There are many ways to prevent tooth decay; it is just a matter of adequate dental hygiene and developing good dental habits as any dentist in their landau scrubs can tell you. You can keep your teeth clean and healthy longer by starting good habits at a very young age. For parents, it is important to teach your kids dental hygiene so that they won’t have too much problems with their teeth when they grow a little older. Children can already have permanent tooth decay as young as six years old. By the age of 18 or 20, many people will have two or more decayed teeth. Below are some measures to prevent tooth decay.

Brushing your teeth

It cannot be overstated how important brushing your teeth is in preventing tooth decay. There is a proper way of brushing the teeth and doing it wrong is almost as bad as not brushing. It is important to make it a habit to brush your teeth at least twice daily, or ideally, after eating. Opt for a toothbrush with round and soft bristles instead of those medium or hard bristles that can hurt your gums and do not thoroughly clean the surface of your teeth. Use toothpaste that contains fluoride to help repair the enamel of your teeth and help prevent tooth decay. When brushing, mentally divide your teeth into four parts: upper left, upper right, lower left, lower right. A good rule of thumb is to brush 20 seconds for each part using up and down strokes, as rapidly as possible. For convenience, you can buy an electric toothbrush so that the motions or vibrations are faster and thus more effective in cleaning the hard-to-reach areas. The principle is the same as if you are removing stains in your bathroom or your kitchen. The faster your strokes, the more the stains will come off. Don’t forget to brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath. Bacteria can easily grow on toothbrushes and bristles wear down and lose their cleaning power so it is best to buy a new toothbrush every three or four months.

Rituals after brushing

Make it a point to use dental floss after brushing your teeth. This will remove the build-up of plaque in between your teeth. These are almost impossible to remove with simply brushing your teeth or gargling mouthwash so flossing is a must. Rise with a fluoride mouthwash after brushing and flossing and you will get squeaky clean teeth and ultra fresh breath. To heal inflamed gums, you can try an herbal rinse such as tea tree oil or Echinacea.

Eating habits

Some foods are good for your teeth such as those that are high in calcium. To get strong teeth, eat calcium-rich foods such as milk, cheese, broccoli, sardines, and fortified orange juice. Avoid or eliminate sugary foods or sugar in general. Snack on healthy fruits and raw vegetables, or have an unsweetened yogurt topped with berries. Sugar is the number one enemy of teeth and causes tooth decay. If you have a sweet tooth, snack on sugar-free candies and breath mints instead.

Brent McNutt enjoys talking about landau scrubs and urbane scrubs and networking with healthcare professionals online.

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Gum disease or periodontal disease inflicts over half of the adult population. This common oral problem develops from the buildup of plaque, where harmful bacteria reside. Bacteria in plaque causes infection of the gums making them swell, easy to bleed when you brush, and appear red. This is the first stage of gum disease more commonly known as gingivitis.

Gingivitis is often painless which makes it unnoticeable. This result in a gum disease called periodontitis, a worse infection where bacteria corrode the bone structures that support teeth, giving way to tooth loss. At this stage, the patient may notice swelling in the gums as well as bleeding, sores and discharge. The patient most likely suffers bad breath and pain in the gums.

Several causes of gum disease include poor oral hygiene, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, and nutrition deficiency.

What is the link between nutrition and gum disease?

Our body needs adequate amounts of nutrients to combat infection, such as gum diseases.

To strengthen the immune system, a person’s diet should include plenty of antioxidants such as vitamin C and flavonoids. The diet should also include other essential nutrients that are particularly helpful in fighting gum disease such as calcium.

Some types of food promote the growth of bacteria and this fact shows how nutrition and gum disease is related. Foods rich in sugar and starch and sticky foods contribute to bacteria buildup.

Here is a quick guide on proper nutrition and gum disease prevention:

Go for whole foods, which offer many nutrients instead of processed or refined foods

Limit your sugar consumption by avoiding snacks such as pastries, cakes, soft drinks and sweetened fruit juices.

