Vitamin C - or ascorbic acid - was proven to cure the disease³.

Ascorbic acid is now known to play an important role in the synthesis of collagen - a protein that keeps skin, tissue, teeth and bones healthy. It is required for the repair of tissues in all parts of the body, which is why being deficient can affect your body's ability to heal properly⁴.

Foods rich in the vitamin include citrus fruits like lemons, oranges and limes as well as vegetables such as green peppers and broccoli⁵. Supplements can also be taken to boost intake.

¹Wikipedia (2010). Scurvy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scurvy
²Wikipedia (2010). Scurvy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scurvy
³Wikipedia (2010). Scurvy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scurvy
⁴UMM (18th June, 2009). Vitamin C - Ascorbic Acid. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/vitamin-c-000339.htm
⁵NHS (5th May, 2009). Scurvy. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/scurvy/Pages/Introduction.aspx