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Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly may mean more than just maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Recent studies found
that the common bacteria that build up on our teeth can trigger blood clots, obstruct arteries, and cause heart trouble. Researchers
are trying to decipher whether it is the plaque, or the body's reaction to it, that causes the blood clots. According to an
article published by the Associated Press, people with periodontal disease have a lifelong simmering infection that causes
chronic inflammation of the gums. In response, their bodies release a slow, steady stream of potent germ-killing chemicals
that might in themselves be harmful. But one thing is for sure, there is definitive evidence that plaque, especially the strain
Streptococcus sanguis, is responsible for depriving the heart muscle of oxygen. The Associated press article suggests that
bad gums are as great of a health risk as smoking, which causes 40,000 heart-related deaths a year.
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| Fluoride free tooth paste |
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| Herbal tooth paste |
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Failure to brush
teeth linked to heart disease A new study found that people who never or rarely brush
their teeth are 70 per cent more likely to suffer heart disease as those who brush twice a day. However, the overall
risk from poor oral hygiene remains quite low, they said. Experts from University College London analysed data for more
than 11,000 people with an average age of 50 taking part in the Scottish Health Survey. They looked at people’s
brushing habits as well as their lifestyles, such as whether they smoked or took exercise. People were asked how often
they visited their dentist (at least once every six months, every one to two years, or rarely/never) and how often they brushed
their teeth (twice a day, once a day or less than once a day). Separate details were collected on people’s medical
histories, blood pressure and their family’s history of heart disease. Blood samples were also taken to measure
markers of inflammation in the blood. Just over six out of 10 (62 per cent) people visited their dentist every six months,
while 71 per cent said they brushed their teeth twice a day. During eight years of follow-up, there were 555 examples
of serious heart problems, mostly caused by heart disease, including heart attacks. Of these, 170 were fatal. The
experts found that people who never or rarely brushed their teeth were 70 per cent more likely to suffer heart disease than
those who brushed twice a day. This held true even when factors likely to influence the results - such as obesity and
smoking - were taken into account. Poor oral hygiene was also linked to low-grade inflammation in the blood. Writing
online in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), author Professor Richard Watt said, “Our results confirmed and further
strengthened the suggested association between oral hygiene and the risk of cardiovascular disease. “Furthermore
inflammatory markers were significantly associated with a very simple measure of poor oral health behaviour.”
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Natural Tea Tree Oil Toothpaste Mint • Helps fight plaque naturally • Deep cleans teeth and gums without harsh abrasives
• Leaves mouth feeling clean and refreshed Flavored with the pure essential oil of peppermint for a unique and refreshing
taste, this effective formula features baking soda and the natural anti-septic properties of Eco-Harvest® Tea Tree Oil.
Fluoride and gluten free. Moore
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| General Oral Conditioners | | Goldenseal root -- | astringent
and antibacterial | | Prickly ash bark -- | astringent and circulation enhancing | | Turmeric
root -- | astringent and anti-inflammatory | | Echinacea root -- | anti-inflammatory | | Calendula flower -- | soothing and tissue
healing | | Aloe vera -- | soothing,
tissue healing and anti-inflammatory | | Propolis -- | tissue soothing and antibacterial | | Chlorophyll
-- | tissue soothing | | Sesame
oil -- | Ayurvedic classic for tissue soothing | | Cinchona bark -- | antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory | | Wheat germ oil -- | tissue healing and
anti-oxidant |
Tea tree oil has proven antibiotic properties. A topically applied tea tree oil gel was evaluated in a double-blind placebo-controlled
study involving 49 people with severe chronic gingivitis. They were told to brush twice a day and were assessed after 4 and
8 weeks. The group that brushed with tea tree oil had a significant reduction in the degree of gingivitis and bleeding. However,
tea tree oil gel did not reduce the amount of plaque. Use only commercial tea tree toothpaste, not tea tree oil.
