Bleeding Gums?
You’ll Need to Read This

Dr. Al Danenberg ● Nutritional Periodontist

June 5, 2022 [printfriendly]

 

Have you been brushing your teeth a little too rough and noticed your gums bleeding?

Or maybe you were flossing a bit too intensely and noticed a few spots of blood?

You’re not alone!

93.9% of the US population has some form of bleeding or inflamed gums! 

If your gums are healthy, a little aggressive brushing (while not recommended for many reasons) isn’t going to make your gums bleed. Bleeding gums are your warning sign that your mouth is experiencing early stages of gingivitis or periodontal disease.

Even if you notice bleeding in just one area occasionally, it is a sign of gum disease. Your gums should never bleed unless you cut them. For example, it you cleaned your fingernails with a nail brush, you wouldn’t expect the cuticle areas to bleed. Your gum tissues are as strong as the cuticles of your nails. As I said, if they are healthy, they should never bleed unless you cut them!

Today, we’re going to look at what bleeding gums mean, and I’ll share a unique way to halt the progression of periodontal disease.

 

Bleeding Gums

Bleeding gums are signs of the early stages of Periodontal Disease, which includes gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is infection only in the gum tissues. Periodontitis is an advancing stage of gingivitis that progresses into the jawbone creating severe damage.

In 2010, a published paper suggested that 93.9% of adults in the United States had some form of gum inflammation or bleeding gums [1], which frequently has its origin in an unhealthy gut.[2],[3]

As I mentioned, the infection causing bleeding gums (gingivitis) can progress under the gum tissues to damage the jawbone, which is known as periodontitis. But not all cases of gingivitis turn into periodontitis. When periodontitis occurs, it can destroy the jawbone, eventually causing teeth to be lost.

In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published their results in the Journal of Dental Research, which was updated in 2015 in the Journal of Periodontology.[4] It showed the prevalence of periodontitis was estimated to be 47.2% for American adults (approximately 64.7 million people at the time of the original study in 2012). For adults 65 years old and older, the prevalence jumped to 70.1%. These findings were the result of the most comprehensive periodontal evaluation performed ever in the US.

An unhealthy gut, poor food choices, inefficient oral hygiene, and toxic lifestyle choices contribute to bleeding gums and other forms of periodontal disease. I’ve summarized this in Leaky Gut, Leaky Mouth.[5]

One thing is certain. If you have bleeding gums, then inflammation and infection will continue to spread from your mouth to other areas of your body. Make no mistake about it. Many chronic diseases have been shown to have their origin from active periodontal disease.[6]

 

What Should You Do?

To start, you need to improve your diet[7], develop efficient daily oral hygiene protocols[8], and improve your gut health[9].

Next, you’ll also need to have a biologically oriented dentist[10] evaluate your oral health. If you have damage in your teeth, gum tissues, or jawbone, you must have it treated correctly and as soon as possible. The last thing you want to do is “wait and see how it progresses”.[11]

 

Importance of Mitochondria

This is important:

It appears that active periodontal disease may be the direct result of specific virulent bacteria causing an overproduction of free radicals in the mitochondria of the gum tissue cells. [12]

The mitochondria are like the batteries in a flashlight. The mitochondria provide the electrical energy to power that cell to function as it is designed to function – just as the batteries in a flashlight create the power for the flashlight to work.

This also is critical to understand:

When these free radicals are neutralized, the infection tends to be tamed and further destruction from periodontal disease may be reduced even though the bacteria are still present.[13]

So, that brings up a fascinating question: Is there something that can eliminate the damaging free radical production in the mitochondria of the gum tissues, which could stop the progression of periodontal disease?

The answer is, “Yes!”

It is Molecular Hydrogen.

 

Molecular Hydrogen

Nanobubbles of molecular hydrogen can be dispersed in water to create hydrogen rich water.

Drinking hydrogen rich water can increase the concentration of molecular hydrogen in blood and tissues. And molecular hydrogen has been shown to neutralize damaging free radicals![14]

Furthermore, drinking hydrogen rich water may neutralize the excess free radicals and inflammatory reactions in the gum and surrounding tissues. Here are a few peer-reviewed medical papers demonstrating the actions of hydrogen rich water on periodontal disease.