Always include fiber in your diet such as whole grain bread and cereals, broccoli, peas, and fruits like pears and oranges

Get enough supply of vitamin C, flavonoids, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin D, vitamin B-complex, Co-enzyme Q10, calcium, potassium, selenium, magnesium, zinc, iron and phosphorus.

Enhance your diet with health supplements

To prevent gum disease effectively, proper nutrition should go together with proper dental care. Always remember to brush your teeth at the least two times every day, rinse your mouth with water or a good mouth rinse after meals, floss your teeth once a day, and schedule regular checkups with your dentist.

Nutrition and gum disease treatment

The combination of proper nutrition and gum disease treatment is vital because

while proper nutrition does not actually treat gum disease, it significantly helps in speeding up the process of healing and preventing recurrences.

Milos Pesic is a successful webmaster and owner of Bad Breath Blog. Visit now to find out all you wanted to know about Bad Breath, Gum Disease and other dental problems.

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Gum disease is vicious so, if you haven’t already, make sure you pay close attention to your gums. You want to make sure your normally pink or coral pink colored gums have not turned red and swollen. You want to make sure your gums are not bleeding or that your gum line is receding. Many times, a person may find that their gum line has receded and they didn’t even notice. That process can be relatively painless, but at least it isn’t to late to stop gum disease before it turns into something much worse.

The progression

As mentioned above, gum disease can lead to bleeding of the gums. This is usually accompanied by swelling and eventual receding of the gum line. At some point, it can turn into Periodontitis and start eating away at the bones that support the teeth. This leads to tooth loss that starts with abscesses and horrible tooth decay. This happens very quickly, so it is important to stop gum disease before it gets to that point or it can cost you a lot of money at the dentist to fix the problem.

At the dentist, you can expect to have teeth pulled, receive treatment for the gum disease, and possibly have to have your remaining teeth repaired. This can involve partials or an entire set of false teeth if the tooth loss has become severe.

Putting a stop to gum disease

So now that you’ve probably already ran to the mirror to check your gums, it is important that you know how to stop gum disease. First, you want to make sure you brush at least twice each day. Of course, you’re going to floss before that so that you can remove food particles from between your teeth and brush them away. After you brush, you then want to brush with an oral balm that is going to kill the bacteria that causes gum disease. Killing the bacteria means that there is nothing to cause or worsen gum disease. If you already have gum disease, that gives the gums a chance to heal. They can’t heal while overrun with bacteria. Unfortunately, brushing alone won’t get rid of it, so you have to have a full routine both morning and night to make sure you put a stop to gum disease before it can cause you even more problems.

The idea is to stop gum disease before it can cause you pain or cause your gums to recede. Killing the bacteria is the best way. As stated before, an oral balm can do this and an oral balm such as Nature’s Smile is a great one to use to do just that. You don’t want the bacterium to be able to thrive at all, so keeping your mouth clean is how that is going to happen. What you’ll see is that your gums will go back to their normal color and any sensitivity you may have had will go away. Basically, your mouth will return to normal. After that, continue the same oral hygiene routine and you’ll never have to deal with gum disease ever again.

To keep or get back healthy gums, Nature’s Smile is a great addition to your oral hygiene routine. Visit http://www.naturessmile.com to learn more about how this product can help you.

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Gum disease is serious business. Its symptoms are usually subtle that you don’t even realize the damage that is being done literally right under your nose. Rather than feeling outright pain, you may experience gnawing, itching, or burning sensation. You may notice a little bleeding when you brush or floss your teeth. It may be annoying , but it certainly doesn’t seem like anything to worry about. The during a routine checkup, your dental hygienist informs you that your gums have receded so much that one of your teeth has become wobbly. Here are some tips that you can consider to adopt to restore your gum health.

1. Stop Smoking

If the threat of lung cancer and heart disease has not persuaded you to can the cigs, then sore gums probably won’t do the trick either. Just know that smoking not on;y aggravates gum disease, it can cause it in the first place. There is such a thing as nicotine stomatitis. It is an inflammation of the soft tissue of the mouth that comes from nicotine irritation.

