TotalHealth Editors:

Silver Use Institute, Feb 1st, 2025

Is it about time to take care of our own, our own friends, and especially our own families,  the people who we hold most dear to us?  All the science is in place to help us, but it seems like people are struggling to find it and to put aside all the bad and misleading pseudo information that we are constantly being fed.  It is the intent of this article to bring some of that science into the light!

Introduction

Contrary to current thought, keeping our people safe and healthy may not be all that difficult to do if we actually embrace the science!  In the last few decades, we have all been hit with a host of new and deadly viruses.  Every year or two, a new one hits.  Those would include viruses like HIV, SARS, EBOLA, Swine Flu, Bird Flu, and Covid just to name a few, and there are many more on that list.  Over the past few years, we have had to endure masks, staying home, losing jobs, closing business, food and medical shortages etc. etc.  Worse of all we have had to attend, or not be able to attend, the funerals of many of our friends and family.   The people who have died, possibly unnecessarily, have affected us all in one way or another.   On January 30, 2020, COVID-19 was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) with an official death toll of 171. By December 31, 2020, this figure stood at 1,813,188. Yet preliminary estimates suggest the total number of global deaths attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 was at least 3 million, representing 1.2 million more deaths than officially reported (1). As of April 13, 2024, the death toll had reportedly reached 7,010,681.  It doesn’t stop there, currently there are 704,753,890 confirmed cases in 229 countries and territories (2). So how do we protect our people?

Background on Nano Silver

In the mouths of two or three witnesses truth is established, right?  How about from the mouths of over a hundred or five hundred scientists?  How about a thousand scientists in just one publication (3)?  How about millions of people over 1000’s of years?  Silver has been used for at least six millennia to prevent microbial infections. “It has been effective against almost all organisms tested and has been used to treat numerous infections and noninfectious conditions, sometimes with striking success” (4).  Around 400 BC, the “father of modern medicine”, Hippocrates, wrote of using silver to improve wound care, and during the intervening years silver has been featured in a wide range of writings, most of which highlight its capabilities with particular regard to limiting inflammation and infection. . (5)  There are now hundreds and hundreds of peer-reviewed, published medical studies on the medicinal use of nano silver for lifechanging things like: wound care, bio tissue engineering, antimicrobial action including antibiotic resistant bacteria, fungus, mold, and deadly strains of virus.  There are even more than 60 peer-reviewed and published studies on the use of nano silver to help eliminate numerous different types of cancer. (3)

 Prevention

What many people may not know is that a virus can build up in your body for days before you even know you have an infection.  Also important to know is that you can actually spread a viral infection to other people before you know you have it, and before you start feeling sick.  So prevention is a key component to staying healthy.  Prevention is always easier than treatment, so what can we do to prevent a deadly viral infection? A great answer to that question was published on August 19, 2021. It was published by 11 scientists from 8 different institutions located in 3 different countries.  The study incorporated 231 frontline health workers treating Covid patients in hospitals.  The medical personnel were split into two groups.  There were 117 of the people that just followed their regular prevention protocols as directed by their hospitals.  They were the control group.  The second group of 114 medical people added the use of nano silver to their daily prevention routines.

To quote the scientists directly,

“We present a prospective randomized study of 231 participants that was carried out for 9 weeks (during the declaration of a pandemic). The “experimental” group was instructed to do mouthwash and nose rinse with the AgNPs (nano silver) solution; the “control” group was instructed to do mouthwashes and nose rinse in a conventional way. The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was significantly lower in the “experimental” group (two participants of 114, 1.8%) compared to the “control” group (thirty-three participants of 117, 28.2%), with an 84.8% efficiency. We conclude that the mouth and nasal rinse with AgNPs helps in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health personnel who are exposed to patients diagnosed with COVID-19”. (6)

If you could cut your chance of getting infected by a deadly virus from more than 28% to just 1.8% simply by gargling and rinsing out your sinuses with nano silver daily, who wouldn’t do that?  With the use of just a little nano silver, the medical professionals had a 15X less chance of getting covid, all while being directly exposed to infected people!  A person could easily help a child, or an elderly person rinse out their sinuses daily just by the use of a simple nasal sprayer or a nebulizer.  It is an easy way to help people, and to give them an affordable, safe, and effective first line of defense to keep them healthy!

A second validation of the potential effect of just washing out your sinuses came from an Indian government lab, where in testing they found that a nano-silver liquid could kill or neutralize about 50 % of the contained SARS CoV2 virus within just the first 15 minutes of contact time, at a concentration of merely 10 parts per million nano silver.  Slightly higher concentrations of nano silver worked even better.  This study also proves nano silver has a direct effect on the elimination of the deadly virus. (7)

So, what do I do if I get it?