  • In a 2013 study[15], researchers demonstrated in vitro that hydrogen rich water had antibacterial effects on specific pathogens that caused periodontal disease.
  • And in a 2015 randomized control trial involving 13 human patients with periodontitis[16], investigators demonstrated that drinking hydrogen rich water enhanced the effects of non-surgical periodontal treatment by further reducing inflammation in the tissues.
  • In a 2017 paper[17], the authors proved that hydrogen rich water was able to neutralize free radicals in infected gum tissues cells in vitro and to protect them from oxidative damage as well as promote wound healing.
  • Finally, in a study published in 2022[18], molecular hydrogen suppressed periodontitis progression by decreasing gingival oxidative stress, which is the result of excess free radical production.

So, drinking molecular hydrogen dispersed as nanobubbles in water appears to be an excellent adjunctive treatment for periodontal disease.

I wrote about molecular hydrogen and hydrogen rich water in January 2022.[19] In my paper, I discussed the documented medical research showing the overall health benefits from molecular hydrogen as well as why and how I drink hydrogen rich water.

 

How To Use Molecular Hydrogen

The product I use is HRW Rejuvenation Tablets. These patented tablets contain magnesium. Chemically, when magnesium nanoparticles react with water, nano-sized bubbles of hydrogen gas are produced by the following chemical reaction; Mg + 2H2O → Mg (OH)2 + H2.

One recent study suggested that 7.5mg/L (15 PPM) of molecular hydrogen per day will provide significant clinical results.[20] Here’s how to consume a dose of 7.5mg/L a day:

Dissolve 1 tablet of HRW Rejuvenation in 250 mL (about 8 ounces) of spring water in the AM and do the same in the afternoon.

When you’re ready to drink the hydrogen water, drop the tablet into room temperature water, which must not be carbonated. The tablet will dissolve and make the water look very “cloudy”. The “cloudy look” is the nano-sized molecular hydrogen bubbles dispersed in the water. It is important to let the tablet completely dissolve. Then drink the solution immediately all at once. If the “cloudiness” goes away, the hydrogen gas will be gone, and the benefit of the hydrogen-infused water will be lost.

You should consume each dose on an empty stomach.

You may have increased benefits if you double the dose. That’s what I do. To reach a dose of 15mg/L per day, dissolve 2 tablets in 500 mL in the AM and another 2 tablets in 500 mL in the PM.

I use Mountain Valley Spring water[21] as my source of natural spring water. I also add 1 teaspoon of SOLE[22] to my morning drink containing the molecular hydrogen.

A side benefit of using HRW Rejuvenation tablets is that the magnesium used to create the molecular hydrogen will provide additional magnesium for your body.

 

Your Takeaway

If your gums bleed or if you have more advanced periodontal disease, you need to be proactive as I suggested:

  • Improve your diet[23]
  • Develop efficient daily oral hygiene protocols[24]
  • Improve your gut health[25]

You can improve your periodontal health by reducing the free radical production in the mitochondria of unhealthy gum tissue cells. Excess free radicals allow this infection to progress. By consuming hydrogen rich water, you can help neutralize these free radicals and assist periodontal tissues to heal.

As an additional and significant benefit, drinking hydrogen rich water will provide molecular hydrogen to all parts of your body and will help neutralize unhealthy and damaging excess free radicals wherever they exist.

Finding the right dental professional can be a challenge. I created this blog post, 10 Questions to ask your Biological Dentist, to help you ensure you are getting the proper treatment from a doctor who looks at the body holistically, not the mouth as an isolated topic.

While I am no longer in active practice, I am available for consultations. I can review your dental x-rays and help steer you on a path of care. To book a consult with me, click here.

