Everyone wants to have healthy teeth. But you may not realize how connected the health of your teeth is to the rest of your body. And you may not be aware of natural things you can do to improve or maintain healthy teeth. According to the Center for Holistic Dentistry: “Conditions in the mouth have a profound potential to reflect and influence the health of the whole person. Disruptions to the flow of energy through the mouth may affect remote regions of the body and disruptions elsewhere may manifest in the mouth. These relationships are a result of communication between the Acupuncture Meridians and the Teeth.”
Infections Under Your Teeth
Infections can exist under the teeth and may be undetectable on X-Rays. This is especially true for root canal treated teeth. Toxins leak out from infections and depress the normal functions of the immune system, leading to disease. The bacteria from the infection can enter your bloodstream and travel throughout the body. Research is showing that infections in the mouth can be linked to liver health, respiratory infections, blood sugar levels, kidney disease, cardiovascular health, rheumatoid arthritis, and even dementia.
The Relationship Between Healthy Teeth, Organs, and Emotions
When a tooth becomes infected or diseased, the organ on the same acupuncture meridian could also become unhealthy. The opposite is also true: dysfunction in a specific organ could lead to a problem in the corresponding tooth. This is because each tooth is connected to a meridian. And because the meridians are impacted by emotions, there is a relationship between each tooth and both positive and negative emotions. Here is a chart that maps each tooth to it’s associated organs and emotions. http://www.natures-blessings.org/MeridianToothChart.pdf
The Mouth as a Window to Overall Health
In accordance with ancient Chinese medicine, the mouth is a reflection of the person’s total health. Ancient Chinese physicians would examine the patient’s teeth, gums, tongue and oral cavity before they examined the rest of patient’s body. Generally, the teeth are considered “an extension of the bone” and are under the influence of the kidney. The stomach meridian distributes energy from the blood and gums. Observation of the tongue provides insight into the condition of the blood and several internal organs. And the lips are an indicator of spleen and pancreas health. It’s a good idea to self monitor the color of your gums, tongue and lips as it may offer insight into an health inbalance that you can address before it becomes a bigger issue.
Replacing Silver/Amalgam Fillings with Composite Fillings
There are many reasons to consider replacing metal fillings. One reason is because they don’t create a tight seal where the tooth and the filling materials come together. The lack of a tight seal allows cavity causing bacteria to enter the tooth and develop deep cavities under the existing amalgam filling. Another reason is because teeth flex during daily use and metal amalgams act as a wedge inside the tooth, causing fatigue on the tooth apparent in the form of fracture lines. And finally, many doctors and dentists feel that the mercury present in metal amalgams pose a serious health risk. If you have metal amalgam fillings, you may want to consider replacing them with a composite filling that will prevent possible cavities and fractures and reduce any chance of exposure to mercury.
Things you can do to Have Healthy Teeth
The dentin portion of the teeth forms the majority of their calcified extracellular tissue and is located right underneath the hardest portion of the tooth, the external enamel. Dentin is comprised mostly of collagen – the same protein that gives structure to the skin and connective tissues. Research has shown (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170509161122.htm) that a natural compound found in grape seed extract could be used to strengthen dentin. Drinking green tea can help too. This is because of green tea contains high levels of the antioxidant, catechin, which has the ability to reduce inflammation in the body. It also combats indicators of periodontal disease, thereby reducing bad bacteria in the mouth. Other natural approaches include massaging the gums with neem oil, oil pulling, tongue scraping, taking Vitamin C, and using non-toxic toothpaste with an added drop or two of a well researched brand of essential oil.
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