Teeth and Gum Disease

The mouth – including the tongue and teeth – is a very important area for diagnosing systemic as well as local disorders.  Aware dentists are often the first to diagnose diseases such as oral cancer, AIDS and anaemia.  The oral symptoms of any kind of cancer include cracks in the corner of the mouth, changes in the colour of the tongue and lips (sometimes turning blood red) and chronic gum bleeding.  Even at the pre-cancer stage gum bleeding can occur, so if treated appropriately this can be reversed.

Holistic dentistry applies prevention-oriented care and understands the impact of good nutrition and natural medicines on the dental and general healing process.  Antibiotics are used as a last resort.  Nutritional, homeopathic, and natural medicines prevent their being necessary most of the time.  Natural mouth washes such as propolis, tea tree oil, and extract of grapefruit seed are recommended and in low-disease mouths fluoride-free pastes are suggested as fluoride has been shown to be rather toxic.

Mercury-based fillings and root fillings are avoided as far as possible.  The mouth and body can be tested for heavy metal poisoning and cleansed by using special homeopathic remedies and mouth washes.  Existing mercury-based fillings are removed under very isolative and protective conditions and the body is prepared accordingly with vitamins and natural medicines.

Holistic dentists are sensitive to the detrimental impact of negative emotions such as stress and fear.  Excessive tooth wear, dysfunction of the joints of the jaw and many kinds of migraines and other headaches can be diagnosed and treated by understanding a patient’s lifestyle.  Dentists may recommend hypnotherapy, cranial osteopathy, and many forms of massage, including aromatherapy.

Any dentist should naturally be able to put people at ease.  If a patient still feels fearful of visiting the dentist, then a whole host of methods can be applied to calm them – hypnotherapy, the use of essential oils or flower remedies, or energy healing may all help.

DNA TESTING

The DNA test detects 11 of the most common anaerobic bacteria that in some combination are the causative agents of periodontal disease.

The test is not a biopsy in the sense it does not take any of the person's tissue. There is just a sterile bit of pointed paper that is placed for 15 seconds under the gum in about 3 places. The dry paper absorbs fluid and the bacteria are in the fluid. It is totally non invasive and painless.

The paper point is then sent to a lab where the DNA of the dead bacteria tells which ones are there. This is of immense help since the correct antibiotic can be determined if needed and a follow up test can determine if therapy has been successful and heart health is no longer subject to the assault from these nasty invasive bacteria.

No dentist in his right might could be against this as it finally allows us to no longer fly blind when diagnosing and treating periodontal disease. The test is fast easy inexpensive relative to its value and far more accurate and reliable than any previous method.  More about DNA and Periodontics........

PERIODONTAL GUM DISEASE TREATMENT

Periodontal gum disease starts when a drop in immune effectiveness allows aggressive bacteria to multiply in the space under the gingival tissue around the teeth.

These bacteria produce chemicals that can break the attachment of the gingival tissue over to the roots. This creates a deeper space under the tissue that becomes a reservoir for increasing numbers of bacteria out of the reach of oral hygiene efforts. The chemicals that they produce further attack the attachment and also the bone around the teeth.

A new treatment process called Tri-Immuno Phasic periodontal therapy, TIP, sets up all the conditions where the body can heal back a new attachment to seal the bacteria out and allow the bone to heal. More about periodontal...

CRANIAL OSTEOPATHY

Cranial osteopathy would almost certainly be the answer in treating problems of the ears, eyes, nose and throat.  Osteopathy aims to diagnose in the framework and cranial osteopathy extends this principle by applying gentle pressure and/or manipulation to the head, neck, and upper back.  Success has been reported even with certain forms of blindness and deafness.  Spinal manipulation may also be introduced for problems with the throat.  Cranial osteopathy tends to be slightly slower in achieving results than structural osteopathy, so several weeks of treatment may be required.  More about cranial steopathy...

HOMEOPATHY

Most cases of recurrent otitis media and tonsillitis respond well to this method of stimulating the natural healing reaction.  In this area homeopathy is especially successful in treating children.  The range of remedies that may be prescribed is vast, but some of the more common ones are:

•           For earache with a throbbing pain – Belladonna.

•           For earache with severe pain – Camomilla.

•           To soothe the irritation of conjunctivitis – Euphrasia.

•           In the early stages of a cold – Natrum mur.

•           For a flu-like cold – Gelsemium.

•           For a sudden sore throat with swollen tonsils – Aconite.

•           For a dry sore throat accompanied by hoarseness and a tickling cough – phosphorus.

•           If a child is clingy, whingeing and irritable – Pulsatilla.  More about homeopathy...

ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture is appropriate for most of the conditions affecting the ears, eyes, nose and throat and is particularly successful in dealing with sinus infection.  A combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbs would normally produce a total cure of this condition after six sessions. More about acupuncture...

SUPPORTIVE TREATMENTS

The following produce good results when used in isolation but are more effective in association with other therapies.