A great answer to that question was published in December of 2022 by eight scientists from six major Universities and hospitals in Canada and the US.  The Universities who participated were the University of Florida, University of Tennessee, and the University of Alberta, all outstanding institutions.  They tested the ability of nano silver to eliminate infections in the lungs and sinuses in both humans and animals, using a nebulizer to get the nano silver into the lungs.

They tested two different viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.  In their own words they found:

“Nano silver solutions demonstrated pH-dependent antimicrobial efficacy; reduced infection and inflammation without evidence of lung toxicity in the rat model; and inactivated HSV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. Pneumonia patients had rapidly reduced pulmonary symptoms, recovering pre-illness respiratory function. Fungal sinusitis-related inflammation decreased immediately with infection clearance within 21 days. Non hospitalized patients with COVID-19 experienced rapid symptom remission”.(8)

In other words, they found that nebulizing the nano silver quickly eliminated the lung infections (killed or neutralized the viruses), reduced the inflammation, and was non-toxic or had no negative effect.  The nano silver helped heal the patients, whether they were animals or humans.  They found that the patients quickly regained their normal lung function, some within just hours.  The study again proves the value of using nano silver as a great first line of defense against active viral infections.

What About Other Deadly Virus?

There are many viruses for which medicine has no established treatment.  Nano silver is one of the best, if not the very best antiviral agent that exists.  It is a very broad spectrum natural antiviral remedy!  The ability of nano silver to kill or neutralize virus and reduce the inflammation associated with the virus, all without causing negative side effects is a very big deal!  There are many different problem viruses, and many different diseases caused by those viruses. Numerous peer-reviewed and published studies from literally hundreds of scientists and doctors from all around the world that have tested nano silver against about any virus you could name.  Some of those tests combined the use of nano silver with other antiviral agents for enhanced action, and some used the nano silver as the only form of treatment.  Either way, the only thing that actually matters is that nano silver has been proven to work.  That published and tested viral list would include virus such as: Adenovirus, HIV1, HIV2, Influenza A (H7N2), MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, EBOLA, Bird Flu (H5N1), Swine Flu, H1N1, Covid 19, Monkey pox, Hepatitis B & C, HPV, Noroviruses, West Nile, RSV, ZIKA, Rift Valley Fever, HSV1 & 2, Poliovirus, Chikungunya virus, and Dengue virus, to list just a few! (3)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13) There is no question about nano silver’s ability to help treat viral infections.  The question is whether or not the powers that be will let it be used to help treat people or whether or not people will be willing to study and treat themselves and their loved ones.

How Does Nano Silver Eliminate Virus?

That question was answered in detail by eight scientists from Texas A&M and Winthrop Universities.  The study was published on the 31st of July 2023 and was made available by the US Government (US NIH) (13).  While the answer is not simple to understand, we feel it is important to add in this info for those who need or wish to know.  The study states:

“In these studies, AgNPs were found to bind specifically or nonspecifically to proteins in the envelope of virions and thereby deactivate them (virucidal activity). These target proteins are mainly responsible for the viral interaction with host cells. During the pre-viral entry into host cells, AgNPs competitively attach to the cells and lyse the membrane of the virions (antiviral activity). In the case of the post-viral entry, AgNPs mainly inhibit the viral fusion with the cell membrane, and in several cases interfered with the stages of the viral replication cycle such as the synthesis of viral RNA (antiviral activity).”

In simpler words, the nano particles were found to attach to the virus and kill them.  Also, the nano silver could kill the virus both before and after they connected or attached to a cell to infect it.   That means the nano silver could act as both a preventive and also as a treatment after infection.  This was also proven in the studies listed in the first few sections of this paper on both prevention and treatment.

Is Nano Silver Safe To Use Daily?

In one published human ingestion study, completed as an FDA registered IND study (Investigational New Drug), it was found that Nano silver caused no negative action on any system of the body.  It was found that both a concentration of 10 ppm and a 32 ppm (parts per million) liquid nano silver, drunk at a level of 1 ounce daily, had no negative effect on any system of the body.  It was also found that the nano silver washed completely out of the body within 24 hours, with no measurable residual, meaning none remained inside! (14) So even if someone drank it at a high volume it was proven safe for human use.  Additionally, the US EPA has established the fact that silver causes no negative effects when used at low levels, saying, “Silver is of low acute dermal toxicity, is not an eye or skin irritant and is not a skin sensitizer”.(15)  One world-acclaimed scientist named Rustum Roy (nominated for the Noble Prize 23 times) stated, “It is extraordinary that no major effort has been made to confirm and expand on the role of metallic silver in human health—especially in light of its huge advantage in lack of side effects.”(16)   In simpler words, nano silver has been proven safe for use both inside and outside the body and that fact has been well established by a number of US government agencies as well as  hundreds of scientists all around the world.(3)