2. Avoid Aspirin

Your friends mean well when they tell you to put aspirin on your sore gums. But don’t listen to this old wives’ tale. Never put aspirin directly on your gums. Yes, it might provide some temporary relief. But aspirin is a highly caustic chemical, and it is irritating to the gum tissue. It could cause a fairly serious acid burn.

3. Be Gentle

While keeping your mouth cleanis critical, you will want to proceed gingerly when you have sore gums. Patients with gum problems tend to get more vigorous with their brushing. They think that they can brush the problem away. But they often end up inadvertently causing abrasions and ulcerations. Avoid aggressive brushing. Make sure that you use a soft toothbrush. Plaque is a soft material and can be removed better with a soft brush than a hard one.

4. Try tea bag

If your gums are bleeding, tea can make it stop. Just place a wet tea bag on the area that is bleeding. The tannic acid will help the blood clot.

5. Give Up Brushing Temporarily

If your gum tissue appears red or raw, it is recommended to forgo brushing that area for the time being so that it has a chance to heal. Brushing will irritate the gum even more. Instead of brushing, dip a cotton swap in 3 percent hydrogen peroxide and dab the sore spot. Hydrogen peroxide is a cleansing agent. If you use it for five to seven days, it will help clean the area and allow the gum to heal without toothbrush abrasion. You can brush the biting surface of the back teeth directly. Just make sure that the brush doesn’t touch the gum line.

6. Try Rinse

It is recommended to use a rinse with anti-plaque properties. It helps to reduce the amount of plaque mass in your mouth at any one time. Your best bet is a rinse that contains chlorhexidine. Since such products are only available by prescription, you should ask your dentist whether one would be right for you. Some over-the-counter rinses such as Listerine has been shown to be effective in preventing plaque buildup, but they don’t work as well as those with chlorhexidine.

7. Consume Carefully

If you have a sore or an ulcer on your gums, avoid eating anything that can irritate the tissue. Stay away from spicy and acidic foods and drinks. This includes tomato juice and even colas. They have pHs in the range of five, which is acidic. What about orange juice? Make sure you dilute it with water. This reduces the acidic concentration, so the juice won’t burn when you drink it.

Raymond Lee Geok Seng is one of the foremost experts in the health and fitness industry and is a writer specializing in body health, muscle development and dieting. He has spent countless of time and efforts conducting research and share his insightful and powerful secrets to benefit men and women all over the world. He is currently the author of the latest edition of “Neck Exercises and Workouts.” Visit http://www.bodyfixes.com for more information.

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Gum Disease/Gingivitis is becoming an increasingly costly problem to deal with. However as it stands, most dentists will just tell you to use regular over the counter mouthwash as a preventative. While I won’t get into the dozens of reasons why regular (alcoholic) mouthwash is bad for you, it simply does not cut it anymore. Curing gum disease in itself is an entirely different problem. Oil Pulling is an alternative health practice which basically involves the swishing of oil around in your mouth as a mouthwash (Sesame, Coconut, Sunflower oil) and has been scientifically shown to reverse the effects of gum disease and even prevent root canals and painful tooth extractions.

The main premise behind Oil Pulling is that the oil pulls toxins from your mouth as well as kills harmful bacteria. It is swished around in your mouth for roughly 15-20 minutes, after which it is spat out (you do not want to swallow toxins). Doing this procedure daily will significantly reduce the number of bacteria colonies inside of your mouth. As a result, your gum’s will begin to heal themselves which will be evident a few days after doing the regiment. You will immediately notice far less bleeding and sensitivity when brushing. Your gum’s will become firm and you will notice that your gum pockets will start to shrink. This has happened time and time again to many individuals with gum disease. After going back to their periodontist for a follow-up checkup, their gum pockets have significantly decreased to the point where the gum disease does no longer exists, much to the confusion of the dentist.

