Gingivitis, aka red inflamed/puffy gums that bleed easily when brushing or flossing, is a very common periodontal disease. Chances are your gums have some degree of gingivitis and you simply thought it was “normal.” Though common (as many as 89-90% adults in the US have gingivitis), this level of inflammation at your gum teeth line impacts more than just your teeth/oral health.
New research has confirmed that even the smallest amount of bleeding when flossing/brushing is enough to tie to an elevated risk of several types of cancer (esophageal, breast, colon and gallbladder) as well as diabetes, heart disease and other forms of chronic inflammatory conditions like asthma, osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s (MayoClinic.org)
90% of Americans! Ok – time to get real – this is one of the main reasons so many people are sick – your mouth is an outward visible window into your internal health (i.e. a healthy mouth = healthy body, an unhealthy body = unhealthy mouth). If you are one of those people wishing you could do something about your teeth and gums – the good news is YOU CAN! Your teeth, and gums, are technically a living and fully regenerative organ (despite what your dentist may have told you).
What Causes Gingivitis / Oral Health Issues
Most people will tell you it’s due to poor oral hygiene, i.e. not brushing frequently enough, long enough or properly (yes there is an actual “perfect” technique to brushing your teeth). Others will say it’s 100% connected to your diet and the amount of sweets you eat (I am not in the camp that sugar causes tooth decay / gum disease – just so you know). Few will tell you the truth – your teeth are supposed to be coated with a very unique mixture of saliva/enzymes and bacteria (yes – the oral microbiome). This mixture of enzymes + bacteria clean and protect your mouth and gums much like a healthy mixture of bacteria in your gut protects your intestinal lining.
Enter conventional mouth bleach (as I like to call it): OTC toothpaste (Crest, Colgate etc.) not only contains soaps but also antibacterials to kill the mouth bacteria and make it sterile. Heaven forbid you should also use Listerine or other antiseptic mouth washes that will kill 99.9% of any bacteria it comes in contact with. This sterility is terrible for your oral microbiome, killing it, which then exposes the teeth and gums to a non-natural environment that encourages them (teeth and gums) to protect themselves. Thus, the gums swell (gingivitis) and the teeth coat themselves with plaque (yes, this is in response to how clean your teeth are – i.e. really clean = loads of plaque). This keeps you in the never-ending battle of brush, floss, since and dental cleanings semi-annually. All the while, as is the case with most adults, oral health and body health decline over time.
How to Correct Gingivitis / Oral Health Issues
There are multiple steps, most of which include the discontinuation of “mouth bleach” and instead switching to more natural methods and techniques of oral care. But, that’s only the superficial therapy – don’t forget it also works in reverse. The healthier your insides, the healthier your mouth. Best to pay attention to your diet (switching from low fat, high carb, high processed diet to more of a high fat, low carb healing diet), cleaning your organs, most importantly Liver, Gallbladder and Gut via a targeted detoxification, gallbladder/bowel wash and perhaps coffee/salt enemas. Don’t forget the nerve system and its connection to your mouth. Each tooth is a hard bone which a central root (the nerve) which are direct extensions of the cranial Trigeminal nerve (V). Any misalignment with your jaw, TMJ, occiput (skull) and the atlas (C1) can directly affect your teeth and gum health. Corrective these underlying interferences can have a significant effect, especially when you have tried and exhausted the natural means listed below
Step 1: Stop Brushing with Conventional Toothpaste
As mentioned, most OTC conventional toothpaste is very abrasive and contains Triclosan, a powerful antibiotic. Interestingly enough, Colgate – in early 2019 – announced a multi-million-dollar effort to remove Triclosan by 2020 from its toothpaste due to raising concerns over the negative effects. Note: Even if they do this – its estimated that it will take 1-2 years before the previous items are shipped and in stores are purchased to “flush” their product as they are not recalling the previous items. It is also only Colgate, Crest, and other brands, offer a Triclosan free version – but CAUTION – they simply increased the amount of Fluoride (which is very toxic) to offset. Regardless, their philosophy is to kill everything in your mouth to make it clean and that’s the last thing you want to do.
Instead consider a healthy probiotic (aka contains bacteria) toothpaste. You can make your own simply by taking coconut oil, baking soda and 1 capsule of your probiotic (MBC, Terraflora, PrescriptAssist) and mixing them together to make a very powerful toothpaste that will support your oral health. If you wish to buy probiotic toothpaste, the only ones I am familiar with are “Hyperbiotics” which also contains charcoal (a natural whitening agent), “Revitin” a prebiotic/probiotic tooth paste and LifeExtension, which contains green tea, CoQ10, H202, folic acid and lactoferrin – a microbiome supporter
Step 2: Stop Rinsing with Conventional Mouth Wash
As mentioned, nearly ALL OTC mouth washes kill the oral microbiome. Try using a self-made mouthwash as follows:
– 2 Cups of Filtered water
– 5 drops of the following (peppermint, tea tree and clove oil)
– Optional oils (lemongrass, sage, guava leaf, grapefruit, lemon)
Simply mix, shake well and swish for 30-60 seconds and spit out. If you wish to purchase a pre-made mouth wash the only one I recommend is PerioWash which is alcohol free and a combination of Yucca Schidigera Root, Quillaja Saponaria Root, Wild Yam extract and Smilax Regelii Root Extract. This is the very mouth wash recommended by the IAOMT (Academy of Biological Dentists).
Step 3: Brush with Proper Technique
The majority of adults and children brush their teeth but improperly. The actual way to brush your teeth is with a small amount (less is more) of the homemade/alternative pastes above and this technique
– Hold your tooth brush at a 45-degree angle such that the bristles touch the gum line, not the tooth.
– Flick the brush bristle downward in a scooping motion, such that you just lightly scrape the tooth
– Continue in a circular motion across each tooth, ensuring complete coverage of your mouth.
This will feel more like you are brushing your gums than teeth, but it is the correct method to clean your teeth every day. Follow this with the self-made mouth wash then oil pulling and you have a “healthy microbiome laden” clean mouth.
Step 4: Begin Oil Pulling
A healthy alternative to flossing is to simply swish your mouth for 5-10 min with a mixture of health oils, as they pass through and between your teeth easily. Mix 1 TBSP of coconut oil with clove or peppermint (or both) and swish for up to 10 min to fully clean the nooks and crannies of your mouth while also keeping your oral microbe alone.
Step 5: Topical Essential Oils
If you have a suspicious spot (i.e. swollen area of gums, recession of your gum line, or a sensitive tooth) consider the direct application of clove oil, which is famous for its analgesic (numbing effect) as well as power anti-inflammatory nature. You can also try NEEM GEL (Azadirachta indica) which has been shown to reduce gingivitis and tooth plague in as little as 6 weeks!
For more tips, visit www.AskDrErnst.com and type in “Oral Health”