Well, actually the old saying is to floss the teeth we want to keep; although, these days, it requires a lot more than just brushing and flossing to maintain a healthy mouth. To begin with, the mouth is not separate from the body. Sounds strange; yet, many people struggle with realizing what impacts the mouth, affects the body and vice versa. Secondly, gum disease and cavities are signs of an acidic environment and in order to offset this condition, a broader approach is necessary. And finally, dis-eases of the body either trigger dental issues or are a result of them. In either case, a full systemic move toward good dental health brings the greatest promise for saving teeth and money.
Eliminate Nothing
Chances are you were expecting to see that we need to remove sugar from the diet; well, surprise! While sugar as it is produced, is as unnatural as splenda or any other artificial sweetener, to suggest excluding it could potentially trigger resistance. So, instead of saying, ‘do not eat it’, I encourage people to add healthier foods into their diet. With time, the body adjusts to the increased nutrition and requires less of the ‘bad stuff’. With this in mind, if there is a sweet tooth in the home, consider occasionally offering beet chips, sweet potato chips and agave nectar in place of the usual treats and watch the satisfying shift happen.
Eliminate Inflammation
Okay, you got me. There is something to reduce; systemic inflammation. Without blame or judgment, this society’s lifestyle is highly inflammatory; therefore, by deliberately shifting our focus towards systemic health, we benefit body, mind, spirit and mouth!
Make 80% of your diet anti-inflammatory, alkaline forming foods
a) Dark greens; alfalfa, barley and wheat grasses; cabbage, avocado, brussel sprouts, beets, carrots, coconut, cucumber, rutabaga, sweet potatoes, ginger, garlic, eggplant, onion, zucchini, lemon, lime, grapefruit, cherries, tomatoes, berries, sea veggies, pumpkin
b) Sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, raw almonds, almond butter, sprouted seeds, walnuts, macadamia, flaxseed, quinoa, millet, brown rice
c) Navy beans, lentils, olive oil, coconut oil, primrose oil
d) Salmon, trout, wild game
e) Cumin, turmeric, garlic, ginger, onion, black pepper, cayenne
f) Agave nectar, stevia
Systemic Benefits
The problem with dental care is it isolates the mouth; treating it independently of the body. This does not mean that what we do for the mouth hurts the body; not at all. This thought process; however, limits preventive care rather than identifying the healthful foods and herbs. When we embrace an oral systemic attitude we take on our health rather than be victimized by it. Poor dental health is linked to cardiovascular issues, diabetes, asthma, recurrent colds, digestive issues and more. Does one cause the other; no one can truly say; however, there is no mistaking one big factor: each condition whether it is cavities, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, or obesity is the result of systemic inflammation.
When the body is taxed from excessive acidic foods, stress, medications, etc, inflammation is the result. Over extended periods of time, dis-ease manifests, depending on your specific physiology and lifestyle. In order to counter the process, shifting to a more alkaline diet is a great step and making sure to include one or more of the following will only serve to assist the healing process and restoring both your physical AND dental health.
1) Neem leaf ~ anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-septic; can be taken as an herb or in a tea. While there is neem oil to apply directly in the mouth, taking it internally obviously benefits the entire system. It has been found to improve digestion, detox the liver, cleanse the blood (perfect for those concerned about dental chemicals, etc), support cardiovascular health, allergies as well as skin and nerve disorders.
2) Licorice root ~ not to be used by people living with high blood pressure or pregnant women. Please consume healthy portions of fruits and vegetables; especially while using licorice root. That being said, this herb has antimicrobial properties specific to cavity and gum disease causing bacteria.
3) Raw cacao ~ simply put is an amazing superfood (see Raw Cacao Recipes). That being said, cacao contains theobromine known to kill the bacteria that causes cavities. Combine that with xylitol (see following recipe) and you have a cavity preventing treat!!
4) Coconut ~ anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory; coconut contains 50% lauric acid (the only food besides red palm oil that contains this much) which is known to eradicate systemic bacteria and virus.
5) Spirulina ~ anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and a blood purifier. It is also the only known plant source with 95% nutrient bio-availability. In other words, it does a body AND mouth good.
‘Tis the Season
Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles
½ cup raw cacao powder
½ cup raw cacao butter
¼ cup pumpkin
1/3 cup raw agave nectar
1 TBS xylitol
1/3 cup (if desired) dried unsweetened coconut
Conclusion
The time has come to eliminate (there is that word again) symptom relief and redirect our focus to be one of oral systemic health. This sounds like a funny way to describe something; however, until we acknowledge the mouth as PART of the body, it seems appropriate to use this phrase. Interestingly enough, as we look at improving our overall health, it takes less time because we are no longer trying to manage everything;. In other words, we are consolidating our wellness plan that offers greater teeth, vitality, confidence and money in our pocket. So, forget about treating your teeth and treat yourself to a life of health!