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Dental
Care with Homeopathy.
Homeopathy
has a good track record with treating dental problems, and a number of
dentists routinely use remedies like Arnica after extractions.
Phosphorous can be used to staunch bleeding, or Aconite to minimise the
effects of anaesthetics on sensitive mortals. There are also remedies to
help panic stricken patients cope with the ordeal of the dental chair.
Homeopathy
doesn't completely replace dentistry but members of the British
Homeopathic Dental Association use homeopathic remedies to aid healing
and relieve pain. Remedies can be very effective in treating gum disease
and abscesses. This is a boon to those who worry about depleting their
immune system with courses of antibiotics, but if toothache is caused by
rotten decay somewhere it will still need to be cleaned out.
According
to dentist Geoff Wadlow, some people have unrealistic expectations of
holistic dentists, hoping for a pain free approach with minimal
intervention. Since dentistry is by its nature a surgical speciality,
these patients may be disappointed. As dentist Vicky Lee says, the best
dentistry is no dentistry - prevention is better than cure.
Homeopathic
dentists are more aware of the potential dangers of mercury fillings,
root canal treatments and x-rays, as well as the debate on fluoridation, but may still need to use these standard procedures
if a better alternative is not available. They prefer using
non-adrenaline anaesthetics, reducing the risk of adrenaline-induced
anxiety and faintness after conventional injections, and some use
homeopathic potencies of x-rays to try and counter the harmful effects of diagnostic x-rays.
What can
homeopathic remedies help with?
Aside
from the actual visit, mouthwashes (made from herbs like Hypericum and
Calendula, or Propolis) and homeopathic remedies are excellent for
treating mouth ulcers, gum disease and toothache, and are easy to use at
home.
For
problems of easy decay, chronic gum infections, bad breath or teeth
grinding constitutional homeopathic treatment may be helpful. Symptoms
such as bad breath are signs of a disturbance that needs to be healed,
rather than merely masked with mouthwashes. Where bad breath is caused
by mucous constantly dripping down the back of the throat rather than
bacterial proliferation, homeopathic remedies work to clear the sinus
trouble causing it. Mouth breathing, often due to swollen tonsils and
adenoids needs remedies to resolve the chronic inflammation, while
problems due to tension such as teeth grinding, cheek biting, and
'burning mouth syndrome' can all be helped. A whole host of other
problems can be treated with a constitutional homeopathic approach,
which looks at dental problems in the context of the whole person.
The
importance of diet.
The good
news is that decay and dental disease are avoidable - through a healthy
diet and efficient dental hygiene. Sugar is the main culprit - within a
minute of eating something sweet acid levels in the mouth rise, leaching
calcium out of the dental enamel. This process goes on for about half an
hour after eating something sweet, and it takes about 6 hours for the
calcium to be resorbed. If you're eating sweets several times a day, the
process of resorbtion doesn't get a chance to take place. Diet is
important in rebalancing the ecology of the mouth and keeping the saliva
healthy, in order to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Gum disease
and mouth ulcers are often the result of nutritional problems. According
to Peter Varley, chairman of the British Homeopathic Dental Association,
the excessive use of coffee, tea, salt and sugar places severe burdens
on the nutritional status of the body. Smoking and alcohol also cause
dietary deficiencies by increasing the body's need for essential
vitamins and minerals. A poor diet with too much fat, refined
carbohydrates and protein, lacking in sufficient fresh fruit, vegetables
and fibre will lead to nutritional stress and muscular tension - a
frequent cause of jaw problems.
The
problem of caries is improving as our diets get better - we're conscious
of the health hazards of too many sweets - but gum disease remains a
problem. It's caused by not cleaning our teeth properly - apparently
most of us are still not doing it right, and we need to check our
technique with the dentist.
Gum
disease is caused by anaerobic bacteria - they thrive wherever plaque
builds up inflaming the gum, so it must be removed at regular intervals
throughout the day. Bleeding gums are usually the first sign of gum
disease, so don't stop brushing your teeth; instead you need to be more
diligent - and visit the dental hygienist if the plaque have built up
into unsightly tartar. Teeth which are sensitive to heat, cold and acids
are also an early earning sign - over brushing may be the problem here
or the gums may be receding, exposing the sensitive dentine.
