Total Health Breakthroughs: Free Natural Health Newsletter and Alternative Health Articles

According to a recent research presented at the 22nd annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, teeth grinding in preschoolers has been linked to withdrawn behaviors.¹

I work in a small rural ER. I should have been a dentist! Many of our patient visits are for facial soft tissue infections related to dental caries (cavities) that are sometimes very severe. We also see a fair amount of dental abscesses, gum disease and related conditions. Unfortunately, there is not much for us to do.

Most of these people don’t realize that aside from their pain and discomfort, dental caries and periodontal disease (chronic gum infection and swelling leading to tooth loss) can cause coronary artery disease, heart attack, serious infection of the heart valves, pneumonia, stroke, low birth weight in newborns and diabetes.

An interesting fact is that dental caries are the most common chronic disease in the world. While there have been amazing advances in dentistry, many people do not receive prophylactic (preventative) cleanings and exams. Their visit to the dentist comes when a cavity is causing facial pain and swelling, a sign of serious infection spread from the involved tooth to the surrounding soft tissues. Most likely, that tooth needs to be removed to drain the infection or needs a root canal.

Extractions, root canals and even routine fillings are painful, expensive and time consuming. But preventive care for your teeth will help you avoid these “dental disasters.”

Even if your teeth need some “work” or are in perfect shape, it’s never too late to start preventive dental care. You can prevent progression of existing problems and also help prevent the serious diseases listed above.

In a recent clinical trial study by the University of Washington (Seattle) and the Northwest/Alaska Center to Reduce Oral Health Disparities, dental researchers found a significant drop of tooth decay in children 6 to 15 months old.¹ These children were treated topically with xylitol syrup, a naturally occurring noncavity-causing sweetener.

After years of research and experiments, the arrival of a new herbal lollipop that actually kills the bacteria that causes cavities, was announced in early 2008. The idea behind the lollipop is due to the dedication of UCLA microbiologist Wenyuan Shi, who tested 2000 Chinese herbs to find the one that kills the bad bacteria found in the mouth.¹

Of the 700 kinds of bacteria in the mouth, there are a dozen that cause cavities.

Energy drinks have been promising consumers more daily “oomph” for several years. It’s not surprising then that sales in the US have risen sharply for the last decade. In fact, it’s estimated the energy drink market will top $10 billion by 2010. While this is great news for the energy drink companies, it could mean a different story for those who drink it.

There has always been an interest in the medical and the dental community to see what effects stress has on our body.

A 2007 study¹ reported a strong relationship between stress and gum (periodontal) disease. More specifically, there was a 57% positive relationship between gum disease and psychological factors such as stress, distress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness.

Part 1 of this 2-part article discussed the devastating effects of a stroke and the common sense steps you can take now to reduce your risk. In Part 2 we will look at some lesser known risk factors — and when you should consider medical intervention as a preventative.

Lower Homocysteine Levels

Homocysteine has been getting a little more attention recently as an important risk factor for hardening of the arteries.^1,2 Although studies have yet to definitely prove that lowering homocysteine levels prevents strokes, the treatment is simple and safe enough that there’s little risk in lowering your homocysteine levels while further studies are being done.

Can healthy lifestyle habits also promote dental health? More specifically, can a combination of regular exercise, weight control, and a healthy diet prevent gum disease?

Most dentists and hygienists tell their patients that a healthy diet is one of the best ways to avoid dental caries. While this is good advice, making actual recommendations about positive food choices can make the point more clearly.

Most of us have heard of mercury poisoning. We associate it with eating large quantities of contaminated fish. However, many people don’t know that the metal fillings (amalgams) in their teeth are another potential source of mercury poisoning. In the US, mercury comprises 54 percent of all dental amalgams and newer research has found that it may be the cause of serious health problems, including cancer.