How You Can Prevent Chronic Health Issues

If you knew you could prevent a heart attack or stroke by doing one simple thing every day, twice a day would you do it? If you thought you could avoid developing serious lung diseases or ease existing symptoms of arthritis and diabetes would you think about changing your morning routine to include this simple exercise?

It might surprise you to realize that by simply brushing and flossing your teeth two to four minutes, twice a day you can support not only the health of your teeth, but the health of your entire body as well. Following up these healthy mouth routines with regular dental exams and cleaning visits is sure to keep your teeth and gums healthy for life. And to support what holistic and biological dentists have known all along, research is now indicating that by taking your oral care seriously, you may well prevent some very serious chronic health issues down the road.

Microbes Invade the Body to Create Serious Illnesses

Studies conducted at well respected institutions such as the University of Rochester Medical Center, the College of Dental Medicine and Columbia University – among others – point out significant correlations between gum disease and chronic health issues such as:

• Heart Disease
• Stroke
• Hardening of the Arteries (atherosclerosis)
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder)
• Pneumonia
• Diabetes
• Pregnancy, premature delivery & conception issues

Much of the research revolves around the discovery that harmful bacteria, bacteria normally held in check in a healthy oral environment, can multiply out of control in a mouth infected with gum disease or periodontitis.

In a healthy person, the introduction of harmful bacteria into the body from gum disease is normally purged by an active and strong immune system, but in certain people or under circumstances where the immune system is weakened or compromised, this process can lead to devastating consequences. Under these conditions harmful bacteria can enter the bloodstream and travel to vulnerable organs of the body, exacerbating existing health issues such as diabetes and lung diseases – or creating a cascade of events that lead to a ‘perfect storm’ for chronic health issues to develop such as pneumonia, heart attack or stroke.

Recognizing the Early Signs of Gum Disease

If your gums are sore, red and swollen or bleed easily when you floss, you may be one of many Americans with periodontal, or gum disease – some holistic dentists estimate that up to 90 percent of the population suffers from some form of periodontal disease.

In the mouth the tiny space between the tooth and the bone presents the perfect environment for bacteria to collect. Early on in gum disease this bacteria forms into a sticky film called plaque. If this plaque is not removed routinely with good home care techniques, and if the body’s resistance is low, then this bacterial plaque can eventually overwhelm the immune system. The earliest stage of gum disease is known as gingivitis, and left untreated this stage can quickly lead to periodontitis.

How We Can Help You Prevent Chronic Health Issues

Since the bacteria rising from gum disease may spread throughout the body to threaten more than just the teeth and gums, it is important to talk to your dentists about risk factors and treat any infected areas of your mouth as soon as possible.

In a person diagnosed with periodontal disease a holistic dentist will generally use deep cleaning, teeth scaling and root planing to break up bacteria and remove calcified tartar stuck to the teeth. The dentist will follow up this treatment with a tutorial on how to brush, floss and irrigate the teeth to effectively remove plaque and bacteria.

Treatment of oral bacteria with proper tooth cleanings, mouth rinses and good oral care at home can reduce the complication of chronic disorders. Contact our office to learn more about how we can help you to keep not only your gums healthy, but help to ensure overall good health for life.

For more information:

Microbiologists Discover How Cavity-Causing Microbes Invade Heart http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/index.cfm?id=3240

New Study Shows Gum Disease Can Extend The Time That It Takes For A Woman To Become Pregnant http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/230714.php

Healthy Gums May Lead to Healthy Lungs

http://www.perio.org/consumer/healthy-lungs.htm

Dentists Can Identify People with Undiagnosed Diabetes, Columbia Researchers Show

http://dental.columbia.edu/news/DentistsUndiagnosedDiabetes.htm

Dried Licorice Root Eliminates Bacteria That Cause Tooth Decay and Gum Disease

Research on dried licorice root released in January, published in ACS’s Journal of Natural Products, reports that two of compounds found in licorice, licoricidin and licorisoflavan A, may play a significant role in “treating and preventing tooth decay and gum disease.”

Stefan Gafner and his team of researchers point out that the dried root of the licorice plant is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine, especially as a way to enhance the activity of other herbal ingredients, or as a flavoring. And herbalists and alternative health practitioners have long known of the many benefits of licorice including; to relieve respiratory ailments such as bronchitis, colds, coughs, congestion, sore throat, and allergies. In addition, it is used for stomach ailments including heartburn from reflux, inflammatory issues, skin conditions (eczema and psoriasis), minor skin infections, and liver problems.

The leading cause of tooth loss is gum disease and tooth decay which is best managed by good oral hygiene practices and regular trips to the dentist, but the discovery of the antibacterial properties of dried licorice root now offers an additional way to stave off these dental health issues. Before using the dried licorice root it is best to take stock of any other prescription drugs you may be using as it has been known to have adverse effects when used with certain prescription drugs.

Glycyrrhizin, one of the more common components found in licorice, has long been believed to contribute to its many therapeutic properties. Additional substances that have been identified in licorice include compounds called flavonoids and various plant estrogens (phytoestrogens). But to test whether the root could combat specific bacteria that cause gum disease and cavities, the researchers focused on the licorice compounds called licoricidin and licorisoflavan A, which tested as the most effective antibacterial substances. Together, these substances killed two of the major bacteria responsible for dental cavities and two of the bacteria that promote gum disease while the substance licoricidin honed in on and killed a third gum disease bacterium. The researchers also indicate that these substances could treat and quite possibly prevent oral infections.

For a list of precautions visit the Herb Library, and/or consult with your physician before taking licorice root supplements.

