Dr Thomson’s Alternative Toolkit #8 - Oral Hygiene
Given the value of a healthy set of teeth to our overall wellbeing and whether or not we take a good photograph, it comes as no surprise that traditional medicine systems provide a fair number of options for dealing with Dental Caries, Abcesses and Gingivitis – the 2 conditions I will limit myself to here as it almost goes without saying that a dentist is probably the best bet when it comes to anything more serious….
Oral bacteria (mainly Prevotella intermedia and Porphyromonas gingivalis) are the primary cause of gum disease. Gingivitis and periodontal disease take place as these bacteria build up on the gum line and, as their populations increase in the absence of effective oral hygiene, pockets form in the gums. The waste products of these bacteria are extremely acidic, and they erode the enamel and produce tooth decay. Worse, these bacteria also produce waste streams that can leak through the gums and enter our blood stream which can result in cardiovascular disease among other things.
Commercial antibacterial mouthwashes (eg Chlorhexidine, Zinc Nitrate) are not suggested by many natural health experts because, apart from their inherent toxicity, most act almost like antibiotics, wiping out all the mouth's probiotic bacteria along with pathogenic bacteria. This "clean slate" allows the pathogenic bacteria to grow back again, often in stronger and more resistant populations. So what can we do?
A 2011 study from Korea's CHA University in Kyonggi, using extracts from two forms of Sea Lettuce, Enteromorpha linza and Ulva pertusa, along with Sargassum (Sargassum sagamianum), were found to significantly block the growth of both P. intermedia and P. gingivalis and thus to significantly inhibit plaque, gingivitis and bleeding on probing. A mouthwash using the seaweed extract was found to significantly reduce the P. intermedia and P. gingivalis bacteria as well. The effects of the seaweed mouthwash were similar to those found in commercial mouthwashes without the unintended side-effect of destroying all the probiotic bacterial colonies. Unfortunately I have not been able to find commercially available examples to recommend to you.
So what can we do?
Turmeric/Curcumin: Research has shown that apart from its ability to destroy cancer cells on the oral mucosa and gut Curcumin is an effective alternative to Chlorhexidine even when used at half the concentration of the Chlorhexidine. The list of benefits officially attributed to Turmeric just gets longer and longer!
Propolis and Casein Phosphopeptide (RECALDENT): both have been shown to reduce tooth sensitivity and the latter to promote remineralization of the enamel. Propolis is fairly easy to find in South Africa and is easy to apply. Casein Phosphopeptide is found in some toothpaste but is most easily found in plain Yoghurt – thus making this food a regular accompaniment to our meals will be beneficial to the health of our teeth.
Oil Pulling: Oil pulling is an ancient Indian folk remedy first mentioned in the early Ayurvedic text, the Charaka Samhita, believed to have been written approximately 1500 years ago. One oil pulls by simply swishing a tablespoon of oil (sesame, coconut and sunflower are commonly recommended) in one's mouth for approximately 15-20 minutes on an empty stomach and then spitting it out. It has been described as effective for improving not just oral health but also 30 other systemic diseases ranging from headache, migraine to diabetes and asthma.
Try it – you never know!
A word of caution: many people use Hydrogen Peroxide orally to cleanse the mouth and whiten the teeth. Unfortunately it has been shown to be cytotoxic to the Dental Pulp if it should find a way to it so should be used orally with some caution.
Dr Thomson