Alternative Dental Health

Last month, I had my first dental check up in 18 months and I wanted to record my experience - a lot has changed in the last 18 months, in terms of my lifestyle and diet. So here is a report on my current dental health - the dental health of a person whose life has changed considerably for the better.

When I went for my last dental check up, I was smoking 20 cigarettes as day, I was drinking sugar filled white wine, 6-8 pints of coffee a day, I was eating sweet sugary processed foods constantly and I ate lots of jelly sweets. Like all good people though, I brushed my teeth twice a day and swilled with mouthwash - this is enough right?

How Was My Dental Health 18 Months Ago

When I visited the dentist for a check up 18 months ago, the visit resulted in me having a filling because a cavity had worsened and needed refilling, I needed a scale and polish because my teeth were brown (from nicotine and copious amounts of coffee), tartar had collected around all of my teeth and the dentist was considering capping another tooth. Not good right? There is no hiding your lifestyle from a dentist - she knew I smoked, she knew that I was drinking more alcohol than I should have been, she knew about my coffee habit and about my addiction to sugar!! I was shocked. The toothpaste I was using, was the same toothpaste that is widely available worldwide in all supermarkets, and I didn't always buy the most expensive toothpaste either.

It was just after this visit, that I was told by my physician that I was heading for a fatal heart attack unless my lifestyle improved and when I met my health mentor and began my journey into organic life.

What Changed?

Those who don't know my story, might be wondering what I changed in order to impact on my dental health.

• I quit smoking - something that I was worried about doing, as when my first wife's mother stopped smoking her teeth crumbled, leaving her with dentures at the age of 40. My teeth were fine

• I stopped drinking tea and coffee, substituting it for hot water with lemon and ginger. Lemon can help to neutralize the naturally occurring acids in your mouth that cause tooth decay. To have healthy teeth, you need a neutral pH in your mouth - it should be between 6.5 and 7.5 - this is done by eating the correct foods and drinking the correct drinks. I check the pH in my mouth weekly, as it is a good indicator of overall health - papers can be purchased for next to nothing on the internet - and a healthy pH in the mouth means healthy teeth!

• I stopped eating sweets, junk food and processed foods and using refined sugars (sucrose) which meant that I was getting no refined sugars at all in contact with my teeth - these are one of the main causes of tooth decay

• I started eating natural, organic, fresh, whole foods 80-90% of the time - these contain fructose, a naturally occurring sugar that is processed completely differently by the body and does not rot your teeth (despite the popular misconception that the natural sugar in fruits is just as bad as the refined sugar that is in sweets or that you put in your drinks, or which makes up 50% of a can of soda!!) Also eating some of these raw will work towards neutralizing plaque acid and cleansing the surface of the teeth

• I began making my very own toothpaste something that the Egyptians and Aztecs did thousands of years ago and indigenous tribes still do - this is made of just 4 ingredients and is inexpensive to make - sodium bicarbonate, salt, mineral water and peppermint essential oil which is optional. Sodium bicarbonate and salt act to neutralize acid in your mouth some more. This is a gritty paste which works really well to whiten the teeth and clean off any build up of tartar. We also use an organic flouride free aloe toothpaste, which is commercially available and contains no chemicals.The toothpastes most people use contain:

- flouride (contrary to popular belief, this is not good for the body - it is actually a poisonous chemical that was a toxic waste from the production of fertilizers and such like - you only have to do a small amount of research to find out the facts about flouride and they are scary!);

- abrasives which include aluminum (linked to Alzheimer's) and silicon and are known at times to be so abrasive that they damage tooth enamel; detergents the main one being sodium lauryl sulfate which has been linked to many diseases;

- humectants - chemicals to stop your toothpaste from drying out, such as glyceril (if my toothpaste dries out then I just add more spring water!!);

- thickeners such as carageenan (a known carcinogenic);

- preservatives which stop bacteria growing in your toothpaste the main ones being parabens which are known to mimic the effects of estrogen and have been linked to breast cancer - if kept in an air tight container, then my toothpaste will not grow bacteria;

- sweeteners - saccharine is generally used, but it also has a small effect on increasing the likelihood of cavities;

- flavoring - necessary to cover up the taste of the detergents, toothpaste would taste horrible without them - the flavoring in my toothpaste is optional, it tastes fine without it;

- coloring - E numbers, to make your toothpaste blue or green or white - toothpaste would look disgusting without these

Weird isn't it that something that is so simple and cheap to make for yourself contains so many ingredients, some to counteract the effects of other ingredients and others which damage your overall physical health. If they do this to your body, imagine what they are doing to your dental health - as we saw, some of the abrasives used can destroy the enamel on your teeth. Our abrasive is Himalayan salt, a natural substance that dissolves in water.

