Antioxidant compositions for treatment of inflammation or oxidative damage

A method of reducing or eliminating a negative effect of oxidative damage on viability of gingival fibroblasts susceptible to oxidative damage by a metal released from a dental device in the mouth of a patient, the method comprising applying to a dental device comprising a metal before use of the dental device in the mouth of the patient an oral antioxidant composition comprising:

• between 0.0001% and 5.0% total w/w of phloretin and ferulic acid;
• between 0.0001% and 5.0% w/w of at least one additional antioxidant selected from the group consisting of an anthocyanidin, a tannin, a coumarin, and a carotenoid;
• and
• an orally pharmaceutically acceptable carrier,
• wherein the pH of the oral antioxidant composition is at least 5.0, and
• wherein the antioxidant composition exhibits a synergistic effect in reducing or eliminating the negative effect of oxidative damage on viability of gingival fibroblasts susceptible to oxidative damage by the metal released from the dental device in the mouth of the patient.