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A Dutch study reviewed randomized controlled trials and found that the use of electric toothbrushes with oscillating, rotating
heads for 3 months reduced gingivitis compared to manual brushing with a regular toothbrush. There was also some reduction
in plaque, although it was not statistically significant. Another study found that the Oral-B ProfessionalCare 7000, which
has an oscillating, rotating head, was more effective at reducing plaque and bleeding of gingivitis compared with another
electric toothbrush.Moore
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Cranberry may help gum disease by preventing bacteria from sticking to teeth. Look for cranberry juice with no added sugar
at the health food store. A typical amount is 4 ounces a day. Consult your doctor if you are taking the blood thinner warfarin
or have kidney stones.
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Hidden Danger in Your Drinking Water and Toothpaste
Fluoride is an element from the halogen group, as are iodide and chloride. It is commonly added to the water supply as
hydrofluosilicic acid, silicofluoride or sodium fluoride. Fluoride is also found as an additive in toothpastes and some mouthwashes,
as a tooth decay preventive ingredient. Read moore
Why is Fluoride Used? Fluoride is used to fight tooth decay in children. The key initial studies purporting to demonstrate
its effectiveness as an anti-cavity fighting compound were performed back in the 1940s. Those studies, conducted in Grand
Rapids, MI in 1945, in Newburgh, NY in 1945, in Brantford, Ontario in 1945, and in Evanston, IL in 1947, are now being called
into question. According to Dr. Philip Sutton, author of "The Greatest Fraud: Fluoridation" *A Factual Book, Lorne,
Australia, 1996), these studies are actually of dubious scientific quality.
More recently, other studies attempting to document the effectiveness of fluoride have been conducted. Dr. John Yiamouyiannis
examined the raw data from a large study that was conducted by the National Institute for Dental Research (NIDR). He concluded
that fluoride did not appear to have any decay preventing success, as there was little difference in the DMFT values (the
mean number of decayed, missing or filled teeth) for approximately 40,000 children. It did not matter whether they grew up
in fluoridated, non-fluoridated or partially fluoridated communities. (Yiamouyiannis, J.A. "Water Fluoridation and Tooth
Decay: Results from the 1986-87 National Survey of U.S. Schoolchildren", Fluoride, 23, 55-67, 1990). A larger study has been conducted in New Zealand. There, the New Zealand National Health Service plan examines the teeth
of every child in key age groups, and have found that the teeth of children in non-fluoridated cities were slightly better
than those in the fluoridated cities. (Colquhoun, J. "Child Dental Health Differences in New Zealand", Community
Healthy Services, XI 85-90, 1987). Although children's teeth have improved steadily from the 1930s to the 1990s,
this improvement appears to be independent of the addition of fluoride to the water. A study has yet to be conducted that
specifically addresses whether the addition of fluoride affects the quality of teeth, while controlling and accounting for
other factors and other sources of fluoride. Despite growing questions about the effectiveness of using fluoride
to fight tooth decay - and increasing concerns of the safety of this practice -- over 60 percent of the United States' water
supply is fluoridated. Most of those cities are in the eastern part of the U.S. What are the Concerns
Associated with the Addition of Fluoride to the Water Supply?The most recognized problem with the ingestion
of too much fluoride is dental fluorosis. This condition is characterized by the failure of tooth enamel to crystallize properly
in permanent teeth. The effects range from chalky, opaque blotching of teeth to severe, rust-colored stains, surface pitting
and tooth brittleness. This condition, though worrisome, may not be the key concern , at least according to some
researchers. Dr. Phyllis Mullenix believes, based on her research, that fluoride acts in a way that lowers the I.Q. of children
("Neurotoxicity of Sodium Fluoride in Rats", Mullenix, P. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 17 (2), 1995). Dr. William Marcus, believes that a study conducted by Battelle for the National Toxicology Program on the toxicology
of fluoride shows that there were dose-related increases in bone cancer in male rats. Dr. Marcus also questions the removal
by peer reviewers of cancers at other sites in the rats as well. Especially worrisome to Dr. Marcus is the fact that that
levels of fluoride that caused the cancers in the rats were lower than those seen in humans who ingested lower amounts, but
for a longer period. These levels are generated because fluoride is accumulated in the body and is not secreted. Dr. Marcus was formerly the chief toxicologist for the EPA's Office of Drinking Water, but was fired in 1991 after insisting
that an unbiased evaluation of fluoride's cancer potential be conducted. Marcus fought his dismissal, and was able to be reinstated
after demonstrating in court that it was politically motivated. An article in the Irish Times of Dublin
on August 16, 1999, reports that Dr. Hans Moolenburgh's research in Holland found that up to 4 percent of people using fluoridated
water experienced health problems. These problems ranged from gastrointestinal disorders to mouth sores to rashes to headaches
to forms of arthritis to more serious concerns such as cancers and neurological complaints.
