"It really is true that calcium builds strong bones and teeth," she noted. "If the underlying bone is not strong to start with, it will not be able to counter noxious agents, such as bacteria and substances in cigarette smoke, which attack bone, teeth and gums."
A similar risk of periodontal disease was found among persons with low dietary intakes of Vitamin C. That study showed that those with the lowest intake were at the highest risk, and the association was particularly strong among smokers.
Grossi said Vitamin C's role in maintaining and repairing healthy connective tissue, along with its antioxidant properties, was likely responsible for the relationship. "Vitamin C in the diet increases the ability of tissue to repair itself and fight invading bacteria and other toxins. We found a very strong association for all age groups, but the results were most pronounced in smokers. They experience more of an insult to the gum tissues, so they need higher levels of vitamin C to help counteract smoke's toxins."
Other researchers involved in the studies were Mieko Nishida, Robert G. Dunford, Alex Ho, and Robert Genco, D.D.S., Ph.D., all of the UB Department of Oral Biology, and Maurizio Trevisan, M.D., of the UB Department of Social and Preventive Medicine.
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Contact: Lois Baker
baker@newsb.buffalo.edu
716-645-2626
University at Buffalo
29-Jun-1998