 Self-help:
Homeopathic remedies to use for dental problems.
If one
of the following remedies doesn't help, you probably need a remedy
tailored for your individual problems, and you'll need an individual
homeopathic consultation.
DENTAL
SURGERY
Dental
extractions.
-
After
any sort of dental work, whether for cleaning (which involves going
under the gum-line), the use of tooth clamps, electrosurgery, or root
work, Peter Varley advises the use of Arnica in tablet form, together
with Propolis tincture, which hastens healing. He recommends adding 5
drops of the tincture to about an inch of warm water, in a cup, rinsing
your mouth with it and then swallowing the liquid. It's anti-bacterial,
anti viral and also anaesthetises any sensitive areas in the mouth.
-
Treatment:
Arnica 12 three times a day until tenderness subsides. After
extractions, or a lot of dental work, Arnica 30 can be taken, three
times a day. It helps heal any bruising or haematoma - where the blood
vessels are damaged and swollen.
-
For
aching deep in the jaw after dental extraction which has not cleared up
with Arnica, use Ruta 6, one tablet three to four times daily.
-
Nerves
irritated by dental work.
Use
Hypericum when dental work irritates the nerves, causing
hypersensitivity. The pains are usually sharp or shooting pains, and
feel better from a hot pack. Treatment: Take one tablet of Hypericum 30
every half hour or so.
-
Pain in
the site of the injection:
Use
Ledum where healing seems to be poor, especially in elderly people with
poor circulation. The gum feels numb and dead after an injection, or
deep root canal work. Pains are better from ice cold drinks, or applying
a cold pack. Treatment: Ledum 6, one every two to three hours.
-
Reaction
to anaesthetics:
After
reactions to local adrenaline anaesthetics use a dose of Aconite 30 to
calm down your racing heart, anxiety nausea and faintness. Take a repeat
dose after a few minutes, if needed.
After a
general anaesthetic, take Phosphorous 30 every two or three hours till
the nausea and disorientation subside.
-
Bleeding
after dental work use Phosphorous 30, every two to three hours.
-
Infected
tooth socket
Called
'Dry socket', where wound doesn't bleed much - but doesn't heal either.
-
Treatment
Ruta 6. one tablet three or four times daily.
A few
drops of Plantago tincture can be applied directly to the tooth socket.
TOOTHACHE
Toothache
is usually caused by inflamed pulp - due to decay, sensitisation from
dental work or chronic irritation from unlined fillings. You'll need to
see your dentist. Sensitivity to heat and cold helps your dentist make a
diagnosis - and affects which remedy you need. If the pain is aggravated
by cold it may be due to an exposed nerve, whereas if heat aggravates
the trouble is likely to be more severe.
Ferrum
phos is recommended for mild toothache which only occurs on exposure to
heat and cold.
If the
pain comes on suddenly, with throbbing pains and a lot of heat locally,
Belladonna is the first remedy to use.
Chamomilla
is helpful for pain relief. Try a dose of the 200 potency, and repeat if
the pain returns.
Hypericum
for stabbing pains which come without warning.
Use
Staphysagria for a toothache which is worse from cold drinks. Pains are
smarting or pricking. Psychologically resentful; feels dental work is an
intrusion.
If you
feel oversensitive to pain, irritable and bad-tempered try Nux Vomica.
Plantago
is good for toothache in badly decayed teeth. The tooth is
hypersensitive to the slightest contact and nerve pains shoot across
side of face.
Wisdom
teeth, problems
Swelling
or infection of the area around the wisdom teeth, especially if the jaw
is stiff and immobile, use Cheiranthus 30, one a day. A few drops of
Echinachea tincture can be applied where the surrounding gum is red and
swollen.
ABSCESSES
Dental
abscess
Abscesses
usually occur around the tip of the tooth when decay is extensive - if
you don't treat it early you'll end up with a root filling. According to
the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology trapped
bacteria from root canal fillings can be responsible for chronic
illnesses elsewhere in the body, and they should be avoided wherever
possible.
Use hot
water with a pinch of salt as a mouthwash a few times a day.
Belladonna;
Hot and throbbing pain. Severe throbbing pain, usually worse at night.
Pain on biting.
