What vitamin deficiency causes gingival hyperplasia? Understanding the Role of Nutrition

October 6, 2025 •

4 min read

Historically, severe vitamin C deficiency, also known as scurvy, is the primary nutritional cause associated with gingival hyperplasia. Although this condition is rare in modern, industrialized countries, a diet lacking essential nutrients remains a contributing factor to poor gum health.

Quick Summary

Vitamin C deficiency can lead to gingival hyperplasia, also known as gum overgrowth. Other common causes are medications, poor oral hygiene, and systemic diseases. Managing this condition requires identifying and addressing the specific underlying cause.

Key Points

Vitamin C Deficiency: Severe lack of vitamin C, or scurvy, is the nutritional cause of gingival hyperplasia, due to impaired collagen synthesis and tissue integrity.
Drug-Induced Overgrowth: Certain medications, including anticonvulsants (phenytoin), immunosuppressants (cyclosporine), and calcium channel blockers, are a much more common cause of gum overgrowth today.
Importance of Oral Hygiene: Inflammation from chronic bacterial plaque is a major contributing factor, often compounding drug-induced and systemic cases.
Systemic Conditions: Conditions like leukemia, diabetes, and pregnancy can also trigger gingival enlargement.
Diagnosis is Key: Correct treatment depends on accurately identifying the specific underlying cause, which may require a comprehensive medical and dental evaluation.
Treatment Variety: Treatment ranges from nutritional supplementation for scurvy to medication adjustment, improved oral hygiene, and surgical removal for other causes.

The Surprising Truth About Gingival Hyperplasia and Your Diet

Gingival hyperplasia, more accurately termed gingival enlargement by modern dentistry, refers to the abnormal overgrowth of gum tissue around the teeth. While it can be caused by various factors, a nutritional deficiency is one potential, albeit less common in developed nations, culprit. Historically, this oral manifestation was a tell-tale sign of a severe dietary problem, and understanding its link to nutrition offers valuable insight into overall dental wellness.

The Direct Link: Vitamin C and Scurvy

The most direct and significant vitamin deficiency connected to gingival hyperplasia is a lack of vitamin C, leading to the condition known as scurvy. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a vital component for the synthesis of collagen, a protein essential for the health and structural integrity of connective tissues, including those in the gums.

When the body is severely deficient in vitamin C, collagen synthesis is impaired. This leads to a breakdown of the gum's connective tissue, resulting in characteristic symptoms of scurvy: swollen, red, and easily bleeding gums that may eventually experience overgrowth. Case studies, including reports in children and adults, have shown remarkable resolution of gingival overgrowth following vitamin C supplementation.

Other Common and Systemic Causes

While nutritional deficiencies are a cause, especially when oral hygiene is poor, other factors are far more common in causing gingival hyperplasia today. It is crucial to differentiate between these various origins for effective diagnosis and treatment.

Drug-Induced Gingival Enlargement: This is a very common side effect of certain medications. Key culprits include:
- Anticonvulsants, such as phenytoin.
- Immunosuppressants, like cyclosporine.
- Calcium Channel Blockers, including nifedipine, amlodipine, and diltiazem, used for cardiovascular conditions. The prevalence of drug-induced overgrowth can be high, with up to 50% of phenytoin patients experiencing it.
Inflammatory Enlargement: The most common cause is the chronic inflammation of the gums (gingivitis), typically due to an accumulation of bacterial plaque and tartar. The presence of bacteria triggers an inflammatory response that can cause gum swelling and overgrowth, which is exacerbated by poor oral hygiene.
Systemic Conditions: Several systemic diseases can manifest as gum overgrowth. These include:
- Leukemia, particularly acute monocytic leukemia, which involves the infiltration of leukemic cells into the gum tissue.
- Hormonal changes, such as those occurring during pregnancy or puberty.
- Diabetes mellitus.
Hereditary Gingival Fibromatosis (HGF): This is a rare, genetic condition causing a slow, progressive, and excessive overgrowth of gum tissue, often starting in childhood.

The Importance of a Balanced Nutritional Diet

Beyond vitamin C, a healthy diet plays a critical role in supporting gum health and preventing inflammation. The right nutrients help build strong tissues and support the immune system's ability to fight off infections that can contribute to gum enlargement.

