LC and sore gums
 

I don't know why, but everytime I renew my LC efforts my gums 'flare up'. This time it is worse than usual.
Any thoughts?
I am taking some Vitamin C but that is all I supplement as I HATE taking pills. (Pure Radiance C 120 mg once per day).
Thanks for any input.

Do you eat a good amount of vegetables? 120mg a day is not enough if you are doing hardcore lc and not getting a ton of C in your diet, you need more like 1000mg a day (500mg twice a day). It is water soluble so you will excrete the excess.

I seem to get a stomach ache from C. Maybe I need a better/different brand?
I would not say I eat a lot of veggies. Especially now, on induction.
I will research which veggies are best for C and maybe switch some out.
Thank you for input.

The buffered ones are easier on the stomach. Something like Ester C is ph neutral and shouldn't cause stomach problems. Also, taking with food always helps. Peppers, parsley, kale, tomatoes, and spinach have a lot.

Yes, try the calcium ascorbate type of Vit C...it's all I take. It's the buffered kind. Regular Ascorbic acid rots my stomach!

I take 1000mg per day.

no one wants scurvy right? HAHA

Are you eating meat (steaks, chops, etc. not ground) more often than before? I found it irritated mine until I got used to it.

Nutricology buffered Vitamin C powder.

I would suggest oil pulling with coconut oil. It has natural anti viral and bacterial properties to it and it is soothing. Once a day for 2 wks and then reassess.

Clackley beat me to it. I was going to suggest oil pulling also. There's tons of information about it in the general medical issues thread.

Pat

Oil pulling was the first thing I went back to, Cathy!
I am doing much better! I do EVCO (organic) one day and sunflower oil the next. CO gives me a terrible stomach ache, but works so well I wont' give it up. I don't, of course swallow during pulling, but days I use it to pull I also try to consume 1/2 Tbls.
Thanks to everyone for caring and posting.

: :)
It took 4 days to feel the relief, but thank goodness it is better. I OP in the AM and rinse w/ warm salt water PM. My goal is to pull for 20 minutes, but usually make 12-15.

I was going to suggest it too!
OP is something I've recently started again, I stopped smoking (again... sigh....) and noticed my gums becoming more sensitive and bleeding since I stopped. OP has pretty much healed that after about 4 days; like you said, it took 4 days to feel the relief!

My routine is: I wake up, drink some water, floss, OP for 20 minutes with sesame oil (organic, cold pressed) and then brush teeth. I use a natural toothpaste, and it's not really fabulous at keeping teeth white, but since I am OP again, I am noticing a very clear difference in how white my teeth are becoming. I will continue for now, it's working for me!
I have a dental appointment at the end of the month (regular 6 month check up) and will let you know how I get on after!

Hope your gums keep gettin better, do keep us posted!

How exactly does LC cause swollen gums? I don't remember reading anything about this and I've never had that problem, just wondering. Also, how does vitamin C work to stop it? Thanks!

Also, I thought vit C was a diuretic at high dosages (thus the stomach aches, >1g per day I guess?), how does that work with LC?

Cresis,
I am not knowledgeable to answer your questions....................sorry.
I only know that when I start a LC eating plan my gums get sore. Happens every time.

I've never read that it's a diuretic. It can give you diarrhea if you go above your personal threshold level, but that's much higher than 1g. I can go up as high as 5000- 8000mg when I am fighting off a cold and not get diarrhea. The stomachache comes from taking a non-buffered version.

LC causes it because we don't produce any vitaminc C in the body and if you don't eat enough vegetables or supplement with C then you won't get enough vitamin C, and the deficiency causes gum problems.

This is why Atkins recommended from the beginning to get enough vegetables in the diet and to take supplements.