• The final thing that changed was, for the month before my checkup, I was doing our cinnamon and honey road test so was drinking a couple of mugs of cinnamon and honey in hot water per day. This has been used (I discovered when I started the road test) for thousands of years by indigenous people for freshening breath and maintaining oral hygiene and dental health

What Was The Result Of My Latest Checkup

My dentist did a lot of "Mmmm" ing and "Aah" ing as she poked around my mouth. She then asked me what I was doing differently - as I said, you can't get anything past them! So I 'fessed up - I told her everything that I have listed above, including telling her that for the most part I use my own homemade toothpaste. Her reaction was "Wow!" one of a shaking head and disbelief. She then told me that my teeth were in "better condition than ever before", they were "the healthiest she had ever seen them" and that my gums were no longer receding and were coming back up the teeth. Tartar build up was virtually non-existent! Vindication that what I am doing is working and that my overall dental health has IMPROVED since I changed my lifestyle.

Still going to use your regular toothpaste?

Many thanks for reading. I hope this article has given you something to think about with regard to your health.

For more articles like this visit http://www.organicguineapig.com

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Dental Care Tips Tricks and Advice for People of All Ages

Have you been experiencing tooth pain? Has it been a while since you have seen a dentist? Well, these are signs that you should probably be taking better care of your dental health. Continue reading to find out ways to take care of your teeth and get back on the track to good dental health.

Plan on going to the dentist regularly. You should go get your teeth inspected and cleaned at least twice a year. If your teeth hurt or if you notice anything unusual, go to your dentist as soon as possible. Find a good health insurance to cover your visits to the dentist.

If you start to feel anxious while at the dentist, try and implement some relaxation techniques. When you find one that helps you out, do it before, during and after your visit. This will help you sail through the procedure a lot better.

Consider trying dental cleaners on teeth in order to boost your dental health. Inter-dental cleaners are usually disposable small brushes that are used to clean teeth in between brushings, and they can also be used to clean in between brace wires and teeth. There are many different brands available, so check each one carefully to make sure you get the one that is the right fit for you and your needs.

Brush your teeth twice a week with baking soda. Use it just like you would toothpaste normally. Baking soda will help whiten your teeth over time. You can also use regular salt as a replacement. Just remember never to swallow either, otherwise your sodium levels might get higher than they should.

It is important to make things fun when teaching young children how to care for their teeth. Let them pick out their own kid-friendly tooth paste and tooth brush so that they will be excited about using it. Children tend to respond better when you actually offer them choices and allow them to make their own dental care decisions, within reason.

Each brushing session should last 120 seconds or more. Take your time with each tooth. Start brushing at the gum line then move up to the tooth's top. Brushing too hard can actually cause damage to your gums and your teeth. If you have sensitive gums, use a soft-bristled toothbrush.

To ensure optimal oral health, floss and brush your teeth frequently. You have a slim to none chance of killing all bacteria with just brushing and flossing. You have to also use a rinse that is anti-bacterial. Use it every time you brush so that your mouth is truly as clean as it could be.

Make sure to regularly replace your toothbrush. Your toothbrush needs to be replaced once every few months. Even if your toothbrush still looks new, the bristles could have already become frayed. A new brush cleans much more effectively. Make sure to replace your toothbrushes on a regular schedule for the sake of your teeth.

When someone close to you has poor dental care habits, it can be an uncomfortable topic to bring up. A great way to drop hints is to tell your friend about a great new toothpaste you are using. You can pick them up whitening strips and tell them you got a deal on buy one get one free. They will be touched that you thought of them, rather than insulted.

As you can see, it is important to heed the warnings your body is sending you through your dental pain. It may be time for you to make another trip to visit your dentist. Also use the tips and tricks you've learned here to get back on the road to great oral health.