Vitamin D: Aids in the absorption of calcium and has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce gum inflammation.
B Vitamins (especially Folate): Important for tissue growth and repair. Research suggests that folic acid supplementation may inhibit or reduce drug-induced overgrowth.
Calcium: Essential for building strong teeth and bones, forming the supportive structure for healthy gums.

Comparison Table: Causes of Gingival Enlargement


Cause Category	Specific Cause	Contributing Factors	Treatment Approach
Nutritional	Vitamin C Deficiency (Scurvy)	Poor diet lacking fruits and vegetables.	Oral vitamin C supplementation.
Drug-Induced	Anticonvulsants (Phenytoin), Immunosuppressants (Cyclosporine), Calcium Channel Blockers (Nifedipine).	Patient's genetic susceptibility, dosage, and duration of medication.	Drug substitution or dosage adjustment (under doctor's guidance), meticulous oral hygiene.
Inflammatory	Plaque and Tartar Buildup (Gingivitis)	Poor oral hygiene, mouth breathing, or orthodontic appliances.	Professional cleaning (scaling and root planing), improved home oral hygiene.
Systemic/Hormonal	Leukemia, Diabetes, Pregnancy	Changes in hormone levels, underlying disease.	Treatment of the underlying systemic condition; proper hygiene.
Hereditary	Hereditary Gingival Fibromatosis	A genetic predisposition leading to fibrous tissue overgrowth.	Surgical removal of excess tissue (gingivectomy), recurrence is common.

How to Treat and Manage Overgrowth

Effective management of gingival hyperplasia requires a targeted approach based on the root cause.

For Vitamin C Deficiency: In cases where scurvy is diagnosed, high-dose vitamin C supplementation is the standard treatment. The gum overgrowth and bleeding often resolve dramatically within weeks of initiating therapy.
For Drug-Induced Overgrowth: The most effective strategy is to work with a physician to change or reduce the dose of the medication. This can lead to partial or complete regression of the gum tissue. Concurrently, excellent oral hygiene is essential to reduce the inflammatory component that can worsen the condition.
For Inflammatory Conditions: Professional dental cleaning to remove plaque and tartar is necessary. Patients must also commit to a meticulous daily oral hygiene regimen, including brushing and flossing, to prevent recurrence.
For Severe or Recurrent Cases: When the enlargement is severe, fibrotic, or unresponsive to other therapies, surgical removal of the excess gum tissue (gingivectomy) may be required. For conditions like HGF, surgery may be the primary treatment, though recurrence is a possibility.

Conclusion

While a severe deficiency of vitamin C is the specific nutritional cause for gingival hyperplasia, the modern reality is that most cases are linked to medications, poor oral hygiene, or other systemic issues. A balanced and nutritious diet, rich in vitamins C, D, and B, is a foundational element of good oral health and can support the body's defenses against gum inflammation. For anyone experiencing gum overgrowth, a visit to a dental professional is the crucial first step to identify the underlying cause and determine the most appropriate course of action.

For more information on nutrition for a healthy mouth, you can consult resources like the National Institutes of Health.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary vitamin deficiency that causes gingival hyperplasia is a severe lack of vitamin C, which leads to the condition known as scurvy.

If your gingival hyperplasia is caused by a vitamin C deficiency, supplementation can lead to a dramatic improvement. However, if the cause is medication, poor hygiene, or another systemic issue, vitamin C alone will not cure it.

Yes, other vitamins important for gum health include vitamin D (for calcium absorption and inflammation control), vitamin A (for healthy mucous membranes), and B vitamins (for tissue repair).

The most common non-nutritional causes include certain medications (anticonvulsants, immunosuppressants, calcium channel blockers), poor oral hygiene leading to inflammation, and systemic diseases like leukemia or hormonal changes during pregnancy.

In many cases, drug-induced gingival hyperplasia will regress partially or completely after the medication is discontinued, but this should only be done under a doctor's supervision.

Poor oral hygiene leads to the accumulation of bacterial plaque, which causes chronic gum inflammation (gingivitis). This inflammation can, in turn, cause swelling and overgrowth of the gum tissue.

Severe or unresponsive cases often require a surgical procedure called a gingivectomy, where the excess gum tissue is removed by a periodontist.