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Hip I knew bleeding gums could be a symptom of a pathogenic condition, I have this feeling that the soft tissue of the gums is a marker of health, as so is the appearance of the tongue (mine is swollen, cracked and coated).
Soon after I caught the nasty respiratory virus (which I think is an enterovirus) that triggered my ME/CFS, I developed periodontitis (receding gums), and also I suddenly got a lot of brown plague being deposited on my teeth. Prior to catching this virus, my oral health had been excellent. This periodontitis/plaque deposition also suddenly manifested in several other people who caught my virus. So it was not just me.
You can see a picture of my receding gums half way down
this page of my website, which details the strange symptoms produced by my virus.
Enteroviruses (which are of course strongly associated with ME/CFS) are known to create a mild immunosuppression, and I suspect this immunosuppression may allow bacteria in the oral cavity to proliferate more (and this enteroviral immunosuppression probably also causes bad bacteria to proliferate in the intestines too, I would guess).
Enterovirus infection is also known to induce the secretion of enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). These
MMP enzymes produced by the body specifically act to breakdown the
connective tissues of the body. Connective tissues, which help provide structural support within the body, are made of collagen and elastin. There is a lot of connective tissue within the gums, so these MMP enzymes can directly break down and dissolve connective tissue in the gums, causing conditions like receding gums.
So enteroviruses create two simultaneous conditions that undermine gum health: immunosuppression that may allow oral bacteria to proliferate, and the production of MMP enzymes, which attack and break down gum tissue.
I am not sure if these MMP enzymes contribute to gingivitis, but they are certainly implicated in periodontitis (the enzymes MMP-2 and MMP-3
have been linked to periodontitis).
Note that in my case, I don't have gingivitis (bleeding gums), but rather periodontitis (receding gums).
Q10 is one of the best supplements for gum health. You take Q10 orally, but you can also bite open the Q10 capsule, and rub the Q10 inside the capsule (which is usually in the form of a viscous paste) directly onto your gums. A daily dose of say around 150 mg of Q10 is what you would need for gum health. If you take higher doses of Q10 (say 300 mg or more), I find this acts as an antidepressant and a mood booster, that makes you happier and more enthusiastic.
Vitamin E has been shown to be helpful for gingivitis.