Z-Systems Ceramic Zirconium Dental Implants

You can’t get much more natural than this

Before the advent of dental implants, lost teeth could only be replaced by bridges or dentures, which meant that significant portions of the natural tooth had to be removed in order to accommodate the dental appliance. These appliances were made of metal and metal alloys containing a mix of substances including copper, silver and nickel – all substances that can cause a cascade of damaging effects on the human immune system. Dentures, once installed, are uncomfortable, cause embarrassment and create the perfect environment for decay of the remaining natural teeth. To top that off, the material dentures are made of can also create toxic effects on the body, and the total loss of natural teeth causes the jaw to deform and recede, significantly altering a person’s natural appearance.

A Better Option

By the mid-60s dental implants began to revolutionize the field of dentistry. Originally designed as a way to stabilize dentures, over the years the technology developed to allow for restorations of a single tooth without causing damaging to the surrounding teeth. At first the only material on the market was titanium, chosen for its mechanical and comparatively low biological properties. Research and reports collected over the years began to point to potential health related issues of titanium, and so the dental field kept watching for a more appealing product to enter the implant market. Ceramics (ceramic zirconium) is that material.

Proven Results

Ceramic zirconium combines biocompatibility with mechanical properties well beyond that of titanium. In the mid-90s the first zirconium dental implant was developed in Switzerland. Over time research led to greater improvements in the product that made it possible for the first prototypes of a new zirconium implant used in Germany beginning in 2000. Four years later the implant was certified in Europe and used in 2000 patients, verifying the products superior properties. Ceramic zirconium is a material of choice for dental restorations today, and the product most recommended by holistic, biological and natural dentistry.

Ultimately, the advantages of ceramic zirconium include:

• Significantly reduced plaque adhesion, making it easier to clean and maintain than titanium
• Free of metals
• Good biocompatibility
• Natural white appearance
• Aesthetic appeal
• Superior gum regeneration
• Certified bio-inert

The holistic dental community has been able to embrace the newer forms of dental implants presented by ceramic zirconium by the advantages it offers patients including biocompatibility and presenting few to no adverse reactions of the human immune system. The natural white coloring of the material is much preferred over the gray of titanium, offering a pleasing cosmetic appeal. In addition, the long-term health benefits presented by zirconium implants include its apparent ability to resist plaque build-up, making it easier for patients to care for their teeth and sustain good oral hygiene.

Another added benefit of zirconium implants has to do with how well the gums react to the material following surgery, lessening incidents of gum disease, a high contrast to results observed in cases where titanium implants were chosen. Appreciating the low impact of zirconium implants can only be achieved when it is compared to titanium. With titanium products there is a trail of complications including gum disease and inflammation likely caused by the free radicals present in the metal. Additional issues include:

• allergic reaction
• irritation
• inflammation
• foreign body response (rejection)
• cancer and other autoimmune disorders

Healthy Smiles

Our goal is to provide absolute metal-free, biocompatible dentistry. Ceramic options are proven holistic, aesthetic and hygienic over other their metal counterparts. Contact our office for more information, or to schedule an evaluation appointment: Request a Ceramic Dental Implant Evaluation

Chocolate Toothpaste… The Natural Alternative to Fluoride?

Theodent™ Toothpaste with Rennou™-- a Natural Alternative to Fluoride

If you were told you could brush your teeth with chocolate, would you do it? What if you were told that it was a natural alternative to fluoride? Well, we are not quite to that point yet, but we’re getting close: a new toothpaste purports to strengthen tooth enamel naturally by using — what else? — an extract from cocoa.

Theodent™ toothpaste claims to increase “the size of the surface unit crystals of your enamel by four times. Larger unit crystals make your teeth less susceptible to bacterial acid de-mineralization and keep your teeth healthy and robust.” (http://www.theodent.com/faq.html)

Research on the extract has been ongoing since the 1980′s, when clinical studies discovered a cocoa extract was beneficial in fighting cavities. It became more publicized when Arman Sadeghpour used the research as part of his doctoral thesis at Tulane University. Sadeghpour compared the effects of cocoa extract and fluoride on tooth enamel, discovering that cocoa extract can strengthen and enlarge the crystals that make up the tooth, resulting in stronger enamel.

Now Theodent™ toothpaste, utilizing a proprietary blend of the cocoa extract, is coming to the market. It will first be available on their website (http://www.theodent.com/) and at select Whole Foods locations. The toothpaste doesn’t actually taste like chocolate; it is mint-flavored. But developers hope to expand the Theodent line to include dental floss, mouthwash and, yes, a chocolate-flavored, sugar-free toothpaste for children.

What’s our take? I’m always willing to try new natural toothpastes. To be honest, it’s very difficult to make an effective natural toothpaste that is right for everyone (just look at some of the research we’ve done: What’s the Best Toothpaste?). We will be getting a few bottles soon and I will do some biocompatibility testing to see how this new “chocolate” toothpaste works with the majority of our patients. Stay tuned for  follow-up article on Theodent™ in the not-too-distant future.

The Toxic Effects of the Mercury in Dental Amalgam Fillings on the Environment and Human Health

The following document — “THE TOXIC EFFECTS OF THE MERCURY IN DENTAL AMALGAM FILLINGS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH” — is a fact sheet prepared by The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (www.iaomt.org).

It’s one of the most detailed looks you’ll see on the hazards of the mercury in amalgam fillings on both our health and the environment and a pretty good list of reasons to ban mercury fillings in America.

If you have any questions about whether mercury fillings are bad, this paper should provide most of the reasons for you, along with several pages of supporting research for those who want or need more information.

I encourage you to print it out and share it with your family, friends, and loved ones. Share it with your doctor. Share it with anyone who doubts the dangers of silver fillings and anyone who craves more information than they typically have access to.

Thank you to the IAOMT for making this available and for helping to better educate us all.