SUMMARY:  Aloe Vera has been shown to enhance defense mechanisms, and has a variety of components to help combat periodontal disease and other oral conditions.

SUMMARY:  Tea tree oil has recently received much attention as a natural rememdy for bacterial and fungal infections of the skin and mucosa. Several published studies have recently demonstrated tea-tree oil's antibacterial effects. The results of this study concluded that tea tree oil is useful in the treatment of yeast and fungal mucosal and skin infections.

SUMMARY:  Eight patients under routine care for periodontol disease received oral treatment with a form of coenzyme Q. The severity of their periodontal disease decreased with treatment and unexpectedly, the pocket depths in their gums decreased as well. Healing was so excellent that 5-7 days after the biopsy, the original biopsy sites were difficult to locate. The healing was viewed as extraordinarily effective. Treatment of periodontol disease with coenzyme Q should be considered as added treatment with current dental practice.

SUMMARY:  Patients with periodontal disease frequently have significant deficiencies of an enzyme called CoQ10. One reason for the deficiency is due to an imblance in nutrition not likely caused by neglected oral hygiene. This deficiency could predispose tissue within the mouth for periodontal disease, or the disease could even cause the deficiency. The results of this study support previously suggested additional use of CoQ10 with oral hygiene for improved means of treatment.

SUMMARY:  Eighteen patients with periodontal disease and measurable pockets in their gums were treated in a study with coenzyme Q10. Those patients that received coenzyme Q10 treatment were easily identified by doctors as having received the coenzyme as opposed to those that received a placebo - exemplifying the benefits of coenzyme Q10.

SUMMARY:  Tea tree oil is an Aboriginal Australian traditional medicine used for bruises, insect bites, and skin infections. Previous studies demonstrated tea tree oil's antiseptic qualities. The purpose of this study was to observe its effects on white blood cells. The results of the study concluded that the antiseptic benefit of tea tree oil is due in part to the activation of white blood cells.

SUMMARY:  Gingivitis and periodontal disease are inflammatory diseases of the mouth. A previous indication of gingivitis or periodontal disease was high depths of pockets within the gums (anything above 2-3mm). However, it has been found that pocket depths are not necessarily a hallmark criterion, but rather a diagnostic sign used to identify a problem. Elevated temperature inside the gums is a cardinal sign of inflammation. The "Periotemp" is an electric thermometer that measures the temperature at the bottom of the gum pocket. In examining patients, clinicians recorded both pocket depth measures and the temperature of the gums in order to determine if a problem exists.

SUMMARY:  There has been a vigorous search for many years for chemical agents that could reduce or prevent plaque and thus reduce oral disease. This article presents different agents such as antiseptic agents, compounds, extracts, and enzymes that affect gingivitis.

SUMMARY:  This study indicates that people with gum disease have been found to lack the coenzyme CoQ10. Those with existing periodontal disease have been found to benefit from administration of CoQ10.

SUMMARY:  The gingival (gum) tissue of patients with and without periodontal disease was compared and it was found that those patients with periodontal disease showed a deficiency of coenzyme CoQ10. The data from this study correlates with clinical studies in Japan that demonstrated a therapeutic benefit from the administration of coenzyme CoQ10 to patients with severe and destructive periodontal disease.

SUMMARY:  The results of this study demonstrated that the topical application of coenzyme CoQ10 to the pockets within the gums as the only treatment reduced gingival crevicular fluid flow, pocket depth, and the loss of attachment between the teeth and the gums. The study also concluded that application of the coenzyme further improved gingival index, and bleeding on probing of the gums.

SUMMARY:  Through this study, it was found that the levels of volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) in pockets of the gums and mouth air have been found to correlate with the severity of periodontal disease.

SUMMARY:  This report details the comparison between a solution containing chlorine dioxide against common mouthwashes containing phenolic compounds (Listerine) in their ability to kill oral bacteria.

SUMMARY:  Tea tree oil is known to have several medicinal properties including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.

SUMMARY:  The results of this study suggest that chlorine dioxide toothpaste and rinse combination has a greater efficacy than the phenol related rinse regimen (Listerine) in improving most periodontal parameters (including Halitosis) over a 60 day period.