If the
abscess is ready to burst, or is draining use Silica 6 three times daily
for two weeks. Mashing up cloves of garlic and packing them next to the
abscess can help draw it out.
Use
Hepar Sul 6 three times a day for chronic swelling, where the abscess
just won't clear up.
If
you're feverish with some swelling of the affected gum, and your mouth
is tasting and smelling offensive, use Merc sol 30 three times a day for
3-7 days. The saliva is often increased, with dribbling on the pillow at
night. It can also help a dental abscess in a tooth with a root filling
- often a long standing low grade infection that suddenly flares up.
GUM
PROBLEMS
Mouth
ulcers: They usually occur when you're run down, or are tied in with
metabolic changes such as menstruating. If you suffer from recurrent
crops of mouth ulcers you may have a deficiency disorder and should seek
professional advice. Poor healing usually indicates some kind of
nutritional deficiency, or a depressed immune system (because you're
ill, run down or your diet is poor).
Treatment:
Propolis tincture as a mouth wash - reduces healing from 7-10 days to
2-3. Author Colin Lessell also recommends 15-30 mg of zinc supplements
daily - you need to stop tea and coffee which depletes your reserves.
Vitamin B also helps. An infusion of sage can be brewed and used as a
mouthwash.
Denture
sore mouth
This can
be caused by badly fitting dentures - often complicated by a chronic
candida infection. Try Borax 6, or kali mur 6 twice a day. For obstinate
cases Colin Lessell recommends Candida albicans 6, one daily. Mouthwash
made of 30 drops of Berberis tincture in 250 mls of water.
Gum
infection (gingivitis) where the supporting structure of the tooth is
inflamed, involving the soft tissue of the gum and superficial bone
where the tooth goes in. Occasionally it is due to an allergic reaction
to the different dental materials used; metals such as nickel are often
responsible.
Treatment:
Use hot salt water to mouthwash, or a solution of 5 mls of Myrrh
tincture to 45 mls of water. Vicki Lee recommends nutritional support
with Vitamin C, anti-oxidants and co-enzyme Q10. Zinc (15mg daily) is
recommended for those who are 'down at the mouth'.
Merc sol
can be used where the gums look swollen and spongy, retracted from
teeth. Mouth tastes foul with excess salivation and ulceration.
STRESS
RELATED PROBLEMS
Burning
mouth syndrome
Burning
tongue or roof of the mouth and lips, without any apparent cause. It's
particularly common among women around 40 to 50 and may be related to
menopause, or poor diet and generally run-down.
Treatment:
Colin Lessell recommends B12 treatments. If the condition is stress
related Arsenicum album 6, once a day may help. Avoid lemons, and
commercial toothpastes. Weleda's range of gentle toothpastes, made with
plant extracts or salt, contain no fluoride or detergents to irritate or
sensitise the mouth.
Teeth-grinding
Nearly
always associated with stress. The conventional approach is to use a
bite-plate at night to restrict grinding. Releasing physical tension
held in the body often helps, as does cranial osteopathy or
constitutional homeopathic treatment
Frozen
jaw- called 'temporomandibular jaw dysfunction' (TJD).
The
angle of the jaw under the ear is tender and the mouth may not open
properly. Chewing is tender and the jaw clicks. If ill fitting dentures
are not the problem it usually results from tension in the muscles
around the jaw - or tension-releasing habits of clenching and grinding.
Many sufferers from chronic tension headaches may have TJD. As dentist
Vicky Lee says, often the locations of stress is quite appropriate;
sufferers may be "fed up to the back teeth", or perhaps
they've "bitten off more than they can chew". Sometimes the
trouble is that they tend to "open their big mouth and put their
foot in it."
Bite
appliances can help: Homeopathy and cranial
osteopathy can all help.
Further
reading:
A
Textbook of Dental Homeopathy by Dr Colin Lessell (C. W Daniel)
Contact
addresses; send an SAE for info on homeopathic dentists
The
British Homeopathic Dental Association
38
Poland St, London W1V 3DA. Tel 0207 437 0056
Pharmacy
for remedies and tinctures;
Ainsworth's
Homeopathic pharmacy.
38 New
Cavendish St London W1 tel 0207 935 5330
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