If you've noticed that your gums appear inflamed or bleed easily, you may have a vitamin C deficiency. Vitamin C deficiency, also called scurvy, occurs when children and adults don't get the recommended 15 to 120 mg of vitamin C daily. Seek care from your doctor if you experience oral bleeding to ensure you receive appropriate treatment.
Oral Symptoms
Low blood levels of vitamin C may cause a variety of oral symptoms, including inflamed or bleeding gums, weak tooth enamel and loose teeth. Your gums may appear spongy and purple in color and may be chronically sore. Bleeding of your gums may occur after normal activities, such as brushing your teeth or eating a meal.
Why Bleeding Occurs
Vitamin C is required for your body to heal properly from wounds and helps maintain the health of your teeth. As an antioxidant, vitamin C also helps protect your cells from damage. Your body also requires vitamin C to absorb other vital nutrients, including iron, a nutrient your body needs to make red blood cells and transport oxygen to your cells, tissues and organs. When you don't have enough vitamin C, your body has difficulty healing itself from any type of wound or injury because it can't produce enough healthy red blood cells. For this reason, you can develop easy bruising and bleeding throughout your body, including your mouth, joints and skin.
Additional Symptoms
Vitamin C deficiency may cause other symptoms in addition to oral bleeding, including nosebleeds, dry hair and skin, weight changes and painful, swollen joints. Poor iron absorption caused by low vitamin C levels may also result in anemia, a condition characterized by low red blood cells levels. If you become anemic, you may feel severely fatigued, weak or achy, and your skin may appear pale. Your immune system also requires appropriate levels of vitamin C to maintain its normal activity. Consequently, a vitamin C deficiency may make you more prone to infections because your immune system can't function properly. Children with this type of vitamin deficiency may also experience poor bone growth, irritability, diminished appetite and poor weight gain.
Treatment
Treatment for vitamin C deficiency typically involves taking high doses of vitamin C supplements for several weeks. If you have anemia caused by a vitamin C deficiency, your doctor may recommend taking a vitamin C supplement that contains iron to help reduce your anemia symptoms. Typically, vitamin C deficiency symptoms subside within one to two weeks of treatment, The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library reports.
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