Oil Pulling is not a new alternative health practice by any means. It is an ancient Ayurveda practice (originating in India), however it has been recently been coming to the forefront of alternative medicine due to its very high success rate and its broad usage.

So start on a path to cure your gum disease as well as other any gum problems you may have by checking out Oil Pulling The benefits of Oil Pulling however are NOT limited to gum disease as you will see.

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While you can best achieve and maintain good tooth and gum health naturally with a long-term preventative, holistic approach that combines herbs and other natural substances with a healthy diet, an effective daily oral-hygiene routine, and regular dental check-ups, for those times when you still experience tooth and gum discomforts or ailments, a wide variety of herbs can soothe the mouth, lessen the pain, and aid in healing the condition. If you are experiencing tooth and gum problems, the best first step is to begin and maintain a routine as described above (see my previous article, “Enhance Your Dental Health Naturally: A Holistic Approach to Herbs for Healthy Teeth and Gums” for a wealth of information and possibilities). In addition to your regular oral-hygiene routine, you can also apply specific herbal and natural treatments for all manner of tooth and gum ailments, ranging from bad breath and canker sores, to discomfort from dental procedures, to gum disease, toothaches and abscesses.

It is important to exercise care when using herbs. Some herbs can be toxic if used for too long or in too great amounts. In addition, the active ingredients in some herbs are not recommended for certain health conditions, and can react negatively with prescription medications or other remedies. It is therefore recommended, especially if you are pregnant or nursing, wish to treat a child, have special health conditions, or are taking prescription medications, that you research the remedies that interest you before using them, and consult a qualified professional if you have questions or doubts. For more severe tooth and gum ailments, it is recommended that you combine any at-home treatment with a trip to the dentist.

Bad Breath

In addition to good oral hygiene, you can also freshen your breath by chewing whole fennel seeds, clove buds, whole cinnamon bark pieces, peeled cardamom pods, or parsley leaves. A mouthwash containing rosemary, diluted essential oils of anise, cinnamon, fennel, peppermint, or tea tree essential oil, or teas made from basil, chocolate mint, fennel, juniper berries, lavender flowers, parsley, peppermint, pineapple sage flowers, rose petals, sage, or thyme and used as mouthwash, also improve the breath. If bad breath remains a problem, you can take chlorophyll capsules or acidophilus supplements, and drink parsley or wheatgrass juice daily. It also helps to eat apples and celery often, since they are natural breath fresheners. Eating a sprig of parsley or a small piece of lemon peel will freshen the breath after eating garlic. Although some texts advise against ingesting essential oils, others suggest that you can also drink a cup of peppermint tea or add two drops of anise, fennel or peppermint essential oil to a full glass of water before drinking it to freshen your breath.

Mouth Sores

Herbal and natural remedies can also soothe and heal mouth sores. Mouth sores are often linked to food allergies or nutritional deficiencies, especially of iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid, so good vitamin and mineral supplements help. Acidophilus taken internally and used as a mouth rinse also eases mouth sores. Since canker sores stem from the breakdown of connective tissue, the herb gotu kola, ingested daily as a tea, is an effective remedy since it heals connective tissue. Chamomile mouthwash treats mouth sores resulting from chemotherapy. Other good rinses for mouth sores are alum, Milk of Magnesia, and teas of marigold, sage, or chinchona bark. You can also apply myrrh gum powder directly to the sore. Licorice root, a strongly anti-inflammatory tissue healer, is considered the best remedy for mouth sores. You can apply a pinch of licorice-root powder directly to a sore, or suck on a lozenge of DGL (de-glycyrrhizinated licorice). Aloe vera also soothes sores in the mouth when applied directly. A mouthwash of chickweed, violet, or rockrose also soothes pain from mouth sores. You can rub tea-tree oil directly on a cold sore to promote healing; apply as soon as the developing sore begins to tingle. A salve of thyme, myrrh and goldenseal can treat mouth sores caused by oral herpes.

