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Natural Remedies for Toothache and Gum Disease

by Emily Kane ND, LAc

Toothaches and gum diseases are usually only related in that they both

occur in the mouth. They have, generally speaking, very different causes

and therefore will be discussed separately in this article.

The classic toothache is almost always caused by nerve pain due to anexposed nerve root. While it is true that receeding gums can expose nerve

roots, causing "tooth" pain, another scenario is that of a filling worn

down or fallen out. Chewing gum regularly will make fillings come out

more quickly; avoid it if possible. Usually a toothache requires a trip

to the dentist, however there a number of treatments you can access

relatively easily if you can't see the dentist right away.

First of all, avoid very hot or very cold foods or beverages, such as hot

coffee or ice cream. Also, avoid hard to bite foods such as raw carrots

or apples. Gentle pressure onto the hurting tooth through the cheek may

provide some relief. You could also try holding a warm wrung out towel

against the cheek or jaw over the painful area, or a castor oil pack. The

castor oil pack is a marvelous tool for pain relief anywhere. Simply

apply a generous layer of castor oil to the area that hurts (in the case

of toothache apply the oil to the cheek; putting castor oil in your mouthcould cause stomach cramps or loose stools), cover with a layer of saran

wrap then apply a hot towel or heating pad to the area. Be careful not to

burn the skin. Rest with the heat on for at least 20 minutes. The castor

oil will stimulate "drainage" of the blood congested with microbes, in

the case of infection, or with pain producing elements, such as

cytokines, in the case of dental nerve irritation. Castor oil is

available in most health-food stores.

One of the easiest and most effective natural pain killers, especially

for toothache, is clove oil. Many dentists still use clove oil in theiroffices where stronger analgesics (pharmacologic agents for pain

suppression), such as novocaine, can be avoided. You can rub the clove

oil directly onto the painful area inside the mouth. Dilute it with olive

oil if it is too strong straight. You can also hold a whole peg of clovein your mouth at the site of the toothache. The numbing sensation will

kick in quite rapidly, and will last up to 90 minutes. Although not quite

so effective as clove oil, garlic or myrrh oils can be locally applied

for pain relief. Wintergreen oil works too and so does Aloe vera juice,

especially if the pain is accompanied by inflammation or obvious

irritation. Another trick is to roll a small amount of beeswax onto

crushed aspirin, or aconite powder if available, and stick this littleball of medicine onto the tooth that hurts.

For those inclined towards Homeopathy, which works especially well for

children, these are a few classic toothache remedies: Belladonna 6X every

15 minutes until you get to the dentist especially if the pain is

accompanied by fever and/or bright red cheeks. Plantago 6X is a good

choice if the child feels better when eating, or complains of reflexivepain from the tooth to the eyelids. Mag. Carb. 6X may help if the child

seems sensitive to the least bit of touch. Chamomile 6X is the remedy of

choice in cases that seem worse from heat.

The good news about toothache is that the tooth can usually be fixed.

Gum disease is more serious, generally more chronic, and not readilyresponsive to "quick fixes." Gum disease is caused by infection, and

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prevention, as always, is the best approach to this disease. Avoid over-

eating, avoid excessive stress which may cause nighttime teeth griding

(bruxism) and avoid sugary foods and beverages. Gum disease is very

common, in fact it is listed as the most prevalent infectious ailment in

the United States after the common cold. The rate of infection increases

with age; it is a major cause of adult tooth loss. The first stage is

gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums, caused by sticky deposits ofbacteria, mucus and food particles. These sticky deposits are called

"plaque" or may still be refered to by a more outdated term: tartar. The

plaque builds up around the teeth and, at the gum line, irritates the

gums causing bleeding and ultimately infection. Gingivits is the medical

term for gum infection; pyorrhea means bleeding gums. The accumulation of

plaque eventually causes the gums to swell and become infected, widening

the gaps between the gum and the tooth, like pockets, which furtherenhances disease. These "pockets" gather food debris and can become soft,

red, shiny and will bleed easily. When gum diseases progresses ad begins

to affect the jaw bone, it is called periodontal disease.

All of this can be prevented or improved with physical measures. Foremost

is consistent, thoughtful tooth, gum and tongue brushing with a clean,

soft brush. Brush the teeth at a 45 degree angle to get under the gum

line. Get a new toothbrush regularly (at least 4 times yearly) and makesure your toothpaste isn't irritating. If you make lots of plaque,

consider an alkalinizing toothpaste, such as one containing baking soda.

Bacteria prefer an acid environment. The FDA has recently approved the

first toothpaste (made by Colgate) that can claim on the label to

"prevent gingivitis and plaque" but you probably don't need drugs in your

toothpaste to keep your gums healthy. If you can't get to your toothbrush

soon after eating, at least vigorously swish out your mouth with water.Gum disease is a major cause of bad breath.

The next obvious preventive approaches to gum health are eatingnutritious whole foods (not processed), flossing daily and regular dental

check-ups. Avoid refined carbohydrates including alcohol and soda pop.

Faulty dental fillings and ill-fitting protheses can also accelerate gum

disease by providing sites for plaque accumulation. Sufficient saliva isalso critical to clear the mouth of plaque and bacteria. Persons with dry

mouth due to age or disease will need to stimulate their salivary glands

more vigorously by chewing carrots or sugar-free candies, sipping fluids

throughout the day and attempting to breathe through the nose only.

Bacterial plaque is not the only cause of gum disease. A compromised

"host" is also a factor in any disease; that is, someone with a poorlyfunctioning immune system due to substance abuse, poor nutrition or poor

general hygiene. Smokers suffer from much more rapid gum deterioration

than non-smokers -- in case you needed just one more reason to quit!

