My health began to decline about eleven years ago, shortly after having a metal implant procedure. Four years later, while I was unknowingly infected with Lyme disease, I received an additional dental amalgam filling. At that time, I was unaware that the filling carried harmful levels of mercury and the adverse impact it would have on my health. The combination of autoimmune struggles, chronic Lyme, and extreme sensitivities to dental metal seemed to be the tipping scale for me with my health battle. After becoming aware of these issues, it took me a few years to save up money to pay for procedures to safely remove and replace all my metal fillings and implants from my teeth. Meanwhile, I educated myself about natural holistic dental health. Here are some important tips I learned through my own personal experiences.
FINDING THE RIGHT DENTIST
There is considerable debate in the dental profession about the harmful effects of dental amalgams, metal implants, root canals, and other dental procedures. It is important to find a dentist who is supportive of your desire for natural and holistic measures to care for your teeth and respects your concerns about these procedures. Usually, the best option is to find a biological or holistic dentist. There are also conventional dentists who are willing to work with you in this capacity, though they might be cautious about approaching the subject because of the controversy it entails. Regardless, if you make the decision to have your amalgams removed, you must find a dentist who has the appropriate equipment to remove them with a rubber dam and to effectively remove mercury vapors in the air which can be dangerous for everyone involved in the procedure. Mercury is a powerful neurotoxin. When removing mercury fillings, you want to find an effective detox protocol to get the mercury out of your system. Many detoxes will circulate the mercury through your body without safely eliminating it. Those of us who have impaired detoxification pathways must especially be on alert about this.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT DENTAL PRODUCTS
When we are battling chemical sensitivities, chronic migraines, illnesses, and autoimmune conditions, we should consider choosing a non-toxic fluoride-free toothpaste. There are various natural toothpaste products available. Many natural toothpaste brands contain chemicals that I personally am sensitive to so I prefer to make my own toothpaste and use natural dental care. Here are a few natural dental care tips that I have found to be effective:
1. Brush with pure baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Baking soda has an abrasive quality to scrub your teeth clean and hydrogen peroxide is a disinfectant for eliminating oral bacteria. Just spread some of the baking soda on your tooth brush, pour a little peroxide on the baking soda, and you are ready to go. It is not recommended to brush daily with pure baking soda itself. I typically use it about every other day.
2. Make your own toothpaste. There are numerous recipes for homemade toothpaste. The simplest way to make toothpaste is by placing about a 1/4 cup coconut oil in a small mason jar. Then, add a little baking soda and filtered water until it is a paste consistency and put a few drops of peppermint essential oils for taste. You can also add a dash of Himalayan sea salt to the mixture, which is optional.
3. Make your own mouthwash. Natural chemical-free mouthwash is also easy to make. Just take a pint mason jar (I prefer using an old coconut oil jar with a lid) and fill with a cup or two of filtered water. Add a couple teaspoons of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Shake to mix contents and use. This simple mouthwash will sanitize your mouth and gums when rinsing.
OIL PULLING THERAPY
Oil pulling therapy is an excellent therapeutic and detoxification protocol for good dental health. Five years ago, my health condition made it impossible for me to make it to the dentist, and I knew I was struggling with some underlying dental infections. As a result, I decided to try oil pulling therapy. I started off doing the therapy three times a day and eventually reduced it to twice a day. After completing all my necessary dental procedures, I continued oil pulling once a day. Our mouths carry multiple types of bacteria, and when we swish with quality organic oil, it pulls the bacteria out of our teeth and gums, allowing our bodies to detoxify and heal. The benefits of oil pulling therapy include general detoxification, decreased risk of cavities, reduction of infections in teeth and gums, and cleaner/whiter teeth.
Coconut oil is highly recommended for this therapy because it contains lauric acid which has essential antibacterial components. To get started, you take up to one tablespoon of organic cold pressed unprocessed coconut oil and swish it in your mouth. Some people melt the oil on the stove as it is solid at room temperature. I prefer to use it when it is solid and allow the heat of my mouth to melt the oil. Start out for about 5 minutes and eventually work up to 10-20 minutes of swishing the oil in your mouth. Try not to swallow it. When done, simply spit it out and immediately brush your teeth. Afterwards, the oil should be a milky white color. Do not spit coconut oil in the sink as it will clog your pipes when it is in a solid state. The coconut oil carries bacteria and is rank after use, so you will want to dispose it. When first starting oil pulling, you may notice that you have cold symptoms, "herxing" reactions, and you might feel more tired than usual. This is a sign of your body detoxifying and adjusting to the therapy. It is normal and should subside after a week or two. The best time of day to do oil pulling is first thing in the morning before you eat or just before bed. When my dentist removed an infected metal crown a couple of years ago, he told me whatever I was doing seemed to work in keeping the infection at bay and said to keep it up. That was confirmation for me that I was doing the right thing!
HOLISTIC DENTAL HEALTH
Quality dental care is a critical aspect of pure, simple, and whole living. By consulting with a dental professional that is supportive of holistic health, taking good care of our teeth naturally, and avoiding metal implants and fillings as much as possible, we can give our physical wellness a healthy jump start! In transitioning into holistic dental health, take it a step at a time and pray about the right timing to find a qualified dentist for removing/replacing any metal fillings and other implants. A safe and effective detox program is also a critical factor in removing and replacing amalgam fillings. Detoxing mercury has been one of the most difficult battles with my health struggles, as I was already battling a condition that was causing nerve damage. The mercury in my body caused some unpleasant neurological side effects. Despite my struggles with mercury detoxing and other problems with metal implants, it was definitely worth it in the long run to have them all removed and replaced. It is a big decision, but God sees us through!
To find a holistic or biological dentist in your area, visit this website: http://holisticdental.org/
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JOYFUL TREASURES: RESURRECTION POWER
Easter is one of my favorite times of year in which we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior! Life emerges around us as the grass greens up, trees bud leaves, and bulb flowers unfold their beauty. As we pull out last year's perennial stems and leaves to make room for new growth, remember that God does the same in our lives. He prunes back the old and makes room for new life to spring forth in our hearts. When the winter season has worn us down, our suffering becomes a conduit for the glory of God's power. May his resurrection power renew our hearts with joy!
"God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power!" 1 Corinthians 6:14
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HOLISTIC DENTAL RESOURCES
I am not a doctor or an expert on dentistry. The information in this article is based on my own personal experience and is not intended for diagnosis or treatment of dental problems or health conditions. For more information about holistic dental health, check out the following resources.
http://www.healthcentereddentistry.com/?gclid=COvS2_HBl9MCFQaUaQod5z8IJQ
http://dzehm.blogspot.com/2013/06/embracing-wellness-through-alternative.html
http://dzehm.blogspot.com/2013/06/embracing-wellness-through-alternative.html
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