Dr. Bob’s Tooth Truth Blog

Words from the mouth, heart and mind of a caring dentist

Archives for February 2012

Bad Teeth? You made them that way! But there is Good News!

My parents had Bad Teeth and I’ve got the same problem! 

No Way!  What you have is Bad Habits.

What Bad Habits you ask?

Acid Eroded Teeth

  • Frequently eating or drinking starch or sugar containing food or beverage  during the day.
  • Brushing right after you eat.
  • Scrubbing the teeth like bathroom tile.
  • Rinsing your mouth after you brush with water or worse, mouthwash.
  • Constantly sipping water from your designer sports bottle.

Yeah but I’ve always done that!

Time to review the facts:

  • Every time you eat or drink, the normal bacteria in your mouth break down the carbohydrates with an increase in acidity that lasts for one half hour after the last mouthful.  So if you eat or sip all day long your mouth is constantly acidic.
  • If you brush during this acidity, your teeth are softer and get literally worn away by your brushing.
  • The brush is very stiff from the last use of toothpaste; scrubbing action is like giving your teeth thirty lashes for bad behavior.  First soften the brush by rubbing with your thumb under warm water and then only use a vibratory motion with pressure to clean.
  • There are beneficial ingredients in toothpaste that should soak in for at least one half hour but if you rinse, all that potential benefit goes down the drain.
  • Many popular mouthwash formulas are acidic to “kill bacteria” but also make your teeth softer.
  • Saliva is very protective of your teeth because it neutralizes the acidity and helps to fight the bad bacteria.  But every time you sip water or any other beverage, you’re washing away or diluting the saliva.

So what should you be doing to save your teeth?

  • Try to eat no more than three times a day and if you snack, try to eat a combination of food that is not acidic.  Foods that can reduce acidity are milk, cheese and nuts.  Avoid vinegar, citrus, fruits and starches.
  • Wait at least one half hour after drinking/eating before brushing;  if you must brush right away, use water or an alkaline mouthwash (baking soda or “Biotene”) to reduce the acidity first.
  • The best brushing stroke is given by an electric toothbrush (Sonicare or OralB’s vibratory motion) which you can simulate with your manual brush which just takes longer.
  • Mouthwash should be used first to reduce the  bacteria count in your mouth, then floss or pick between the teeth and finally brush with a good quality toothpaste.  Lastly do not rinse but spit out the extra toothpaste  and allow the beneficial ingredients to soak in.
  • If you have real sensitive teeth or extensive dental restorations, be sure to use a low abrasive toothpaste which can be any of the products for sensitive teeth such as Sesnsodyne’s Pro-Enamel.

If you take the time to develop Good Habits, you’ll be rewarded with Great Teeth and Healthy Gums.

Cold Sore Connection To Alzheimer’s

“Warning: A Cold Sore Could Cause Alzheimer’s” is the latest article featured in Dr. Mark Stengler’s “Natural Healing” newsletter via Bottom Line Press. 

There is growing evidence that Alzheimer’s may be caused by the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) which typically causes fever blisters or cold sores on the face and in the mouth.  HSV1  attacks the peripheral nervous system and once infected, you always have the virus lying dormant which  will occasionally reactivate when triggered by stress or fatigue.

Flareups of HSV1  in the brain can cause damage associated with Alzheimer’s.  The brain defends against the HSV1 by producing beta-amyloid protein.  The presence of HSV1/beta-amyloid along with genetic susceptibility to Alzheimer’s may result in inflammation in the brain activated by stress and fatigue.I

If testing for elevated immunoglobulins G & H caused by an  HSV1 infection is high then the following  supplements should be considered:

  • Lysine: is an amino acid that blocks arginine, another amino acid that HSV1  needs to reproduce.       Dose: 500 mg, three times a day.
  • Vitamin D: renders HSV1 dormant.  Your Dr should test for desired blood level of 70-80 ng/mL.          Dose:  400 IU/day.
  • Curcumin: the active ingredient in Turmeric (Curry) inhibits HSV1.           Dose: 200-400 mg turmeric extract with 95% curcuminoids daily.

An active infection with HSV1  can be treated on a chronic basis with a Doctor’s Rx for a daily dose of 500 mg of the antiviral drug valacyclovir (Valtrex).  The effectiveness of this therapy should be checked annually by testing for antibody levels.

Breaking News!     Go to the following site (copy and paste address)  for a new approach to Alzheimer’s and other related conditions:

https://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=/mp4/LJO190v1_WS

 

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