All Natural Dental Remedies:
Herbs and Home Remedies to
Heal Your Teeth
& Naturally Restore Tooth
Enamel
Copyright © 2011
by Angela Kaelin
All
Rights Reserved
Smashwords Edition
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photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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Table of Contents
Introduction
1.
Basic Definitions of Some Terms and Some General Cautions
2.
Proper Nutrition is the Foundation of Dental Health
3.
Natural Remedies for Dental Pain
4.
Healing the Gums (Different Types of Gum Disease and their
Remedies)
5.
Oil Pulling
6.
Healing Cavities and Cracked or Damaged Teeth
7.
TMJ (Lockjaw) and Bruxism (Tooth Grinding)
8.
Natural Tooth Whitening
Appendix
A - Tooth Powder Remedies
Appendix
B - Mouthwash Remedies
Appendix
C - List of Dental Healing Agents Mentioned in this Book
This book supplies information about home remedies for the teeth and gums. It is not a medical book nor is it intended to be a substitute for allopathic medical or dental care when it is really needed.
It does not purport to show how to regenerate lost teeth. Although, the possibility of regrowing teeth seems greater once you understand that teeth are tissue like any other tissue in the body. In fact, some successful experiments in this regard have been reported on animals by the University of Alberta Canada involving the use of low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) to stimulate the growth the teeth. See: www.lipus.org. This procedure is still theoretical and not something the average person can make practical use of at this time.
This book is intended only to provide practical information about nutrition and specific herbal and mineral therapies, most of them from folk medicine, about how to heal the teeth and gums, which you can easily get your hands on and everyone can use.
There is nothing mysterious or mystical about re-mineralizing teeth and naturally restoring tooth enamel. Yet, despite the renaissance of information about other aspects of natural healing, natural dental care is a subject that has not been much discussed. This is partly because to talk about natural dental enamel growth or healing of cavities is heresy against the official dental establishment. And, it is partly because when people believe there is no solution to a problem, they don't bother to look for one.
The purpose of "All Natural Dental Remedies" is not to make an argument for alternative dentistry or against conventional dentistry; nor is it to persuade anyone that one way of doing things is superior to another. Rather, it is to present practical information about the health and healing of the teeth and gums in a matter-of-fact way for informational purposes.
The types of remedies presented include nutritional, herbal, mineral and other alternative remedies. Unfortunately, there is very little mainstream scientific research on alternative dental remedies, so we must rely largely on folk lore and what is called "anecdotal" evidence.
1. Basic Definitions of Some Terms and Some General Cautions
The following are basic definitions used throughout this book:
Poultice: An
application of a moist substance such as crushed herbs.
Infusion
or Tea: A drink made by bring water to a boil, then removing it
from heat and adding herbs in order to extract their active
constituents by allowing them to steep for 3 to 5 minutes.
Tincture:
An extract of an herb in a solution of grain alcohol.
Essential
Oil: The volatile oils of a plant.
Decoction: A
concentrated form of an infusion in which the herb is boiled until
some of the water evaporates.
Tooth Powders: These are
made by crushing and pulverizing herbs and other ingredients. To use
a tooth powder, moisten a soft toothbrush, dip it into the powder and
gently brush your teeth.
General warning regarding the use of herbs and essential oils:
Care has been taken to, as much as possible, exclude herbs, which might pose the most risk to sensitive people, however, any herb may pose risks to people who have allergies, whose health is delicate or who are taking pharmaceutical drugs.
Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) strictly as a dentifrice where it is spat out or in homeopathic form should pose no or low risk. But, it should not be ingested by pregnant or nursing women and men suffering from prostate cancer or anyone who has a pre-existing liver or bladder conditions or who is taking pharmaceutical drugs called ACE inhibitors.
If you are under the care of a physician, especially for liver disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure or cardiac disease, you should consult with your doctor before taking this or any other herb. Horsetail should be used only in recommended amounts and usage of the herb should not exceed 10 days at a time after which you should take, at least, a three day break. If you experience any urinary tract infections or kidney or bladder related discomfort, discontinue the use of the herb immediately.
Chaparral root should not be ingested by people who have pre-existing liver conditions. This herb is no longer available in Canada.
Horsetail and chaparral are both considered "poisonous plants" by the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S.
These herbs used solely as a dentifrice and not swallowed should not present a danger. Homeopathic versions of the herbs pose no risk.
Valerian root is generally considered safe, however, you should take caution with valerian, if you are prone to seizures, epilepsy, liver failure, cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis, are pregnant or breastfeeding and, as always, if you are under the care of a physician, you should ask him or her before taking any supplements or herbs, especially, if you are taking pharmaceutical drugs.
Many essential oils should not be swallowed. Essential oils should never be used on babies or cats. Let common sense prevail in the use of all herbs and essential oils.
The quality of the herbs and essential oils you use is very important to their efficacy. Choose high-quality organic herbs.
When choosing essential oils, choose in favor of organic, food grade oils. Never use fragrance oils, these are artificial chemicals, whereas, essential oils are the extracted oils of the plant. Some essential oils are highly diluted with jojoba oils (another essential oil) and labeled "100% essential oil." The statement is true, but the extract of the particular herb may be very diluted and weakened. Let your senses be your guide when choosing essential oils and look for the purest extracts.
Where supplements are suggested, as a general rule, follow the recommended dosages and any warnings on the bottle.
What to avoid if you are trying to heal your teeth and gums or simply maintain good oral health:
Cigarette smoking may contribute to gum diseases by compromising the health of gum tissue, so for healthy gums, don't smoke.
Avoid mouthwashes or toothpastes containing sodium fluoride (toxic), sodium laurel sulfate (damages tissues) and glycerin (coats teeth and prevents healing).
2. Proper Nutrition is the Foundation of Dental Health
Nutrition is at the foundation of healthy teeth. This was demonstrated most perfectly by Dr. Weston A. Price, who researched the dental health of people throughout the word and concluded that civilization was not good for people's teeth.
In 1939, he published the book, "Nutrition and Physical Degeneration: A Comparison of Primitive and Modern Diets and Their Effects," in which he demonstrated that the best diet for good dental health was a very traditional, if not primitive, one.
According to Dr. Price, refined sugar and processed grains should be rejected in favor of more natural, raw, unprocessed whole foods. Furthermore, more traditional diets that include soups made with broth of animal and fish stock help people to have healthier teeth and bones. The fish head soup of Thailand and traditional menudo soup of Mexico are examples of food that helps the health of the teeth because it contains nutrients similar to those from which the tissues of the teeth are constructed.