 

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=20437720

[2] https://aap.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/JPER.21-0374

[3] https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2021.752708/full

[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4460825/

[5] https://drdanenberg.com/leaky-gut-leaky-mouth-both-must-be-treated/

[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8688827/

[7] https://www.amazon.com/Better-Belly-Blueprint-strengthen-immune-ebook/dp/B08DX9N9RB

[8] https://drdanenberg.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/PDF-4-Steps-To-A-Healthy-Mouth-5.9.22.pdf

[9] https://drdanenberg.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Protocol-to-restore-healthy-gut-bacteria-2.23.22.pdf

[10] https://drdanenberg.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/10-Questions-to-Ask-Your-Biological-Dentist-11.21.21.pdf

[11] https://drdanenberg.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Shoddy-Dentistry-4.19.21.pdf

[12] https://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/etm.2021.9861

[13] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=10.1016%2Fj.yexcr.2016.08.007

[14] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31738389/

[15] https://www.koreascience.or.kr/article/JAKO201321353486492.page

[16] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4665424/

[17] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13577-016-0150-x

[18] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11010-021-04262-7

[19] https://drdanenberg.com/molecular-hydrogen-health-my-experiment/

[20] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0531556521003569?dgcid=author

[21] https://www.mountainvalleyspring.com/

[22] https://drdanenberg.com/hydration-bun-what-i-learned/

[23] https://www.amazon.com/Better-Belly-Blueprint-strengthen-immune-ebook/dp/B08DX9N9RB

[24] https://drdanenberg.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/PDF-4-Steps-To-A-Healthy-Mouth-5.9.22.pdf

[25] https://drdanenberg.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Protocol-to-restore-healthy-gut-bacteria-2.23.22.pdf

 

Schedule a ”30-Minute Free Consult” with me to answer some of your questions and determine if we are a good fit for a coaching program! CLICK HERE.

 

If you don’t want to miss out on new posts, sign up for my Free “Belly Bites” Newsletter and receive your free copy of Dr Al’s “5 Things That Could Be Impacting Your Health Right Now” HERE.

 

Molecular Hydrogen & Health
– My Experiment –

Dr. Al Danenberg ● Nutritional Periodontist

January 30, 2022 [printfriendly]

 

As you know, I’m always looking for ways to improve my health and reduce the likelihood of cancer cells attacking my body. So, when I spoke with several accredited molecular hydrogen researchers and learned about the potential benefits of drinking hydrogen water for cancer patients, I had to give it a try. I never shy away from being my own guinea pig, and I share all my results with you – both good and bad.

So, is hydrogen water a miracle cure for cancer patients? Read on, and I’ll tell you what I’ve found so far.

 

Hydrogen

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. And hydrogen may be one of the most critical elements for maintaining health and wellness as well as healing from various diseases.

Earth’s atmosphere is composed of approximately 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.93% argon, 0.04% carbon dioxide as well as trace amounts of neon, helium, methane, krypton, ozone, and hydrogen. So, the amount of hydrogen gas in the air we breathe is extremely minute. However, hydrogen makes up about 9.5% of our body mass.

And this hydrogen has many biochemical functions. The H2 molecule is the smallest in the universe, which allows it to diffuse through all cell membranes, including the blood-brain barrier and subcellular compartments, and into the mitochondria.

 

Hydrogen and Free Radicals

This brings me to the reason for my newest N=1 experiment.

Free radicals are highly reactive chemicals that have the potential to harm cells. They are created when an atom or a molecule either gains or loses an electron. Free radicals are formed naturally in the body and play an important role in many normal cellular processes. At high concentrations, however, free radicals can be hazardous to the body and damage all major components of cells, including DNA, proteins, and cell membranes. The damage to cells caused by free radicals, especially the damage to DNA, may play a role in the development of cancer as well as most other chronic diseases.