Studies dating back to the 1950s have shown links between Down's Syndrome and natural fluoridation. Ionel Rapaport also showed
how the age of women bearing Down's Syndrome children decreased in direct relation to the increase of fluoride in the water
supply. The more fluoride that was in the water, the younger the age of the women bearing Down's Syndrome children.
Even those who aren't convinced of the toxicity of fluoride should be concerned about the level of fluoride added to the
water supply. The optimum level was set in the 1940s at approximately 1 ppm (equal to 1 mg/l). This was based on assumptions
that the total intake of fluoride would be 1 mg/day, assuming 4 glasses of water were drunk per day. However, current intake
of fluoride comes not just from the water supply. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Iowa and reported
in the November issue of the Journal of American Dental Association found that 71% of more than 300 soft drinks contained
0.60 ppm fluoride. Toothpaste, beverages, processed food, fresh fruits and vegetables, vitamins and mineral supplements all
contribute to the intake of fluoride. It is now estimated that the total amount of fluoride ingested per day is 8 mg/day,
eight times the optimum levels.
An additional and less well studied concern is the interaction of the fluoride
compounds added to water with other water additives. Most studies examining the addition of fluoride to water have used sodium
fluoride, however, most communities use the less expensive forms such as silicofluoride, hydrofluosilicic acid or sodium silicofluoride.
A 1999 study of 280,000 Massachusetts children shows that levels of lead in blood were significantly higher in communities
using these cheaper compounds than in towns where sodium fluoride was used or where the water was not treated at all. ("Children's
Health and the Environment", 17th International Neurotoxicology Conference, Little Rock, Arkansas, October 17-20,
1999).
Aluminum compounds are frequently added to the water supply as clarifying agents. On its own, aluminum is
not readily absorbed by the body, however, when fluoride is present, the two form aluminum-fluoride, which is easily absorbed.
A long term study published in 1988 found that even low levels of aluminum-fluoride in drinking water delivered more aluminum
to the brain than concentrated aluminum fluoride. The same study found that low levels of aluminum fluoride and sodium fluoride
found in "optimally" fluoridated water cause severe kidney damage and lesions to the brain similar to those found
in Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Dr. Robert Isaacson, State University of New York, found that when aluminum fluoride
is added to the food of rats, the rats developed short-term memory problems, smell sensory loss and other characteristics
of Alzheimer's disease. (Isaacson, R. "Rat studies link brain cell damage with aluminum and fluoride in water" State
Univ. of New York, Binghampton, NY, Wall Street Journal article by Marilyn Chase; Oct. 28, 1992, p. B-6).
What are the Thyroid-Specific Concerns?
Is fluoride in part the reason for near epidemic levels
of hypothyroidism in the United States? Some experts and researchers believe this is the case.
Fluoride had been
used for decades as an effective anti-thyroid medication to treat hyperthyroidism and was frequently used at levels below
the current "optimal" intake of 1 mg/day. This is due to the ability of fluoride to mimic the action of thyrotropin
(TSH). It makes sense, then that out of the over 150 symptoms and associations of hypothyroidism, almost all are also symptoms of fluoride poisoning.
Researcher and advocate Andreas Schuld has also found that
excess of fluoride correlates with other thyroid-related issues such as iodine deficiency. Fluoride and iodine, both being
members of the halogens group of atoms, have an antagonistic relationship. When there is excess of fluoride in the body it
can interfere with the function of the thyroid gland. It is possible that iodine deficiency, which is the most common cause
of brain damage and mental disability in the world, could be lessened by simply cutting back on the use of fluoride.
