Natural Ways to Keep Your Teeth and Gums Healthy

Natural Ways to Keep Your Teeth and Gums Healthy

by | Feb 19, 2012 | Uncategorized

Essential oils have many benefits,  from curing athlete’s foot or controlling fungal infections, to helping with gingivitis.  The article below discusses tea tree oil — also known as melaleuca oil.   Many patients in our office have benefited from the essential oils present in two products available for purchase in our office:  Tooth and Gums Tonic and Tooth and Gums Paste.  Used properly, natural remedies can be of great benefit, without many of the side effects associated with traditional cures.

Dr. Walicki

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Natural Ways to Keep Your Teeth and Gums Healthy

By Kathy Jenkins

Whether you’re trying to cure a toothache, make your teeth whiter or prevent gum disease, there are many natural remedies that can be helpful in between visits to the dentist. Eating right, and brushing and flossing your teeth are certainly important, but there are numerous other methods available that can give your oral health a boost.  Among these are herbs, oils, and the like.  We will be giving you a few examples you may choose to follow that can give your oral hygiene a positive boost.

Going to the dentist is something that most of us would like to avoid.  But if your teeth hurt right now, that is exactly where you should go.  One such instance is if you have an abscessed tooth.  This is a potentially serious condition where your tooth gets infected, and this can spread to other parts of your body. There are many symptoms that can be associated with this circumstance, including a bitter taste in your mouth and a swollen neck or jaw.  Antibiotics from your dentist will usually help to control or get rid of the infection.   Typically, your doctor will also prescribe pain medication for any discomfort you are feeling.  An emergency room may be  your best bet for getting relief from an abscessed tooth, especially if you are lacking dental insurance or the funds to cover your bill.

Natural antibiotics exist, and tea tree oil is considered one of them.  Because it has powerful healing properties doesn’t mean you can take it without following directions, and if it says not to take it internally, you shouldn’t. If you need a good toothpaste or mouthwash, you should consider tea tree oil.  It can also be useful in controlling gingivitis.   Rinse your mouth with a small amount in a glass of water, because it can be too strong undiluted.  If you are looking for the safest way to use tea tree oil then get a mouthwash or toothpaste which already contains it, or some other commercially prepared product. This works really well for giving you fresher breath as well as help to prevent gum disease. A product with tea tree oil in it can be harmful if you swallow it, so use caution when rinsing and be careful not to administer it to children that might be prone to swallowing rather than rinsing and spitting.

There may be a dentist in your area who favors holistic techniques.  Consult with them about natural ways to care for your teeth and gums. You may be surprised how many dentists can be found that have this orientation.  Holistic dentists went to the same kind of dental schools as anyone else, but they focus on natural and holistic techniques and substances. If you need to have any filling done, a holistic dentist would never use a filling that’s mercury based.  When you have this kind of dentist, you will always have someone to consult when it comes to natural ways to keep your mouth healthy. In some cases, you may have to travel a little further to find a good holistic dentist, depending on where you live.  Our overall health is greatly affected by our mouth because it is often the first place where infections and toxins are likely to be found. If you can maintain clean teeth and gums, and you eat the right foods, you will be less likely to have many cavities.   Hopefully the above will give you some orientation to alternative options, but keep in mind that it’s also necessary to get regular dental checkups.

Kathy Jenkins gives suggestion about your teeth as well as how to handle Angular Cheilitis (cracking at the corners of your mouth.)  She also has a link to book I have not reviewed concerning the subject.  Many cases of angular cheilitis can be resolved, however, by supplementing with vitamins B12, vitamin C, and zinc.  An over-the-counter antibiotic cream may also help.  Some cases of  angular cheilitis are caused by ill-fitting dentures.  This can only be remedied by having a new set of dentures made that fit properly.  If you are interested in the book Kathy Jenkins references, you can find it here: Angular Cheilitis.

The Affordable Dentist

The Affordable Dentist

by | Dec 5, 2011 | Cavities, Cavity, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dentistry, Periodontal Disease, Tooth Decay, Toothache

Let’s face it: seeing a doctor – any sort of doctor – can be expensive. And dentists are no exception. But if a person’s diet and home care have been lacking, the cost of dental treatment can quickly sky-rocket. One of the problems with dental care has to do with the fact that many patients still suffer from the idea that if they don’t feel anything wrong with their teeth, then all is well.

Unfortunately, when it comes to teeth, most people miss the boat entirely with this concept. The reason is simple: the outer part of the tooth – the enamel – is mostly mineral and has no nerves. That means you can have a cavity and not know it. Several, actually. Most dentists will attest to the fact that many patients are shocked to learn they have any cavities at all.

The trouble is that by the time a cavity actually gets big enough to pose a problem, it’s a PROBLEM. For most people that trouble is spelled P-A-I-N.

It’s really no small wonder that so many individuals associate going to the dentist with toothaches. For those patients, it is the only time they will actually make an appointment. They go because they now know they have a cavity. Pain is a huge motivator. . . .

By the time a tooth hurts, though, the cavity is usually pretty close to the nerve. This means that if there is still enough tooth structure left to work with, the dentist may consider a root canal to remove the source of the pain – in other words – the nerve. Usually, this is not cheap. A root canal on a molar can cost over a thousand dollars when performed by a specialist. Then the patient has to go back to the dentist to have the tooth built up again (because so much tooth structure was lost to decay) and finally, the tooth may even need a crown. Lacking a blood supply and nerve thanks to the root canal, the tooth is now brittle and can break. Since your back teeth get a lot of pressure when you chew, failing to crown it may result in the tooth cracking and all that money you spent on the root canal goes out the window.

In a number of cases, because many people simply fear getting a root canal (not because they actually had one, but because they heard that a friend of a friend had a bad experience, and they never want to go through THAT), they opt to remove the tooth instead.

But now they have to replace the missing tooth or else their teeth will shift around and their bite goes awry. And fixing that new problem typically costs even more!

It can be frustrating.

Many people figure no one will see a missing back tooth, so why not pull it, since that is cheaper? At least they think so – until they notice their front teeth starting to form gaps, and find that food gets stuck all over the place whenever they eat. But then again, what if it’s a front tooth that needs to go?

You possibly think: “Wow, this is a problem, but I still really need to find something cheap.” OK, then. If you live in Philadelphia, you may Google “affordable Philadelphia dentist” or “cheap dentist.” A number of listings for dental implants appear, maybe some for “affordable cosmetic dentistry.” Wow, this isn’t sounding at all affordable!!! Wait! A couple of dental schools come up too. “Hmmm. Do I really want someone in their first year of dental clinic restoring my front tooth? It will be less expensive. But, then again . . . .”

The affordable dentist is someone who will understand your situation and can help you to find a workable solution for your circumstances. Many offices offer low-cost or interest-free programs that help you get the work you need today and then spread payments out over time. In some cases, it may be helpful to set up a lay-away program, especially if you have specific needs for which you have been given an estimate of treatment costs. In this manner you won’t end up spending your money on other less-essential items. Many offices will assess a minor fee to manage this plan, but it is usually quite small.

In the meantime, it is essential to keep yourself out of trouble with good preventive dental practices. Learn what diet has to do with your teeth and which home care habits are best. Remember, when it comes to teeth and gums, “no pain” most definitely does not always mean “no problems”.