H2 is a potent selective antioxidant. The fact that it is selective is critical since many other antioxidants like vitamins C and E, are not selective. When antioxidant supplements are taken in excess, they can be counterproductive and even harmful to the body by neutralizing all free radicals – including the necessary ones. In contrast, high doses of molecular hydrogen consumed by drinking hydrogen-rich water only neutralize excessive and damaging free radical production. If these unhealthy free radicals were to go unchecked, they would be significant factors causing cancer as well as many other diseases.[1],[2],[3],[4],[5],[6]

Here is an animation of how hydrogen gas is a superior and selective antioxidant compared to other indiscriminate antioxidant supplements:

 

 

In addition, drinking water infused with molecular hydrogen can suppress the growth of cancer cells. H2 also alleviates the side effects caused by conventional chemotherapeutics that are used in treating existing cancers.

 

My N=1 Experiment

My conversations with molecular hydrogen researchers have brought me to the design of my N=1 experiment. I’ll be drinking high doses of molecular hydrogen water twice a day on an empty stomach. This may be the ideal dose to offer the greatest benefits in reducing cancer and improving healing. In this 2021 peer-reviewed published paper, the authors explain the current thinking about hydrogen-rich water and cancer.

The product I am using is HRW Rejuvenation Tablets. These patented tablets contain magnesium. Chemically, when magnesium nanoparticles react with water, nano-sized bubbles of hydrogen gas are produced by the following chemical reaction; Mg + 2H2O → Mg (OH)2 + H2.

 

 

I started my N=1 experiment with hydrogen-rich water on Monday, 1/24/22.

My goal is to consume 16mg/L (16 PPM) of hydrogen per day. I’ll divide this into two doses of 500 ml in the AM and 500 ml in the afternoon on an empty stomach. To get to this dose, I’ll dissolve 2 tablets of HRW Rejuvenation Tablets in 500 ml of spring water each time.

When I’m ready to drink the hydrogen water, I’ll drop the tablets into room temperature spring water. The water must not be carbonated. The tablets will dissolve and make the water look very “cloudy”. The “cloudy look” is the nano-sized molecular hydrogen bubbles dispersed in the water. It is important to let the tablets completely dissolve and then drink the solution immediately all at once. If the “cloudiness” goes away, the hydrogen gas will be gone, and the benefit of the hydrogen-infused water will be lost.

I’ll be using room temperature Mountain Valley Spring water as my drinking water source. In the AM drink, I will also add 1 teaspoon of SOLE as I have been doing in the past.

A side benefit of using HRW Rejuvenation Tablets is that the magnesium used to create the molecular hydrogen will provide all the magnesium my body requires.

I’m anticipating results that I can identify subjectively and objectively. I don’t know how successful I will be since I’m just starting this N=1 experiment.

  • Subjectively, I am looking for a reduction in bone pain which I experience 24/7. Currently, my only medications for bone pain are over-the-counter ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
  • Objectively, I may be able to see clinical changes in my blood tests. I have blood work every four weeks when I visit my oncologist at the Cancer Clinic. My oncologist and I will be able to see if there are any changes in these labs (i.e., CBC – complete blood count, CMP – comprehensive metabolic panel, SPEP – serum protein electrophoresis, and Immunofixation)

 

Additional Benefits of Molecular Hydrogen

Molecular hydrogen has been studied extensively and has been shown to provide benefits other than my emphasis on cancer. This 2020 published medical article is an excellent summary of how hydrogen can assist in disease treatment. I’ve listed some of the specific benefits below …