The Future of Fluoride
Some advocates believe that the truth about fluoride does not reach
the public easily because fluoride, produced as a toxic waste byproduct of many types of heavy industry - such as aluminum,
steel, fertilizer, glass, cement and other industries -- must be disposed of somewhere. If it's not used as an additive to
water, manufacturers would have to pay millions of dollars to dispose of it properly, so the pressure to keep fluoride listed
as a healthy additive to water-and not as an environmental toxin that requires costly disposal - is great and political pressures
to keep fluoride in the drinking water is strong. And the U.S. government has been one of the key supporters for
fluoridation. Despite the questions regarding fluoride's effectiveness and safety, the administration's stated federal health
objective is to increase the number of Americans with fluoridated tap water from previous levels of 62 percent to 75 percent
in 2000. Given half a century of support for fluoridation, it's also not likely that the American Dental Association
will backtrack on its support for fluoridation. Some cities are taking action, and making the decision to stop
fluoridating their water supply - or not to fluoridate in the first place. For example, the City Council of Santa Barbara,
California voted in late November of 1999 in favor of a resolution that "disagrees with and rejects the State's recommendation
to fluoridate the city's public water system." With this action Santa Barbara joined the California cities of Santa Cruz,
El Cajon, La Mesa, Escondido and Helix, Riverview, and Lakeside water districts that have each passed protective resolutions
or ordinances in 1999. The cities of San Diego and Sunnyvale have ordinances prohibiting fluoridation that pre-date the State's
law. The city officials of Santa Barbara indicated that adding a chemical to the water supply to medicate everyone was not
the right approach and requested that the City's staff look into other programs to help children obtain fluoride for dental
health. The only admission that you're likely to see is the 1997 addition of warnings on toothpaste tubes, that
now say: "Don’t Swallow—Use only a pea-sized amount for children under six." and "Children under
six should be supervised while brushing with any toothpaste to prevent swallowing." In areas where the drinking water
already contains fluoride, brushing more than once daily with more than a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste can cause
fluorosis, the discoloration and spotting of the teeth that affects an estimated 20% of children. What
Can You Do?Besides learning more about the effects of fluoride and getting involved in your community's
decisions regarding water fluoridation, you can buy an unfluoridated, natural toothpaste, such as Tom's of Maine, particularly
for young children. You can also pay attention to the water you drink, and use filtered or bottled waters. Some
water filters can remove fluoride from the water, but carbon-based filters such as the Brita filter do not, so be sure to
find the right type of filter for fluoride. Many bottled waters contain no additional fluoride. You can find out
the fluoride and other mineral content of your favorite bottled waters at Bottled Water Web's Bottlers listing. Evian, and Perrier, for example, contain no measurable fluoride, but Calistoga brand has 0.9 parts per million.
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Natural Dental CareContrary to popular
belief, your teeth are designed to last a lifetime. Even so, an increasing percentage of Americans wear dentures. According
to the dental profession, between 80 and 90 percent of our population has some observable gum disease. Taken
together, tooth cavities (dental caries) and gum (periodontal) disease, create a painful condition that causes tooth loss
and is expensive to correct. Americans spend more than $40 billion a year to treat and slow the degeneration of their dental
health. Dental disease has a reciprocal effect with overall body health. If you're over stressed and generally unhealthy,
your immune system will be suppressed and dental caries, caused by bacteria, will flourish. If your mouth is unhealthy, especially
with gum disease, it overloads your health every moment of the day, lowering your resistance to all disease. A clean
mouth is a healthy mouth. As the saying goes, "clean only the teeth you want to keep." In addition to conventional
care, the main way to keep your mouth clean is to eat a sugar-free, natural foods diet. The bacteria that cause dental caries
(Streptococcus mutans) thrive on sugar. Natural Tooth BrushingSince
tooth brushing is the most basic process in oral care, it's a good place to start your natural tooth and gum care program.