Sore and Receding Gums

You can massage certain essential oils directly into sore areas of gums. These include tea tree, clove, eucalyptus, evening primrose, summer savory and wintergreen oils. You can also rinse the mouth with fennel or chamomile tea, a mouthwash of goldenseal, marigold, sage or diluted tea-tree oil, or apply aloe vera or a naturally antibiotic ointment made of steeped red clover leaves and blossoms, directly to the gums. A preparation of myrrh, tea tree and peppermint essential oils in vodka or apple-cider vinegar can be massaged directly into the gums to strengthen them. A mixture of yerba mansa, echinacea root, myrrh tears and prickly ash bark, steeped in vodka or apple-cider vinegar and massaged into the gums after brushing, encourages regeneration of receding gum tissues. For more severe gum disease, packs containing ingredients such as turmeric, aloe, willow bark, licorice root, the antioxidant vitamin E, and powdered alum, wrapped together in gauze and placed in the corners of the mouth nightly, have been known in some cases to heal the condition in a just few months.

Toothaches

Applying a powder of blackened eggplant and salt directly to the tooth will lessen a toothache. Rinsing the mouth with hydrogen peroxide, chewing a clove bud, or even applying just plain salt to the tooth will also help. Saturating a cotton ball in an essential oil such as cayenne, clove, peppermint, summer savory, wintergreen, or tincture of hops, and placing it directly on the tooth will also ease toothaches in an emergency. Since a persistent toothache often signals a more severe condition, it is wise to visit the dentist when this symptom occurs.

Infections and Abscesses in the Mouth

Garlic, a natural antibiotic for bacterial and fungal infections, and immune system strengthener, helps heal mouth infections. Fresh oil of garlic or raw cloves are the most effective form, but you can also find odorless garlic extracts in health-food stores. A mouthwash of the horsetail herb or witch hazel also treats infections of the mouth and gums. The common weed dandelion, a blood purifier, as well as echinacea combined with myrrh and licorice root, and ointment of red clover leaves and flowers, are good treatments for mouth abscesses. A salve or ointment of sanicle, a powerfully antioxidant herb, can also heal septic wounds. In the event of an infection or abscess in the mouth, it is best to combine any at-home treatment with a trip to the dentist.

Healing After Dental Procedures

After a tooth extraction, gum surgery, or other dental procedures, you can apply annato-seed pulp to the area to enhance healing. The fresh tops of St. John’s wort (also known as shepherd’s purse) help stop any bleeding. A chamomile poultice reduces pain and swelling. Elderberry mouthwash following gum surgery or suture placement helps the gums to heal properly, preventing scars. Antibiotic red clover ointment, or marigold or yarrow mouthwash also enhance the healing process.

For further information on healing tooth and gum conditions, including recipes for specific remedies, consult the sources listed below.

Sources

* “Herbal Care of Teeth and Gums,” by Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa, in The Herb Quarterly, Issue 79, Summer 1998.

* “A Natural Remedy for Gingivitis, Toothaches, and Mouth Sores,” by Rudy Silva, on EzineArticles.com.

* “Herbs for Dental Health” by Christopher Hobbs L.Ac., A.H.G., on www.healthy.net. “Periodontal Disease” by Janet Zand L.Ac., O.M.D. on www.healthy.net. “Herbal Therapy in Dentistry,” by Flora Parsa Stay D.D.S., from The Complete Book of Dental Remedies.

* Beauty By Nature, by Brigitte Mars.

* Living on the Earth, by Alicia Bay Laurel.

Debbie Hart is a writer, teacher, and student of nutrition and alternative healing. She co-runs the University of Yourself with Dr. Ron Masa, teaching intuitive methods, including dreamwork and the I Ching, to help individuals discover and access their own inner wisdom. She is also co-author of the e-book, “How We Lost Our First 100 Pounds Together: Romantic Weight Loss for Couples” with Dr. Ron Masa.

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