ANTIOXIDANT
LETS KNOW ABOUT THE WORLD OF PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY:-ANTIOXIDANTS
One of the promising new technologies available to dental professionals involves the use of ANTIOXIDANTS. Understanding how they work requires revisiting basic chemistry to understand various events and processes that can cause cellular and tissue damage including oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species, free radicals, oxidation and reduction and the mechanism of antioxidant action. Tissue damage occurs when free radicals overwhelm the antioxidant reserve in the body.
PRESENCE OF NATURAL ANTIOXIDANTS :-
1.ASCORBIC ACID(VIT C ):-Plasma ,saliva, GCF, CSF, synovial fluid.-Deficiency leads to gingival bleeding.
2.ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL(VIT E):-plasma, saliva-Deficiency leads to periodontal disease.
3.CAROTENOIDS(VIT A):-plasma-Deficiency leads to periodontal destruction.
ROLE OF ANTIOXIDANT IN VARIOUS DENTAL DISEASE.
Most strategies for managing periodontal disease involve control of the causative agent. So what is periodontal disease? These are inflammatory process resulting from bacterial attack and host inflammatory response(immune response of an individual).Free radicals and reactive oxygen species i.e. ROS are responsible for the inflammatory response. Periodontal pathogens can induce ROS overproduction and thus cause collagen and periodontal tissue breakdown. When ROS are scavenged by ANTIOXIDANTS, collagen breakdown can be minimized. Decreased level of vitamin A and C, beta carotene , and beta crytoxanthine significantly increase the risk gingival disease. Periodontal tissue depends on natural antioxidants to overcome this oxidative stress and maintain homeostasis.
Recently it has been claimed that the imbalance in level of free radicals, reactive oxygen species and antioxidants in saliva plays in important role in the onset of dental caries. Most important would be the function of salivary peroxidase system(one of the major antioxidant system).
Antioxidants shows preventive and therapeutic potential in many stages of oral carcinogenesis. Researcher have recently stated there is inhibition of oral cancer phenotypes after antioxidants intakes. Reversal or suppression of pre malignant lesion is very much witnessed post the trial of antioxidants.
Antioxidant provide a novel way of addressing oral diseases and conditions such as lichen planus, xerostomia, gingivitis and aphthous ulcer.
The antioxidants micronutrients are important not only for limiting oxidative and tissue damage, but also in preventing increased cytokine production, which is a result of prolonged activation of immune response. Dietary and other enzymatic antioxidants protects the lipids of lipoprotein and other bio membranes against oxidative damage by intercepting oxidants before they can attack the tissue.
Free yourself from free radicals. Eat more fruits and vegetables.
Dr.Shireesha Maddali BDS