Vitamin C Deficiency: Causes, Symptoms, and Its Role in Oral Health

Vitamin C Deficiency – Nutritional Disorders

Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid.

• Deficiency of vitamin C leads to scurvy which is mainly characterized by hemorrhagic diathesis and delayed wound healing.
• Scurvy results in defective formation and maintenance of collagen, impairment and cessation of osteoid formation and impaired osteoblastic function.

“Best Ways To Understand Vitamin C Deficiency In Dentistry”

Vitamin C Deficiency Clinical Manifestations

• Hemorrhagic lesions in muscle of extremities, joints and sometime nail beds too
• Petechial hemorrhages around hair follicles
• Increased susceptibility to infection
• Impaired wound healing.
• Presence of bleeding and swollen gingiva with loose teeth.

Histopathological Features

• Defective formation and maintenance of collagen.
• Retardation or cessation of osteoid formation and impaired osteoblastic function.
• Increased capillary permeability.
• Susceptibility to traumatic hemorrhage.
• Hyporeactivity of contractile elements of the peripheral blood vessels.
• Sluggishness of blood flow.

“Importance Of Vitamin C For Healthy Gums And Teeth”

“Risk Factors For Developing Vitamin C Deficiency”

Etiologic Relationships between Vitamin C and Periodontal Disease

• Low levels of ascorbic acid inflence the metabolism of collagen within the periodontium, thereby affecting the ability of the tissue to regenerate and repair by itself.
• It interferes with bone formation leading to the loss of the alveolar bone.
• Increases the permeability of oral mucosa to tritiated endotoxin and inulin.

“Understanding The Role Of Vitamin C In Maintaining Oral Health”

• Increased levels of ascorbic acid enhances both the chemotactic and migratory action of leukocytes without influencing phagocytic activity.
• Depletion of vitamin C may interfere with the ecologic equilibrium of bacteria in plaque and increases its pathogenicity.

“Early Signs Of Vitamin C Deficiency In The Mouth”

Periodontal Features of Scurvy

• The oral symptoms are that of chronic gingivitis which can involve the free gingiva, attached gingiva and alveolar mucosa.
• In severe cases, the gingiva becomes brilliant-red, tender and grossly swollen. The spongy tissues are extremely hyperemic and bleed spontaneously.
• In long-standing cases, the tissues attain a dark blue or purple hue.
• Alveolar bone resorption with increased tooth mobility has also been reported.