Nutrition

Investigating allergies is a good starting point for recurrent earache and other problems with the ears, eyes, nose and throat.  Secretory earache is more than twice as frequent in allergic children than in non-allergic children, according to one study of 540 patients.  The most common culprits in the diet seem to be cows’ milk, cocoa, cane sugar, cola, grains, citrus fruit, eggs, and nuts, so these should be avoided.  Sulphites and monosodium glutamate (M.S.G.), both common food additives, can also provoke earache.  Avoiding these and supplementing the diet with molybdenum can improve symptoms.  Airborne allergens such as house-dust components, tobacco smoke; animal dander and fungus spores are linked to infections of the ears, eyes, nose and throat, and should be avoided as far as possible.

Remedial Yoga

One of the accepted practices of Hatha yoga which is particularly useful for conditions of congestion such as rhinitis and sinusitis is Jala Neti (washing the nasal passages with warm salt water).  This gently cleanses the nasal and throat tissues, increases the circulation and stimulates healing energy within these areas.  A patient can be taught the technique in one 30 minute session and can then use it at home.  In addition, breathing practice benefits the nose and throat and is also a good way to clear the head of congestion.

Chi Kung

In conjunction with diet and Chinese herbal treatment, this traditional therapy can be used to identify and overcome the irritants that frequently cause problems to the ears, eyes, nose and throat.  Chi Kung exercises stimulate the kidney meridian, which rules these areas.  With time, students will learn to tune into their bodies and rectify the energy imbalances that are causing the problems.  Once the exercises are mastered, Chi Kung can easily be practiced at home.

Healing

For any of the ear, eye, nose or throat conditions, a healer may work in conjunction with other therapists to bring relief.  During a treatment, the patient may be asked to sit or lie down and healing energy will be channelled to them through the healer.  Some healers lay their hands on the patient, while others work through the aura (the magnetic field around the body).  The patient may experience heat, cold, or tingling sensations, although these are not necessarily present.

Reflexology

A full reflexology treatment, lasting about 45 minutes, would be followed by treatment of the area connected to the specific problem.  For eye problems, these areas would relate to the eyes, kidneys, neck, cervical spine, adrenal glands, and upper lymphatic areas; for ears they would relate to the ears, sinuses, Eustachian tube, upper lymph nodes, the side of the head, neck, cervical spine, and adrenal glands; for the nose to the face and sinuses; and for the throat to the throat, neck and upper lymphatic areas.

You can treat yourself for eye problems by working along the soles of the feet, just beneath the second and third toe webs and possibly slightly up the sides of those toes; for ear problems in the same position but below the fourth and fifth toes; for the nose the surface of the big toe; and for the throat also the surface of the big toe, around the joint.  However, you should attempt this self-help only after you have been instructed by your practitioner and have a clear understanding of what you are doing.  Inexpert treatment can overwork a reflex area, possibly upsetting the balance in the body; with unpleasant results.

Clinical Aromatherapy

Inner ear infections benefit fro the twice-daily application of oils such as spice lavender, which is normally used with Eucalyptus globules, niaouli, and tea tree to reinforce its strength.  Aromatherapy has many splendid immune stimulants to help with sinus, throat, and ear infections.  The oils may be used diluted in a maceration of Echinacea or, in intensive care, applied directly to the feet.

Clinical aromatherapy massage incorporates lymphatic drainage and acupressure to reduce swelling, stimulate drainage, eliminate stagnation, and fight off pathogenic factors.  Oils are then prepared for the patient’s home use.

SELF-CARE

Practitioners of many of the therapies that successfully treat problems of the ears, eyes, nose and throat will give valuable advice on ways in which you might help yourself at home.  For example, nutritional advice is always applicable, and an aromatherapist may recommend essential oils that can help to relieve the symptoms of recurrent E.N.T. problems.  A combination of Eucalyptus radiate and E. globules, rosemary, spike lavender, sweet marjoram, cypress, tea tree, niaouli, and thyme makes a good inhalation for sinusitis, while eucalyptus is good for a throat infection and could be burned in an aromatherapy lamp by your bedside.

Bach flowers and the extended range of flower essences (there are over 2,000) can be used at home to good effect.  Ox-eyed Daisy (Pacific) and French Lavender (Petite Fleur) are excellent for ear problems and, as a generalization, Eucalyptus (Pegasus), Jasmine (Pegasus), Onion (Petite Fleur) and Echinacea (Hawaii) are just some of the essences that produce good results with problems of the ears, eyes, nose and throat.

Marma Massage

These holistic therapies aim to teach the patient how to prevent the diseases of the ears, nose and throat as well as to treat existing conditions.  Self-care techniques help patients to understand E.N.T. better which, in turn, helps to prevent disease.  Improvement should be noticed after the first session and by the end of the course of treatment (about three sessions), a substantial improvement and a knowledge of preventative techniques for the future can be expected.