Melatonin for Gum Disease? What the Research Says

observational-study PMID: 33673616

Quick Summary: Researchers looked at whether melatonin could help treat periodontitis (gum disease). They found that using melatonin, either in drinking water for rats or as a mouth rinse for people, didn't significantly improve gum health in this study.

Does Melatonin Help Gum Disease?

This study investigated if melatonin could help with periodontitis, a serious gum infection. Unfortunately, the results weren't promising. Neither the animal nor the human study showed significant improvement in gum health with melatonin use.

Study Details

Who was studied: Rats with gum disease and people with treatment-resistant gum disease.

How long: The study lasted for 2 weeks.

What they took:

Rats: Melatonin in their drinking water.
People: A melatonin mouth rinse used every evening.

What This Means For You

This research suggests that melatonin, as used in this study, isn't an effective treatment for gum disease. If you have gum disease, this study doesn't support using melatonin to treat it. It's important to stick with treatments recommended by your dentist.

Study Limitations

Short Study: The study only lasted two weeks, which might not be long enough to see any real benefits.

Dosage Unknown: The exact amount of melatonin used wasn't clearly defined, making it hard to know if the dose was effective.

Small Group: The human part of the study involved a small number of people, so the results might not apply to everyone.

How it was Used: Melatonin was applied locally (mouth rinse) which may not be as effective as other methods.

Key Findings

The study found no significant evidence supporting melatonin for periodontitis treatment. In rats, melatonin administration showed a statistically significant reduction in gum recession (p=0.04) but no effect on alveolar bone loss—assessed via radiography and μCT. Human participants with treatment-resistant periodontitis using melatonin mouth rinse for two weeks exhibited no improvements in periodontal status or salivary oxidative stress markers compared to placebo. The authors concluded melatonin did not alleviate periodontitis in this model, though they attributed the negative outcome to methodological constraints.

Study Design

This interventional study combined an animal model and a human trial. In the rat cohort, periodontitis was induced via ligature placement, with melatonin administered in drinking water for 14 days (exact n not specified in summary). The human component was a randomized trial involving 20 patients with treatment-resistant periodontitis (10 per group), who used either a melatonin mouth rinse or placebo nightly for 14 days. Primary outcomes included alveolar bone loss (rats), periodontal clinical parameters, and salivary oxidative stress markers.

Dosage & Administration

The study did not specify the melatonin concentration in rat drinking water or the exact dose absorbed. For humans, participants rinsed with a melatonin-containing solution nightly, but the concentration (e.g., mg/mL) was not quantified in the provided summary. Both models used topical/local administration (drinking water for rats, oral rinse for humans) rather than systemic delivery.

Results & Efficacy

No statistically significant efficacy was observed for primary endpoints. Radiographic and μCT analyses confirmed no reduction in alveolar bone loss in melatonin-treated rats versus controls (p>0.05, exact values not provided). In humans, melatonin rinse showed no significant differences versus placebo in probing depth, clinical attachment level, or salivary oxidative stress markers (all p>0.05). The sole positive result was reduced gum recession in rats (p=0.04), but this was a secondary outcome.

Limitations

Major limitations include the extremely short duration (14 days), which is insufficient for periodontal tissue remodeling. Dosing was poorly defined—neither rat water concentration nor human rinse strength was reported. The human sample was small (n=10/group) and restricted to treatment-resistant cases, limiting generalizability. Topical administration may not achieve effective tissue concentrations, and the lack of systemic delivery routes (e.g., oral) restricts applicability to real-world supplement use.

Clinical Relevance

This study provides no evidence to support melatonin supplementation for periodontitis management. Patients should not replace standard periodontal treatments (e.g., scaling, antibiotics) with melatonin based on these results. The negative findings may stem from inadequate dosing or duration; future research should test higher systemic doses over months. Current data do not justify melatonin use for this indication, though longer trials with optimized protocols remain warranted.