Your Mouth is a Repository for Bacteria that Harm all Parts of the Body.
Only 44 percent of American adults get regular oral care. No wonder more and more people with toothaches are showing up in emergency rooms across the country.
That figure rises with age. Only half of people 65 and older have had dental care within the last year. And 23 percent haven’t been to a dentist in the past five years!
Gum disease is second only to the common cold as the most prevalent infection in this country. The first stage, gingivitis (or inflammation of the gums) is caused by plaque—sticky deposits of bacteria and food particles that adhere to the teeth. As gums swell with inflammation, pockets form between teeth and trap more plaque and bacteria.
Lack of regular cleaning not only means more gum disease but also predicts diabetes and heart disease. One obvious culprit is our great American sweet tooth.
Studies show that gum disease can begin within days of upping your sugar intake. “Clearly, the dental alarm bell has an extremely low threshold of activation,” says Philippe P. Hujoel, DDS, at the University of Washington School of Dentistry.
A high-carbohydrate diet is often the root of the problem as “fermentable carbohydrates” (sweets and high-glycemic carbs) start breaking down in the mouth. Sugars (in candy, cakes, cookies, doughnuts, and soft drinks, as well as sticky fruits like raisins) and fermentable carbs (in high-glycemic foods like pasta, potatoes, and white bread) lower the acidity level of dental plaque, initiating decay. And they cause spikes in blood sugar levels.
Abnormal blood sugar metabolism can lead to a variety of problems ranging from Alzheimer’s disease to pancreatic cancer. New evidence now links sugar intake with weakened immunity, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, obesity, metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes, aging, and more.
Dr. Ann Louise’s Take:
Even if you have a pearly white smile and pink, healthy-looking gums, a massive infection may lurk under a crown or in the empty spaces where you have had a tooth pulled. I know this all too well from personal experience.
“How many people know the consequences of housing the 40 anaerobic bacteria in implants, the 60 in root canals, or the 8 in cavitations (holes in the jawbones from pulled teeth)?” asks biological dentist extraordinaire Hal Huggins, DDS. Most of these bacteria are hidden even from the best dentists—and some infections don’t show on standard X-rays.
Oil pulling, a time-honored Ayurvedic technique, works wonders for deep pockets in the gums that harbor bacteria and inflammation-causing plaque. A 2007 study in the Journal of Oral Health and Community Dentistry found that this simple method reduces gingivitis by 52 to 60 percent and cuts plaque by 18 to 30 percent!
Just put about two teaspoons of oil (sesame, coconut, sunflower) in your mouth and swish it around your teeth and gums. The oil picks up microbes much the way a powerful magnet attracts metal bits. The longer you push and pull the oil through your mouth, the more pathogens are pulled free, so be careful not to swallow any. If you need to spit it out, you may do so, but keep at least two teaspoons in your mouth for about 20 minutes. Then, spit out the oil.
You will see that the oil will be rather foamy—a sign that you have pulled out pathogens. You can rinse with a large glass of water with 1/2 teaspoon baking soda and salt to remove any oily residue on your teeth. Then rinse a second time with another glass of plain water.
Oil pulling is a highly beneficial method of cleansing your mouth and detoxifying your entire body. Make this easy practice part of your daily oral care.
You can also improve gum health with CoQ10, which heals gum tissue faster than any other nutrient I know. Japanese research shows that taking 30-90 mg daily is extremely helpful with bleeding gums, deterioration of the gums, and loosening teeth. Your heart will thank you, too. I personally recommend a daily dose of 100 mg.
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19722795
https://uwnews.org/article.asp?articleid=50669
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19737135
