Smile please!. Review on Ayurvedic Treatment for Teeth

'We'll have to operate, but we may yet save some of your teeth. It's expensive and painful, but there's no other choice.' That was the dentist's final opinion.

Contrary to popular belief, your teeth are designed to last a lifetime. Even so, an increasing percentage of Americans wear dentures. According to the dental profession, between 80 and 90 percent of our population has some observable gum disease.

Taken together, tooth cavities(dental caries) and gum(periodontal) disease, create a painful condition that causes tooth loss and is expensive to correct. Americans spend more than$40 billion a year to treat and slow the degeneration of their dental health.

Dental disease has a reciprocal effect with overall body health. If you're over stressed and generally unhealthy, your immune system will be suppressed and dental caries, caused by bacteria, will flourish. If your mouth is unhealthy, especially with gum disease, it overloads your health every moment of the day, lowering your resistance to all disease.

Since tooth brushing is the most basic process in oral care, it's a good place to start your natural tooth and gum care program. Traditional peoples the world over use natural tooth brushes made from healing plants. These primitive twig brushes actually work quite well, and provide a natural-bristle, disposable brush with healing herbs already incorporated right in the plant.

Herbal medicine abounds with great substitutes for store-bought toothpaste. Most effective natural tooth powders are warming, which promotes circulation in the gums; astringent, which tightens the gums; and detoxifying, which removes debris. Of course any preparation should also remove plaque. A classic Ayurvedic combination contains two parts powdered potassium alum, an astringent, and one part powdered salt. Prickly ash bark is a classic toothpowder from North America, and myrrh gum is widely used in Middle Eastern herbalism. Tea tree oil(very dilute) stimulates circulation and kills germs, and a macrobiotic preparation of the ash of the calyx of the eggplant, will cure'any toothache, pyorrhea, and other mouth and gum disorders.'

The Ayurvedic herb, amla, is a general rebuilder of oral health. Amla works well as a mouth rinse, or one to two grams per day can be taken orally in capsules for long-term benefit to the teeth and gums. Herbs such as amla that support the healing and development of connective tissue when taken internally will always benefit the gums. Just remember that since they must saturate the whole body in order to work on the gums, the healing effect of these tonics tends takes longer to become apparent. The results, however, are more lasting.

Bilberry fruit and hawthorn berry stabilize collagen, strengthening the gum tissue. Licorice root is a gem for the mouth: It promotes anti-cavity action, reduces plaque, and has an antibacterial effect.

The tooth sockets are joints, and the teeth are essentially bones. Herbs that treat the skeleton and the joints when taken internally are good bets for long-term tooth health. Standouts include yellow dock root, alfalfa leaf, cinnamon bark, and turmeric root.

Commonly called'canker sores, ' these mouth ulcers can be supremely painful. Canker sores are virtually always linked to food allergies and nutritional deficiencies, particularly iron, B12, and folic acid. Using high oral doses of acidophilus and an acidophilus mouth rinse will also help. Since mouth ulcers stem from a breakdown in tissue structure, the herb gotu kola(Centella asiatica) can be quite effective. Gotu kola is widely known to heal wounds and promote connective tissue growth. The dose is one ounce dry weight of herb per day, brewed as tea. A recent study showed good results using a chamomile mouthwash in treating mouth ulcers caused by chemotherapy. Other rinses that can help include alum, Milk of Magnesia, and cinchona bark. Ayurveda suggests applying the powder of myrrh gum directly to the ulcer.

Probably the most outstanding herbal remedy for mouth sores is licorice root, a potent anti-inflammatory and tissue healer. Put a pinch of powder on the sore, or suck on a lozenge made from DGL(de-glycyrrhizinated licorice).

Your teeth are a reflection of your whole body. If you are healthy, your mouth will be healthy. Teeth, gums, and bone can heal. Give these techniques a try. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how well they work.