Traditional peoples the world over use natural tooth brushes made from healing plants. These primitive twig "brushes"
actually work quite well, and provide a natural-bristle, disposable brush with healing herbs already incorporated right in
the plant. Children find them particularly fun. Herbalist Lesley Tierra, L.Ac., in her excellent book The Herbs
of Life (Crossing Press, 1992), suggests that "the twigs contain volatile oils which stimulate blood circulation,
tannins that tighten and cleanse gum tissue and other materials, such as vitamin C, which maintain healthy gums. Bay, eucalyptus,
oak, fir, and juniper all work well for this." In Asia, people often use twigs of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica).
In The New Holistic Herbal (Element, 1983), noted British herbalist David Hoffmann suggests using the roots
of marshmallow, licorice, alfalfa, or horseradish. (See "Head Popping Horseradish," page 52 for more information.)
Of course, most of us will brush with a more modern, nylon-bristle brush. Herbal medicine abounds with great substitutes
for store-bought toothpaste. Most effective natural tooth powders are warming, which promotes circulation in the gums; astringent,
which tightens the gums; and detoxifying, which removes debris. Of course any preparation should also remove plaque. A
classic Ayurvedic combination contains two parts powdered potassium alum, an astringent, and one part powdered salt. Prickly
ash bark is a classic toothpowder from North America, and myrrh gum is widely used in Middle Eastern herbalism. Tea tree oil
(very dilute) stimulates circulation and kills germs, and Leslie Tierra recommends a macrobiotic preparation of the ash of
the calyx of the eggplant, which she says will cure "any toothache, pyorrhea, and other mouth and gum disorders."
And while you're concentrating on brushing and flossing, don't overlook the fact that cleaning the tongue is a critical
part of maintaining oral health. Ayurveda, in particular, emphasizes this daily practice. Brush your tongue while brushing
your teeth, or use a tongue scraper, which you'll find in most health food stores. Tongue cleaning reduces bad breath, and
helps prevent plaque. General Mouth CareMost herbalists and natural healers recommend
using warming, astringent, connective-tissue-healing herbs to enhance and maintain oral health. These herbs can be used as
a rinse or applied as packs (a pinch of powder, wetted to a mush with a liquid such as water or vitamin E, and tucked next
to the teeth). Rinses are made by preparing a herb as tea in the usual way, or by simply stirring herb powder into water.
Hold the rinse in the mouth for a few seconds or up to several minutes, gargle, and spit out. Michael Tierra, O.M.C., L.Ac.,
in "Planetary Herbology" (Lotus, 1988), suggests that a daily mouth wash made from chaparral will prevent dental
caries. Ayurvedic herbalist Melanie Sachs, in "Ayurvedic Beauty Care" (Lotus, 1994), suggests a gum massage with
a mixture containing five parts alum powder, two parts rock salt powder, three parts black pepper powder, and one part turmeric
root powder. In The "Traditional Healers Handbook" (Healing Arts, 1988), Hakim Chrishti, N.D., suggests a gum pack
made from rose petal, oak leaf, and carob powder. The Ayurvedic herb, amla, is a general rebuilder of oral health.
Dr. Vasant Lad, a noted Ayurvedic proponent, suggests this fruit in his Yoga of Herbs (Lotus, 1986). Amla works well as a
mouth rinse, or one to two grams per day can be taken orally in capsules for long-term benefit to the teeth and gums. Herbs
such as amla that support the healing and development of connective tissue when taken internally will always benefit the gums.
