Free Radicals in the Oral Cavity

Free radicals are molecules with an unpaired electron. In a process called oxidation, an unpaired electron steals electrons from other molecules, creating new unstable free radicals. Free radicals occur naturally in the body but can be increased by environmental and lifestyle factors, such as nicotine, alcohol, or even dental procedures and materials such as bleaching agents, dental cements and composite fillings. Antioxidants are molecules that bond with the unpaired electron, neutralizing the oxidation.

What is a free radical?

Free radicals are molecules with an odd number of electrons, or better stated, with an unpaired electron. Since electrons normally exist in pairs, a molecule with an unpaired electron is unstable and it seeks a partner electron from another molecule. When the unpaired electron in the free radical molecule finds another molecule, it may steal an electron to complete its pair. This leaves the second molecule with an unpaired electron, that is, as a new free radical. This stealing process or electron theft -- what is known as oxidation -- can become a chain reaction.

What causes free radicals?

Some free radical molecules occur naturally in the body. They can be generated as part of metabolism as food is converted to energy in a gradual form of oxidation. The process releases individual electrons, leaving free-radical molecules. The new free radicals are chemically reactive and highly unstable. Free radicals can also be generated by other substances or activities within the body. For example, nicotine, alcohol, or dental procedures can raise the level of free radicals, especially within the oral cavity. Some molecules are more vulnerable to oxidation (i.e., electron theft) than others. In particular, some of the molecules in cell walls, containing unsaturated lipids, are particularly susceptible to the attack of free radicals. Other vulnerable molecules include RNA, DNA, and protein enzymes.

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