Dentists are very good at repairing damage — filling cavities, removing diseased tissue, etc. The problem with conventional dentistry is that it mainly addresses symptoms — little attention is paid to the underlying causes of tooth decay and gum disease.
Example: In the US today, about 75% of adults show signs of gum disease. Conventional dentists treat it by removing damaged gum tissue and/or prescribing antibiotics. These measures work temporarily, but the problem usually comes back.
Natural approach: The bacterial infections that cause gum disease often are due to nutritional deficiencies, a weakened immune system or an imbalance in the body’s acid-alkaline chemistry. Most patients improve dramatically when they use natural approaches, such as herbs or dietary changes.
Here, natural treatments and/or preventive measures for the most common dental problems…
Note: All natural remedies in this article are available at health-food stores, unless otherwise noted. Always talk with your doctor before taking any supplements.
Basic oral hygiene, such as regular brushing, is unlikely to prevent tooth decay if the mouth environment tips the balance toward destruction. Reason: The teeth may appear to be rock-hard structures, but they’re surprisingly porous — and they undergo constant cycles of breakdown and repair.
Main cause of decay: Excess acidity. Saliva normally bathes the teeth in an alkaline solution. When saliva becomes less alkaline — often because of a high-fat/high-sugar diet — it makes the mouth more acidic. The acids strip away protective tooth enamel, a process called demineralization. At the same time, decay-causing bacteria proliferate in the high-acid environment.
Helpful: Test your saliva pH (a measure of acidity). Some pharmacies sell litmus paper that tests acidity. It is also available at swimming pool supply stores and pet shops that have aquarium supplies. If you test below 6.9, your mouth is excessively acidic.
To prevent tooth decay…
More people lose their teeth from gum disease than from tooth decay. The early stage, gingivitis, occurs when a bacteria-laden film accumulates on the teeth and beneath the gum line. The more advanced form, periodontitis, occurs when infection and/or inflammation of gum tissues is accompanied by tissue destruction.
Warning signs: Persistent bad breath… loss of bone and gums that bleed while brushing… and/or tender or receding gums.
To prevent and treat gum disease…
Most toothaches are caused by an infected nerve. Conventional dentists usually treat the infection with antibiotics and/or a root canal procedure — but that may not be necessary.
Decay can come close to the nerve chamber but not affect the nerve itself, causing a toothache. Ask your dentist if a sedative filling is appropriate. A sedative filling relieves pain and stimulates the formation of secondary dentin — tissue that can prevent bacteria from damaging the nerve. It works only in the earliest stages of tooth decay and is a temporary restoration intended to relieve pain. The sedative filling will eventually need to be replaced with a permanent filling, but you may have avoided the need for a root canal procedure.
Be aware that once decay enters the nerve chamber and the nerve is infected, root canal therapy is needed to save the tooth. See a dentist whenever you have discomfort from a tooth.
Until you can get to a dentist, the following can reduce toothache pain…
Just about any dental problem — tooth decay, gum disease, etc. — can cause bad breath. More often, it’s caused by a dental problem plus something elsewhere in the body. Persistent bad breath can indicate an underlying stomach, liver or intestinal problem. I’ve seen many patients whose mouths are spotless, but who still have bad breath. They need to be checked by a physician.
In the meantime: Use an herbal rinse to reduce bacteria that can cause bad breath.