Just remember that since they must saturate the whole body in order to work on the gums, the healing effect of these tonics
tends takes longer to become apparent. The results, however, are more lasting. Bilberry fruit and hawthorn berry stabilize
collagen, strengthening the gum tissue. Licorice root is a gem for the mouth: It promotes anti-cavity action, reduces plaque,
and has an antibacterial effect. The tooth sockets are joints, and the teeth are essentially bones. Herbs that treat
the skeleton and the joints when taken internally are good bets for long-term tooth health. Standouts include yellow dock
root, alfalfa leaf, cinnamon bark, and turmeric root. Periodontal DiseaseLike
the case we discussed earlier, Mrs. I, of Boulder, Colorado, knows the misery of gum disease. At age 45, she was making monthly
pilgrimages to the periodontist to save her sore, bleeding gums. These sessions were necessary, but quite painful, and she
had grown to dread them. After 15 years of this misery, she committed to trying herbal medicine. Turmeric capsules,
goldenseal rinse, and nightly packs of a paste of turmeric powder, licorice root, and vitamin E solved her problem. She began
the program only two weeks before one of her regular periodontal appointments, and her dentist said her gums were in the "best
condition ever." Periodontal disease (PD) is a long-term, low-grade bacterial infection of the gums, bone, and
ligaments that support the teeth and anchor them in the jaw. The bacteria are normal inhabitants of the mouth, but when allowed
to overgrow, they form plaque and tartar, and produce toxins that provoke the body's immune response. When allowed to progress,
the disease destroys the supporting structures of the teeth, which eventually leads to tooth loss. PD occurs at any
age. More than half of all people over 18 have some form of the disease. After age 35, over 75 percent of all people are affected.
PD is a major, if not leading, cause of bad breath in American adults and is clearly the leading cause of tooth loss. Diabetes
in particular drastically increases the risks. In my experience, whole body healing along with local gum treatment
can dramatically reverse PD. Turmeric mouth packs, specifically, work outstandingly well. Holistic dentist Victor
Zeines, DDS, has spent 20 years developing a herbal mouthwash for PD. A preliminary study showed that, used twice a day, his
herbal rinse reduced plaque by 50 percent and reduced gum pockets by 1 to 2 mm, and decreased bleeding. His formula contains
extracts of echinacea, goldenseal, calendula, aloe, bloodroot, and grapefruit seed. Similarly, David Hoffmann likes to use
tinctures of echinacea, eucalyptus, and myrrh as washes, or a gum massage with the oil of eucalyptus to treat PD. Mouth Sores Commonly called "canker sores," these mouth ulcers can be supremely
painful. Jonathan Wright, MD, of Kent, Washington, says that canker sores are virtually always linked to food allergies and
nutritional deficiencies, particularly iron, B12, and folic acid. He also suggest using high oral doses of acidophilus and
an acidophilus mouth rinse. Since mouth ulcers stem from a breakdown in tissue structure, the herb gotu kola (Centella
asiatica) can be quite effective. Gotu kola is widely known to heal wounds and promote connective tissue growth. The dose
is one ounce dry weight of herb per day, brewed as tea. A recent study showed good results using a chamomile mouthwash
in treating mouth ulcers caused by chemotherapy. Other rinses that can help include alum, Milk of Magnesia, and cinchona bark.
Dr. Chrishti suggests applying the powder of myrrh gum directly to the ulcer. Probably the most outstanding herbal
remedy for mouth sores is licorice root, a potent anti-inflammatory and tissue healer. Put a pinch of powder on the sore,
or suck on a lozenge made from DGL (de-glycyrrhizinated licorice). Your teeth are a reflection of your whole body.
If you are healthy, your mouth will be healthy. Teeth, gums, and bone can heal. Give these techniques a try. You'll be pleasantly
surprised at how well they work.
The following article provides an instructive example of the following statement from the scientific literature, and helps
underscore the importance of the FDA-mandated poison label now required on all fluoride toothpastes sold in the US: "Estimating the incidence of toxic fluoride
exposures nationwide also is complicated by the existence of biases. Parents or caregivers may not notice
the symptoms associated with mild fluoride toxicity or may attribute them to colic or gastroenteritis, particularly if they
did not see the child ingest fluoride. Similarly, because of the nonspecific nature of mild to moderate symptoms, a physician's
differential diagnosis is unlikely to include fluoride toxicity without a history of fluoride ingestion."
SOURCE: Shulman JD, Wells LM. (1997). Acute fluoride toxicity from ingesting home-use dental products
in children, birth to 6 years of age. Journal of Public Health Dentistry 57: 150-8.
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