Natural dentistry and oral care

Health experts recommend regular visits to the dentist for cleanings and oral health maintenance. But so much of current dentistry has the potential to add to the toxic build-up of the human body. With issues such as mercury amalgam fillings and fluoride toxicity coming to light recently, many people have been questioning the methods of traditional dentistry and turning to more natural, holistic options when it comes to their oral care needs.

Though widely used in the past, amalgam fillings, which are equal parts silver and mercury, have received a bad rap as of late. Mercury toxicity has been linked to neurological damages, gastrointestinal problems, immune system weakening, kidney damage, blood cell disorders, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.

Studies have shown that the average person receives far more exposure from existing amalgam fillings than from say, certain types of fish, which we are advised to consume rarely.

Another, less-publicized issue in the dental industry is that of fluoride. Added to drinking water supplies for decades and found in toothpaste, fluoride is actually the ionic form of the reactive gas fluorine. The United States Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, or (ATSDR) lists fluorine compounds as among the top 20 materials most harmful to human health. Fluoride is the primary ingredient in rat poison, some pesticides, and nerve gas.

Most humans receive a cumulative exposure to fluorine compounds and fluoride through the environment, as well as the water we drink. Household products, as well as pesticide sprays and Teflon pans all create exposure to fluoride.

Over 90% of the fluoride that we get in our drinking water is made up of sodium fluoride, hexafluoro silicic acid, and sodium fluorosilicate. These, believe it or not, are obtained from industrial waste primarily from the aluminum industry, which has never been approved for human consumption. If it wasn’t sold to the government to put into our water, these industries would have to pay to remove their excess fluoride as toxic waste.

Even the American Dental Association is revising its recommendations for the amount of fluoride used in children’s dental treatments, because in our modern world, a toxic, cumulative build-up of fluoride, called fluoridosis, is more common than not enough fluoride. Too much fluoride can cause mottling or darkening of teeth, weakened bones, and neurological problems.

Aside from mercury and fluoride, the dental industry uses many chemicals, plastic compounds, metals, etc., which cannot be good for our collective health.

As a result, many people are turning to mercury-free dentistry, or holistic (also called biological) dentists for their oral health needs.

One of the first tasks holistic dentists may undertake is to remove the mercury fillings of their patients. They then provide nutritional support to help detoxify the body, such as chlorella and vitamin supplementation. They may also use a process called chelation, by which certain peptides or vitamins are ingested which bind to heavy metals and carry them out of the body.

Cranial-sacral work can either be done with the holistic dentist or referred to a specialist. Cranial-sacral manipulation can realign the skull and spinal bones, relieving toothaches, jaw pain, or TMJ.

Holistic means "concerned with the whole," rather than just the parts, of a person in terms of their oral health and dental care needs. So a holistic dentist may recommend dietary and lifestyle changes to better support general health as well as specifically oral/dental care.

Holistic dentists may also support an emphasis on mental/physical/spiritual well-being of their patients, and recommend various techniques such as yoga, meditation, or chakra alignment to further improve the body’s relationship with the mouth and teeth. In addition, many dental patients have painful emotional memories from negative dental experiences, and a holistic dentist will look at that as well.

In short, a holistic dentist will examine the whole picture of a patient, including his or her emotional attachments, physical health, alignment, diet, lifestyle, etc., in deciding upon a treatment plan.

At the Holistic Dental Association website (www.holisticdental.org), you can find a directory to a holistic dentist near you.

There is also a lot that the average person can do at home to maintain healthy teeth and gums.

Gum disease is a very common, yet preventable problem. Gingivitis, or simple gum irritation, is caused by improper dental hygiene. If not treated or reversed, gingivitis can progress to periodontal disease, in which the pocket between the gums and teeth grows larger, harboring infection and causing bone loss around the teeth. The number one cause of tooth loss is periodontal disease.

In addition, poor oral hygiene can create far more serious problems, as the tissue around the teeth is a direct link to the bloodstream. Heart problems have been linked to periodontal infections, as well as premature births in pregnant women, and those with chronic inflammatory conditions. Holistic dental practitioners would argue that it is not possible to have a healthy body with unhealthy gums.

But with simple, proper care, gums can remain pink and healthy, which also helps with issues such as bad breath and tooth decay.

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Getting the smiling face without the use of toxic chemicals is possible nowadays. Health experts feel that only regular visit to the dentist can bring about this dental health but so much of current dentistry has the potential to add to the toxic build up of the human body. The fillings used are having side effects and are sometimes even dangerous. The mercury amalgam filling and fluoride toxicity has been linked to gastrointestinal diseases, kidney problems, neurological diseases, damage to the immune system, multiple sclerosis, disorders in the blood cells, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. So many people are turning to more natural holistic options when it comes to their oral care needs.

The existing amalgam fillings seem to give far more exposure than certain types of fish which are advised to consume rarely. Fluoride is the ironic form of the reactive gas fluorine. In the hit list of the compounds that are harmful to human being, by the ATSDR, fluorine stands comes one among the first 20.. Fluoride is the primary ingredient in rat poison, pesticides and nerve gas. Too much fluoride can cause mottling or darkening of teeth, weakened bones, and neurological problems.

Apart from mercury and fluoride the dental industry uses many chemicals, plastic compounds, metals etc which cannot be good for our collective health. So many people are opting for holistic or biological dentists for their oral health needs. The holistic dentists remove the mercury filling and provide nutritional support to help detoxify the body such as chlorella and vitamin supplementation. Chelation is the process by which certain peptides or vitamins are ingested which bind to heavy metals and carry them out of the body. Cranial sacral manipulation can realign the skull and spinal bones relieving tooth aches, jaw pain or TMJ.

A holistic dentist will examine the whole picture of a patient including his or her emotional attachments, physical health, alignment, diet, lifestyle etc in deciding upon a treatment plan. They recommend various techniques such as yoga, meditation, or chakra alignment to further improve body’s relationship with the mouth and teeth.

Gum disease is a very common, but preventable problem. Gingivitis or simple gum irritation is caused by improper dental hygiene. If not treated it may reverse to periodontal disease and ends up in tooth loss. Unhealthy gums lead to premature babies being born, and also heart problem in some cases.

Taking simple precautionary measures like flossing regularly everyday, using soft tooth brush, and using proper tooth pastes. You can make your own tooth paste by mixing baking soda, salt and glycerin. Use a mouth wash which uses natural ingredients and no alcohol. Alcohol only dries the mouth. Use natural neem stick to brush the teeth which is very safe.