ABSTRACT
The teeth of guinea pigs differ from those of man, notably by their persistent growth. This and the ascorbic acid dependency of the guinea pig make it a very useful animal in which to study the effects of vitamin C depletion on dental growth and development. There is plenty of evidence that bleeding gums and periodontal disease may be due to vitamin C deficiency. P.E Boyle observed that long-term suboptimal ascorbic acid intake in the guinea pig caused weakness and breakage of the collagen-suspending fibers and migration of the teeth; just as in the systemic or diffuse atrophy type of human periodontal disease. Barros and Witkop found periodontal disease to be very prevalent in Chile. It was seen mostly in people with poor dental hygiene, but no significant correlation was found between the periodontal disease and any specific nutritional deficiency. Arensen et al. have produced preliminary histochemical evidence of increased copper levels in the subepithelial gingiva of patients with periodontitis.
