Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Healthy Gums and Teeth

This month my mom went to the dentist office because she thought one of her crowns was getting loose. It turned out it was not actually her crown but entire tooth got loose.
So her dentist sent her to periodontist.

We went to periodontist and he performed deep cleaning and some antibiotic treatment on my mom's tooth and said that for now they will just watch and see if it gets better. Since I was there I scheduled my appointment as well because I have receding gums.

On my appointment  periodontist told me that I actually need gum craft on 4 of my teeth. This procedure sounds too painful to me and so I want to try use natural ways to improve gum health and hopefully slow down or maybe reverse the process.

While waiting on periodontist appointment for my mom I did research on natural ways to treat periodontal problems.

So here are steps we are taking in order to keep gums and teeth healthy:

1. Vitamins and Supplements

This article from Institute for Optional Nutrition discusses how nutritional factors affect teeth and gum health. I learned that actually using certain vitamins can help gum health as well.

So  I ordered and added these Vitamins and supplements to my daily routine:
Vitamin C (2-4g)
Vitamin A (100,000 i.u.)
Vitamin E (200-400 i.u.)
VItamin D
Calcium
Coenzyme Q10 (50-150mg)
Bioflavonoids (500 mg - 1g)
Selenium (200 mcg)
Folic Acid ( 2 mg)
Zink (15-30mg)

2. Sea salt mixed with warm water. I use it as often as I can.
Read here about sea salt for your teeth.

3. Coconut oil pulling. I wrote about oil pulling here and now I make sure I swish my teeth every day for 20 minutes.

4. Natural toothpaste and mouthwash. I switched to all natural toothpaste and mouthwash. We also use baking soda and xylitol for teeth cleaning. 
Here you can read more about benefits of brushing your teeth with xylitol.
You have to be careful though when you use herbal toothpaste or mouthwash. I believe one herb was actually irritating my gums. 

P.S. if you use invisalign make sure your retainer doesn't touch your gums. 

Thanks for reading and please share your thoughts.

                          Here is beautiful smile for you! :)


19 comments:

  1. We always talk about being frugal, investing in dividend paying stocks, saving, etc. but often neglect to discuss that general health is the cheapest and best preventative way to save money. Whether it's going to the dentist or annual check ups, taking care of our health almost always saves us a lot of money in not having to go through procedures, buying medication, etc. Thanks for sharing and take care of those gums.

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  2. How much has oil pulling whitened your teeth? Ive always wanted to start doing it but the though of 20 minutes of swishing oil in my mouth doesnt sound too appealing! Also what brand do you use?

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    Replies
    1. I think it's more noticeable when you start but for me more important that oil pulling supposed to detox, remove bacteria and add minerals to teeth. I usually read or watch something interesting, so time will pass by faster. :) I used Nature's Way Extra Virgin organic coconut oil but now I found another brand at Marshalls.

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  3. Thanks for taking the time to write this, and you're right! That is a beautiful smile! One huge thing that changed my oral health was brushing with baking soda. Many people are worried about baking soda being too abrasive, but that isn't true. It is actually a great oral health aid.

    http://www.bellerivedental.com/

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    Replies
    1. yes we love baking soda and it's whitening teeth too! thanks for stopping by!

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  4. Hi! thanks for sharing. I found this very informative. Because of this I now fully understand what my teeth whitening makati dentist said.

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  5. I also need gum craft on 2 of my teeth. Last week I consulted my family dentist for regular check-up then he found this problem in my teeth. Next month I am going to have proper dental treatment from dentist Torrance.

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    Replies
    1. Hello! Thanks for sharing your story. I decided not to do gum craft for now. Just being gentle to my gums, watching that I am drinking/eating, oil pulling and it works so far. Wishing you all the best with whatever you decide to do.

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  6. Limit acidic drinks like soft drinks, cordials and fruit juices. Food acids soften tooth material and dissolve the minerals in tooth enamel, causing holes (cavities or caries). In severe cases, teeth may be ‘eaten’ right down to the gum.
    Hamilton Dentist

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    Replies
    1. thank you for stopping by! we don't drink soft drink or fruit juices but I think my mom was drinking too much water with lemon. As good as lemons can be for you, I think it was too much of lemon acid... plus as her periodontist said our gums are very sensitive to our stress and she was coming through some stress at that point.

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  7. It's too bad about what happened to your mom's tooth. Dental health can be really fickle, and can display aberrations even with constant upkeep. Anyway, it's good that you scheduled an appointment with the periodontist as well, as you were made aware of your gum's current condition. Also, I think it was wise of you to seek out natural means for your gums to recover, rather than jumping the gun with the dental procedure. For me, a dental procedure should only be a last result, when all the alternative solutions prove ineffective. Thanks for sharing your dental tips and tricks. Cheers!