SUMMARY:  In this study, the differences in effect between participants that brushed and flossed twice daily as opposed to those that only brushed were monitored. The results showed that those that brushed and flossed had 38% fewer bleeding sites on their gums than before the study, and overall gum bleeding improved an average of 42%. There were no such improvements in the group that only brushed. Bad breath also significantly improved for both groups due to the recommendation that participants brush their tongue as well. Researchers claim that the tongue often harbors odor-causing bacteria. The bleeding of the gums and bad breath are often indicators of periodontal disease.

SUMMARY:  This study evaluates the drugs available in mouthrinses for resolving periodontal issues and their side-effects.

SUMMARY:  Results of this study demonstrated that tea tree oil products are useful in the topical treatment of superficial infections.

SUMMARY:  As shown in a private general practice setting, oral care products that contain chlorine dioxide used twice a day significantly improved periodontal health. These products can be an aid for the prevention of periodontitis and maintenance of recall hygiene patients, including implant patients.

SUMMARY:  Antimicrobial ingredients delivered by a mouthrinse or a toothpaste can be used to maintain plaque at levels compatible with good oral health. This paper explores the conclusion that long-term use of dental products containing antimicrobial ingredients such as metal salts (zinc), plant extracts, enzymes, essential oils (tee tree oil), and bisbiguanides lead to oral bacterial resistance and help resolve issues with gingivitis.

SUMMARY:  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of aloe vera and its effect as a topical anti-inflammatory agent. The results of this study showed that small amounts of aloe vera given topically will inhibit inflammation induced by some form of an irritant.

SUMMARY:  Periodontal pockets in the gums have a high capacity to produce volatile sulfur compounds, hydrogen sulfide, and methyl mercaptan all of which are known to cause bad breath.

SUMMARY:  Bleeding of the gums during probing is an important indicator for detecting the presence of periodontal disease. This study compares the number of bleeding during probing gum sites in the mouth with participants that used and those that did not use a toothpaste and mouthwash that contained chlorine dioxide.

SUMMARY:  It was found that those patients with periodontial disease showed a deficiency of coenzyme Q10 .

SUMMARY:  This study was of a patient with uniquely severe and chronic periodontal disease, requiring extraction of all their teeth. The patient was treated with coenzyme Q in gingival tissue and it was found by three independent dentists after treatment that there was a significant improvement in the patient's condition. The administration of coenzyme Q could be an important therapeutic addition to periodontal therapy for certain patients.

SUMMARY:  The results of this study indicates that Australian tea tree oil, peppermint oil, and sage oil proved to be the most potent essential oils in inhibiting oral bacteria.

SUMMARY:  Over the last twenty-five years there has been extensive research on the subject of periodontal disease. The presence of gingival inflammation creates debris composed of polypeptide chains. These polypeptide chains are the major contributing factor in halitosis. Found in the breath of halitosis patients are compounds known as volatile sulfur compounds (VSC). The presence of VSC's have been found to breakdown and increase permeability of gingival tissue allowing bacterial toxins to enter the gums. As the severity of periodontal breakdown occurs, the presence of VSC's increases. If VSC's reach a great enough concentration, deepening pockets form in the gum tissue, and the downward spiral begins. Research has found that oxidizing the sulfur bonds with one of the safest yet most powerful oxidizers available, chlorine dioxide, stops the downward spiral effect. Chlorine dioxide has been used by industries for years as a disinfectant and deodorizer.

SUMMARY:  Patients with periodontal disease frequently suffer from bad breath, which is caused by volatile sulfur compounds (VSC's). The highest concentration of bad breath causing bacteria occurred in the deepest pockets of the gums. This study also found that in addition to pockets inside the gums, a coating on the tongue has an important role in bad breath production. Patients with periodontal disease had a higher amount of tongue coating as well.

SUMMARY:  This comprehensive article discusses the concepts of bacteria and dental decay, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and periodontal disease.

SUMMARY:  This article explains what periodontal disease and its various forms .

SUMMARY:  This discussion provides images of what healthy gums as opposed to those with gingivitis or periodontitis looks like and explains the two conditions.