Smoking promotes periodontal disease and ultimately tooth loss by doing

free radical damage to the cells on the surface of the inside of the

mouth. Smoking also drastically reduces Vitman C stores.

Gum problems which progress from gingivitis to periodontal disease may be

a sign of a more systemic condition, such as diabetes mellitus, collagen

diseases, luekemia or other diorders of white cell function, anemia, or

vitamin deficiency. White patches on the gums or elsewhere on the oral

mucous membrane (inside the mouth) that can be scraped off are a sign of

fungal infection (thrush) which must be treated, principally by avoiding

sugar, antibiotics and steroids (including inhalers) whenever possible.The reason you would want to avoid antibiotics, if possible, in treating

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gum disease is that they destroy "good" bacteria, which help to break

down and digest food, in the mouth as well as along the whole length of

the gastro-intestinal tract.

Once you have gum disease, what can be done? Luckily, quite alot,

including many non-drug and non-surgical methods. For example, natural

bioflavonoids, the molecules that give plants their colors, decreasewound healing time and are useful in treating gum and periodontal

disease. Blueberries, hawthorn berries and grapes are all rich sources of

flavonoids. Other nutrients which are essential to gum health include

CoEnzyme Q-10, Vitamin C and Folic acid. Co-Enzyme Q-10, or CoQ-10 for

short, is a tiny molecular catalyst in the middle of a series of chemical

events called the electron transport chain. These chemical reactions take

place in the walls of tiny organs called the mitochondria which, amongother functions, convert water into oxygen. CoQ-10 is well known for its

role in preventing and treating heart disease, since it provides more

oxygen to the tissues at a cellular level, thus reducing the requirements

of the heart muscle to pump oxygenated blood around the body. CoQ-10 is

essential for treating gum disease because it provides more oxygen to the

rapidly turning-over cells of the mucous membranes in the mouth. Oxygen

is deadly to anaerobic bacteria, which are the type most likely to damage

the gums.

Vitamin C is also critical to gum health, and my favorite "anti-oxidant"

for several reasons. First, a word on why, after expounding on the

virtues of more oxygen, we now want to provide "anti" oxidant support?

Anti-oxidants is a rather unfortunate term and these important nutrients

would be more acurately described as "anti-free radicals." Free radicals

are chemial species that possess lone electrons, which is a very unstablechemical state. Lone electrons will do anything to be paired with another

electron, including ripping an electron off a pefectly stable structure,

thus creating a domino effect of tissue destruction. This is what isknown as "free-radical damage," and is probably the underlying cause of

aging. Vitamin C is a large, complex molecule that can "absorb" a free-

radical and stop the chain of destruction. Vitamin C is inexpensive

(manufacturers never cheat in its production, unlike with Vitamin E),widely availabe in a variety of forms and generally well tolerated. Some

people with very sensitive stomachs need to take a buffered form,

rendered a neutral pH with the addition of minerals such as calcium or

magnesium.

Another crucial nutrient for gum health is folic acid, or folate. The

mucous membrane of the gastro-intestinal tract, which starts in themouth, has the highest rate of cell turnover in the entire body. This is

why many chemotherapy drugs, which are geared to "attack" cancer cells

that are rapidly dividing, are folic acid inhibitors. People taking

chemotherapy drugs will often suffer terribly from sores and blisters in

their mouths, and all along the GI tract. Folic acid is essential for

normal cell proliferation and the constantly renewing mucous membrane

over the gums would not stay healthy without this important B vitamin.

Please give these methods a try, and hopefully surgery and/or antibiotics

can be avoided. Now, truthfully, when was the last time you changed your

toothbrush?

sidebar of dosages for basic gum health nutrients:

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CoQ10, 100 mg daily to increase oxygenation of the blood, which

ultimately translates to more "fresh" blood in the mouth, which is highly

vascularized.

Vitamin C, 4-9 grams daily to promote collagen healing and retard plaque

growth. Gums which bleed easily may be a sign of Vit C deficiency.

Folic acid, 400 mcg daily to enhance cellular regeneration. Many

chemotherapy drugs inhibit folic acid which is why cancer patients onchemo are often plagued with sores on the inside of their mouths.

Calcium and Magnesium, 500-1,000 mg of each daily to help prevent bone

loss.

Vitamin A, 20,000 IUs or the safer, water soluble form of Vit A, Beta-

carotene, 10,000 IUs daily to heal mucous membranes in the mouth by

providing anti-oxidants and bioflavonoids.

Vit E, another potent anti-oxidant, 400 IUs daily to promote skinintegrity, including in the mouth. Vit E has a long standing and well-

deserved reputation as the "anti-aging" vitamin. Vit E oil can be applied

directly to the inflammed gum for rapid healing.

Selenium, 200mcg daily, enhances the anti-oxidant effects of Vitamins E

and C. It is also a catalyst in nearly 75% of all enzymatic reactions in

the body, which means without it we would't run very well, just like a

car without spark plugs.

Bibliography

Murray M and Pizzorno J. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Prima

Publishing, Rocklin, CA 1991

Carlson KJ, Eisenstat SA, Ziporyn T. The Harvard Guide To Women's Health.

Harvard University Press Reference Library, Cambridge, MA 1996

Golan R. Optimal Wellness. Ballantine Books, New York, NY 1995

Dean C. Complementary Natural Prescriptions for Common Ailments. KeatsPublishing, New Cannan, CT 1994

Balch JF and Balch PA. Prescription of Nutritional Healing. Avery

Publishing Group, Garden City Park, NY 1997

Emily Kane ND practices in Juneau, Alaska and can be reached at:(907)586-3655

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