Holistic Oral Care
There is more to oral care than brushing twice a day. In fact, brushing improperly can do more harm than good. Teeth were not designed to be scrubbed twice a day; and our ancestors did not have a practice of teeth scrubbing. There are traditions of oral care practised in other cultures, usually involving chewing on twigs and bathing the mouth in oil. In this article I will discuss oral care practices and factors that play into oral health.
The most important factor when considering oral health is diet. The food we immerse our mouth in has either a positive or negative effect on our teeth in terms of both direct contact as well as nutrition. Teeth are alive, and are constantly being fed nutrients that are passed through the dentin layer to the enamel. Gums are also a living tissue that require nutrients and blood circulation in order to remain healthy and do their job of protecting the root of the tooth. Teeth and gums respond not only to the nutrients from the food we ingest, but also the nutrients in food that directly comes into contact with the mouth. The diets our ancestors ate would have nourished the teeth in both ways. For instance, if some wild greens were to be eaten and some bits were stuck in the teeth and gums for a few hours, this would have been a topical source of calcium, vitamin C and other vitamins and minerals that support oral health. Nowadays, not only are we lacking in minerals and essential nutrients for oral health, our mouths are constantly inundated with processed sugars that throw off our microbiome and create an environment for bad bacteria to take over and eat away at our teeth. Just like all of the microbiomes in and on our body, the good bacteria in our mouths protect our teeth from decay, help us break down our food and produce proteins that limit the growth of bad bacteria. Bad bacteria feed on sugars and create tooth decay by leaving behind plaque and producing acids. Therefore, a healthy microbiome in the mouth is paramount. Many toothpastes and mouthwashes have antimicrobial and antibacterial agents that are harmful to a healthy microbiome. Even many ‘natural’ toothpastes are not beneficial for oral health. Most ‘natural’ toothpastes on the shelf have glycerin as a primary ingredient, which is a gooey filler and non-glycemic sweetener that actually sticks to teeth and prevents the natural remineralization process of our enamel. I recommend using a toothpaste with a base of calcium carbonate and bentonite clay, as these are sources of minerals for your teeth and are alkalizing to the mouth. A neutral to alkaline environment prevents the growth of bad bacteria and neutralizes any damaging acids produced by bad bacteria. The oral microbiome is linked to the microbiome of the gut; what is beneficial for one, will be beneficial to the other, and vice versa. The good bacteria of our gut and mouth both feed on fibre. Chewing on fibre-containing foods such as celery, beetroot, rocket, chard, rhubarb, fennel and burdock will nourish the microbiome of the mouth. Eating probiotic foods such as yogurt will also introduce beneficial bacteria to the mouth and will support good bacteria populations in the gut and mouth. In fact, holding swishing yogurt in the mouth before bed is an oral care practice that is recommended by some regenerative dentists, as the bacteria in the yogurt work overnight to restore the microbiome and eat away at sugars. An oral probiotic can also be helpful for this reason.
Teeth and Gums are Living Tissues
The way we brush has an impact on the health of our gums and teeth. Our gums were not designed to be scrubbed daily; and doing so in an aggressive manner can pull the gums away from the teeth and cause gum recession. Gums should be gently brushed with a gentle toothbrush upward from the gum, not back and forth. For tissue regeneration, a few elements must be considered. First, the body needs the building blocks to create new tissue. Dentin comprises the majority of the tooth and is composed of 72% inorganic salts (calcium phosphate and magnesium phosphate) and 28% organic compounds (collagen type I, glycoproteins and proteoglycans). Our enamel is composed of a constantly changing mineral-crystal structure that is formed through mineral-protein secretions from the soft-tissue core (called the pulp) of the tooth and carried up to the enamel layer through the tiny tubules of the dentin. To simplify, our body requires various amino acids (protein) as well as minerals to synthesize the building blocks of teeth and gums. Magnesium, calcium, vitamin C, zinc as well as sufficient and varied protein intake are required in order to maintain and repair teeth and gums. A collagen supplement as well as magnesium and vitamin C supplementation is a great way to provide your body the necessary nutrients to heal a cavity or repair recessed gum tissue. Growth is slow, but it is possible; contrary to what most dentists might tell you. Vulnerary herbs such as plantain, comfrey and yarrow can be used to help regenerate new tissue. Proper circulation to the mouth is essential for the delivery of nutrients and immune cells as well as for the removal of waste products. More blood flow = more healing. Circulatory stimulants such as ginger, echinacea and spilanthes can bring circulation to the mouth. Additionally, exercise is a great way to improve blood flow throughout whole the body, including the mouth.
Consider adding the following to your oral care routine:
Swishing the mouth with a food-based vitamin C powder (acerola cherry, camu camu berry etc.) or ascorbate (an alkaline form of vitamin C). Do NOT swap for ascorbic acid because the acidic form of vitamin C will be harmful to the teeth. Swallow the vitamin C powder after swishing to give your body the building blocks for tissue formation.
Holding plain yogurt or kefir in the mouth before bed or swishing with an oral probiotic.
Swap poor quality toothpaste for a toothpaste that uses calcium carbonate, bentonite clay and sea salt as the cleaning agents. I like Uncle Harry’s toothpaste or tooth powder.
Oil bathing/ swishing/ pulling. Like all of our tissues that are exposed to the outside world, the tissues of the oral cavity love to be bathed in a protective and nourishing oil bath. Holding coconut or sesame oil in the mouth nourishes and protects the mucus membranes of our mouth and gums. Additionally, oil pulling (swishing for 10-20 mins) stimulates lymphatic drainage and increases circulation to the mouth, bringing more blood flow and healing potential to the mouth. Be sure to spit the oil out rather than swallow following oil pulling/ bathing.
Add an herbal protocol, either an herbal rinse or an herbal powder swish to get the medicine of the herbs working their magic in your mouth!
Consider ditching:
Any conventional toothpaste or low quality natural toothpaste. Antimicrobial mouthwashes are bad news. Eradicating bacteria does not create a healthy microbiome that protects teeth.
Aggressive brushing and brushing immediately after a meal. Teeth are more sensitive to injury directly after a meal due to the acidic environment. Wait at least 30 minutes - 1 hour after a meal.
Processed sugars and frequent snacking. Frequent snacking and sugary drinks prevents teeth from doing repair work throughout the day and consistently keeps the mouth in an acidic environment instead of allowing it to return to an alkaline environment.
Herbal Indications:
Cavities and other infections: echinacea, spilathes, propolis, myrrh, yarrow, calendula, clove
Fungal and microbial imbalances/ thrush: calendula, thyme, oregano, echinacea, spilanthes, neem, oregon grape root, myrrh, propolis, licorice, clove
Gum recession: plantain, comfrey, yarrow, echinacea, ginger, spilanthes, calendula, cinnamon
Pain and sensitivity: St. John’s wort, clove, spilanthes, california poppy, willow, chamomile, valerian, kava
Nourishment & minerals: gotu kola, nettles, horsetail, alfalfa, rosehips
Circulatory stimulant: ginger, prickly ash, spilanthes, echinacea, rosemary, cayenne
Smiles all around!
As always, this is not medicial advice, and is for educational purposes only.