Periodontitis is when an inflammatory disease start affecting the gums and tissue that support your teeth and when it starts wearing down the alveolar bone around the teeth. This typically will cause the loss of teeth if left untreated.
Dr. Alison Coates from the University of South Australia and colleagues from the School of Dentistry at University of Adelaide in Australia started investigating different possible methods of combating Periodontitis as in addition to the more traditional method such as proper dental hygiene.
They reviewed several studies that showed improvements involving Periodontitis and found a correlation between the use of fish oil and improved dental health. This isn’t shocking, as fish oil has been found to offer health benefits across the board and is recommended for its other health benefits as well. Specifically, it is demonstrated as reducing periodontal symptoms, and that it is even more effective when being combined with aspirin.
“I would recommend that people ensure they have a sufficient intake of long chain omega-3 fatty acids in their diet for general health,” said Coates, a researcher from Australia. “In Australia, these types of fatty acids are considered to be essential with ~500 mg recommended as the suggested dietary target. This equates to approximately 2 fatty fish meals per week.”
There currently is no downside to fish oils, unless it is taking at very high doses. Even in high doses, the negatives are found to be a delay in blood clotting time, and gastric upset. The only people who should avoid fish oil are people who have abnormally thin blood, or people who are currently on blood thinning medication.
This new correlation has created an actual clinical trial is in Australia that is investigating the effects of fish oil as adjunct therapy for periodontitis. This will help us understand the specific benefits they provide and will allow us to more easily recommend it for people who are currently undergoing therapy for periodontitis.