Homeopathy for Dental Health

I am often asked why children with low sugar diets can still have tooth decay. In my opinion, this comes down to disease susceptibility.  I speak to my clients (dental and homeopathic) about this often.  In order for a disease to manifest in a host, there must be a "weakness" or susceptibility within that person.  This explains why 2 people can be exposed to the same virus, but only 1 gets sick.  Another way to look at it is, think about how many bacteria and viruses you come into contact with every day. It is only when your immune system is lowered, sometimes due to lack of sleep, decreased nutrition, stress, etc.. or you have a susceptibility, that the illness is able to express itself.

This is where as a Homeopath, I love to see these cases in my practice.  Homeopathy works by helping to decrease your susceptibility to illnesses including tooth decay. There are specific remedies that help to strengthen the tooth structures. I generally use the homeopathic remedies Calc Phos and Calc Flour in tissue salt as well as potency from, along with constitutional prescribing.

Calcarea Fluorica 6X- strengthens tooth enamel, great for teeth that fracture easily or crumble, delayed dentition in children, children with a high incidence of decay.

Calcarea Phosphoricum 6X- Calc Phos aids in the solid structure of bones and building of the teeth. It is indicated in inflammation in the gums, teething pains in infants and children. It is best taken daily with Calc Fluor 6X to aid in preventing tooth decay.

Dental x-rays

Another common question people often ask me is “Are dental x-rays safe”?

X-rays are always prescribed by a dentist.  As a patient, you always have the choice to decline them (this goes with any medical or dental treatment). Digital x-rays are 1/5th of the amount of radiation of a film based x-ray. Digital dental x-rays expose 0.1millirems. Flying in an airplane for 30 minutes exposes you to .5 mrem, equivalent to 5 digital dental x-rays.

X-rays can be a fantastic diagnostic tool. Sometimes, if a cavity is very small and has not broken through the enamel layer of the tooth, you can avoid fillings by taking regular x-rays and monitoring the incipient decay (decay that has not gone into the enamel of the tooth) for years.  Also, they are beneficial if a child is cavity prone, it is better to detect a cavity early via an x-ray before it gets to the point of pain.  Typically, when you feel pain with a cavity it has gotten rather large and may have affected the nerve, which could lead to more invasive dental treatment such as a root canal or premature extraction of a baby tooth.

Fluoride

This is a HUGE question.  I generally recommended my clients do their own research and find what resonates best with their family.  If the child is cavity prone, sometimes the risks of topical fluoride outweigh the invasive treatment of a drilling and filling of a cavity, especially if it's in a permanent tooth.

There is a natural substance called Xylitol which is a sugar alcohol derived from the Birch tree.  Studies have shown that it may re-mineralize the tooth structure and improve overall dental health.

REMEDIES TO HELP AT HOME

Chamomilla

This remedy is the number one remedy for teething children. The pains can be unbearable and the child can be extremely irritable. There can be a hypersensitivity to pain. Often the pains come at night, waking the child (and parent) with a swollen and sensitive oral area and the child can refuse to be touched.

Magnesia Phosphorica

Another great teething remedy. This remedy helps with the spasmodic pains that come with teething. There can be colic and irritability along with the teething, better rubbing the affected area.

Hypericum

The main pain sensation with Hypericum is a shooting sensation. This often comes with a toothache, injury or after a dental procedure. It is important to note that hypericum must be taken AFTER a dental procedure as it may interfere with local freezing

Arnica

Arnica is usually the first remedy that people become introduced to homeopathy with. It is used in any type of injury, wherever there is swelling, bleeding, bruising and pain. It helps to promote a more rapid healing of the injured tissues and can be used after dental extractions or other dental procedures for either pain and/or bleeding.

As always, start with a low potency (30C) and repeat up to 4 times. If no change in the symptom picture, it is not the right remedy.

*radiation information sourced from www.ans.org