    Isabel Phelps @ Buckhead Dentist

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    Replies
    1. thanks for your answer Isabel! yes I totally agree about searching for natural ways for gums to recover. I don't think I will do any gum craft for now. I am watching my gums very careful now, I do oil pulling and only gentle cleaning with natural tooth paste plus eating healthy.

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  8. It is important that we truly take care of our teeth in the best possible way and that includes vitamins, toothpaste and diet. I'm sorry to hear that your mother has had to deal with a potentially more painful procedure. I hope those treatments performed by her dentist and periodontics would be enough to restore the wellness of her overall dental health.

    Merle Wells @ Gillum Dentistry

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    1. thanks for your nice comment! yes, treatment and then my mom new way of caring for her tooth do work! she went back for check up to her periodontist and he was impressed by her progress! so vitamins, minerals, healthy eating and natural tooth care are the best!

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  9. And due to the change in facial structure, it can also cause patients to look much older than their actual age. Implants are a great way to replace your missing teeth, and it is the closest thing to having your real tooth back. Brace Your Smile

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  10. Home
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    Home » Health
    Natural & Organic Teeth Care, Tooth Paste, Mouth Wash
    By Sonya Spencer
    Jan 19, 2012
    Importance of good oral care
    Throughout history, people have used everything from honey and oil to charcoal, baking powder and salt to clean their teeth. Thankfully, things have improved significantly, but tooth decay and bad breath remain common human conditions, so putting in twice-daily sessions at the basin is still mandatory. Why? Because thorough brushing and flossing removes food and bacteria from our mouths.

    What's happening in there?
    Tooth decay begins when we eat and food gets stuck in our mouth and between our teeth. If that food is not removed properly, it rots and allows bacteria to thrive in the mouth. Bacteria can cause bad breath, or worse, weaken the enamel layer of the tooth and cause cavities (or holes).

    Cavity culprits
    Acidic foods like refined sugar, alcohol, carbonated drinks and peanuts create an environment that makes it even easier for cavity causing bacteria to thrive so keep them to a minimum to save repeat visits to your dentist.

    What we should do?
    Most oral health experts advise a twice a-day bathroom session of brushing, flossing and rinsing with mouthwash. This routine helps to remove food deposits that gather around the gums and between the teeth. Brushing has the added bonus of stimulating blood flow in the gums and oral tissues, which helps to heal wounds.

    The natural alternative
    These days most toothpaste and mouthwashes are created with long ingredient lists of chemicals. Fluoride is in most commercial toothpastes and mouthwashes but recent studies have found that fluoride is linked to several body and mind issues including memory loss, so many people now want to stay clear.

    Common ingredients in toothpaste
    Polishing agents: designed to help your toothbrush remove gunk from your teeth.
    Surfactants: an ingredient that produces foam.
    Humectants: for moisturising and preserving.
    Thickeners: for paste consistency.
    Flavour: for good taste.
    Fluoride: to strengthen teeth.
    Sweetener: for sweetness
    Artificial colouring: to make your toothpaste look good.
    Most of these ingredients are far from natural. The good news is that natural toothpastes can still have the same oral care properties thanks to their hard-working naturally-derived ingredients.

    Ingredients that are naturally good for teeth
    On the ingredients list of natural toothpastes you're likely to find:

    Aloe Vera: its ability to prevent and heal cold sores, gingivitis and blisters as well as kill bacteria, means aloe vera is often used in natural toothpaste. It improves gum conditions and prevents bad breath.

    Organic Peppermint oil: added to toothpaste for more than its fresh taste, Organic peppermint oil inhibits growth of some bacteria and is high in vitamin C and A. It also has trace amounts of nutrients like iron, calcium, magnesium and omega 3.

    Parsley: rich in the green pigment chlorophyll, parsley is a powerful breath freshener.

    Thyme: a natural antiseptic and antifungal ingredient, thyme is often used in mouthwashes such as Riddells Creek Mint Mouthwash. Added bonus; it's great for preventing oral thrush.

    Sodium bicarbonate: Great for whitening teeth and neutralising acids, sodium bicarbonate is a mainstay in many natural toothpastes such as Riddels Creek Toothpaste. High acid levels create a breeding ground for bacteria, which leads to cavities and gum disease so it's wise to keep things neutral. Yazdani Dental

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  11. 3 Studies REVEAL Why Coconut Oil Kills Waist Fat.

    This means that you actually burn fat by consuming coconut fats (also coconut milk, coconut cream and coconut oil).

    These 3 studies from major medicinal magazines are sure to turn the conventional nutrition world upside down!

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