  1. Hydrogen supports the body’s natural antioxidant system by enhancing the production of endogenous antioxidants like glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase, but only when they are needed.[7],[8]
  2. Hydrogen gas has been shown to be anti-inflammatory and can reduce pain. This pain relief is due to the reduction in oxidative stress by hydrogen gas.[9],[10] However, its anti-inflammatory effects do not prevent the normal inflammatory processes of the immune system.
  3. Hydrogen water can prevent muscle wasting in mice that had muscular dystrophy.[11] These beneficial effects can assist athletes with their recovery after exercise and strenuous events. It can reduce muscle fatigue by reducing lactic acid buildup.[12]
  4. Hydrogen can help cells maintain homeostasis and healthy modulation.[13]
  5. Hydrogen can reduce damage to the brain that is seen in Parkinson’s disease.[14] Its general neuroprotective properties are due to its ability to fight oxidative stress.
  6. Hydrogen increases insulin sensitivity and decreases blood sugar as well as unhealthy blood cholesterol levels.[15] These effects make hydrogen a potential therapy for fighting obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
  7. Your mitochondria are the energy sources of your cells like the batteries in a flashlight. Hydrogen-rich water has been shown to improve mitochondrial function, which may be a significant factor in chronic disease prevention and treatment.[16]
  8. Hydrogen gas significantly protects DNA against radiation damage by scavenging hydroxyl radical formation.[17]
  9. It seems that hydrogen restores healthy processes throughout the body by bringing them back to a state of balance or homeostasis.[18]
  10. Hydrogen has been observed to generally protect the body and organ function.[19]
  11. Drinking hydrogen water improves the diversity and abundance of the gut microbiome[20] as well as normalizes stool consistency.[21]
  12. Drinking hydrogen water can improve oxygen levels and exercise capacity in COVID-19 patients.[22],[23]
  13. Hydrogen-rich water may protect the liver from toxicity when consuming high doses of acetaminophen (Tylenol).[24]
  14. Molecular hydrogen exhibits multiple advantages in the treatment of sepsis due to its unique physicochemical properties.[25]

 

Is Molecular Hydrogen a Miracle?

The answer to this question is, “Probably not.” But hydrogen provides many impressive benefits.[26]

Drinking hydrogen-rich water may not do very much for a healthy person whose body and biochemical pathways are not out of balance.[27] But if a person had any cellular dysfunction, then hydrogen could bring the body back into balance. It also seems that hydrogen does not interfere with necessary biological pathways. There appears to be no “lethal dose” of hydrogen in the body. The body just uses what it needs, and any excess hydrogen leaves the body unscathed.

 

My Future Success

So, my experiment of N=1 is just beginning. You can be sure that as the weeks roll by, I will be journaling how hydrogen-rich water affects my body and my bloodwork. From my research, effects should become evident starting about two weeks after beginning my trial. My goal would be to continue drinking hydrogen-rich water indefinitely if results are positive. My oncologist will help me interpret any changes in the monthly blood results.

Two interesting biomarkers I will follow are the ratios of several white blood cells that are reported in my monthly CBC. Specifically, they are the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and the Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio (LMR).[28]

These two ratios are systemic inflammatory markers. NLR is directly related and LMR is inversely related to systemic inflammation. My goal of monitoring these ratios is to determine the direction in which they are moving. A declining NLR and a rising LMR would suggest my systemic inflammation is improving. That would be a good thing.

I’ll keep you informed as time goes by.

 

[1] https://cdn.amegroups.cn/journals/pbpc/files/journals/3/articles/23326/public/23326-PB6-1799-R4.pdf

[2] https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/4/893/htm

[3] https://stemcellres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13287-019-1241-x

[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6691140/

[5] http://www.nutroncol.com/magazine/2019-07-28/001-0044-Progress%20in%20the%20Use%20of%20Molecular%20Hydrogen%20for%20Cancer%20Treatment.pdf

[6] https://www.wjgnet.com/1948-5204/full/v14/i1/242.htm

[7] https://www.nature.com/articles/nm1577

[8] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26276082/

[9] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11510417/

[10] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4062523/

[11] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26866650/

[12] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22520831/

[13] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21512236/

[14] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4865993/

[15] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21293445/

[16] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22146674/

[17] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27438130/

[18] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19766097/

[19] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5731988/

[20] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30713665/

[21] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8374459/

[22] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ccr3.5039

[23] https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2020.543718/full

[24] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4394080/

[25] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6567800/

[26] https://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/omcl/2020/8384742.pdf

[27] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-75492-w

[28] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00016357.2021.1969035

 

Schedule a ”30-Minute Free Consult” with me to answer some of your questions and determine if we are a good fit for a coaching program! CLICK HERE.

 

If you don’t want to miss out on new posts, sign up for my Free “Belly Bites” Newsletter and receive your free copy of Dr Al’s “5 Things That Could Be Impacting Your Health Right Now” HERE.