The safety of ingesting nano silver was also proven in two other published human clinical trials.  One trial on the treatment of malaria, which was reported to the US Congress at their request in 2005, tested 56 humans between the ages of 1-90 years of age.  No other medication was used with the nano silver to treat the malaria patients.  Those people infected with malaria were drinking an ounce of nano silver daily divided into three doses (TID).  No negative effects were reported at all.  All 56 human subjects reportedly fully recovered from the malaria within an average of 3.43 days, walking out of the hospitals within 5 days. (17)(18)  In another published study, a group of people with AIDS was given two ounces daily of nano silver, split into three doses for a period of 4 months.  No other medication was used.  No negative side effects were reported at all.  It was also reported that the AIDS patients measured an average white cell increase of 39.54% over the 4-month period of treatment. It effectively helped to rebuild their entire immune system.  Also reported was the fact that the AIDS patients were able to achieve an average weight gain of over 17 pounds during the study, another remarkable and important discovery/achievement (19).

Where to Get It? 

In our research, one of the top new suppliers of nano silver products is a company called SilverCeuticals.  SilverCeuticals is led by a team of doctors that have more than a combined 120 years of experience working in the nano silver industry.  The CEO, Dr Keith Moeller, ND, has co-authored many papers, textbooks, and other publications on silver.  A number of those are peer-reviewed and published in leading wound care, science, and health journals. After working with the US Military to help solve medical problems for soldiers in the field, he was awarded an honorary position as a member of the US Special Operations Medical Association, a designation he is proud to hold. He accompanied his father, standing before the US Congress, at their request, to testify about the use of nano-silver to treat malaria and other humanitarian problems.

He and his team have already engineered a number of new and innovative nano silver products and have been busy getting them approved by different governments.  Their primary focus has been on wound care and disinfection.  They have also proven expertise in the formulation of cosmetics and supplements that don’t need FDA approval.  They have recently engineered a serum that Health Canada has already approved to treat, among other conditions, both acne and eczema, one of the first of its kind.  They have also just achieved a new Canadian registration as an antimicrobial lubricant.  With another partner, they have amassed an ongoing clinical trial in oral care that touts more than 55,000 procedures to date, with heal rates of half the normal time and zero secondary infections.  Their products are available from a variety of sources including doctor’s offices, medical distributors, and amazon, as well as directly from their website. (20)

Conclusion

Silver has been used for thousands of years as both a preventative and treatment for various diseases and human problems.  Newly published scientific papers from over a thousand scientists all over the world have proven nano silver to be an effective and safe antiviral agent.  Nano silver is easily able to eliminate a broad spectrum of deadly viruses.  It has been proven safe as an effective preventative, able to help medical professionals have 15 times less chance of getting a deadly viral infection.  At the same time, other published studies from multiple US Universities have proven nano silver as an effective treatment for Covid 19 and other respiratory infections, in both animals and humans.  It is about time we embrace the science and utilize nano silver to help provide a first line of protection to our friends, and especially our own families!

References

1) https://www.who.int/data/stories/the-true-death-toll-of-covid-19-estimating-global-excess-mortality

2) https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-death-toll/

3)  An Updated Review on Silver Nanoparticles in Biomedicine; Accepted: 20 November 2020; Published: 23 November 2020  An Updated Review on Silver Nanoparticles in Biomedicine

4) History of the Medical Use of Silver, US National Library of Medicine https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19566416/ June 10, 2009

5) https://www.silverinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/SilverInMedicine.pdf

6) Evaluation of silver nanoparticles for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health workers: In vitro and in vivo,   PLOS ONE HTTPs://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256401 August 19, 2021

7) Centre For Cellular and Molecular Biology, November 3, 2020.  Hyderabad, India – Viridis Bio Pharma – SARS CoV2

8) Nadworny PL, et al, Treatment of infection and inflammation associated with COVID-19, multi-drug resistant pneumonia and fungal sinusitis by nebulizing a nanosilver solution. Nanomedicine: NBM 2023;48:102654, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nano.2023.102654

9) Silver Nanoparticles as Potential Antiviral Agents, Pharmaceutics 2021, 13, 2034. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics13122034

10) A Preliminary Assessment of Silver Nanoparticle Inhibition of Monkey Plaque Formation, Nano Perspectives – Open Access – Published: 09 April 2008

11) ) Effect of Prophylactic Treatment with ASAP-AGX-32 and ASAP Solutions on an Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus Infection in Mice,  https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Effect-of-Prophylactic-Treatment-with-ASAP-AGX-32-A-Pedersen-Sidwell/3de85a153d9b22ddc876aa11e0417935cf14a065

12)Swine Flu Influenza Type A/H1N1 Protection for Health Care  Practitioners and Their Patient Posted in Longevity and Age Management, Dietary Supplementation, Drug Trends, Healthcare and Information, Immune System, Infectious Disease,  Inflammation, Medications, Healthcare and Public Policy, Swine Flu on Thu August 13, 2009

13 Nanosilver: An Old Antibacterial Agent with Great Promise in the Fight against Antibiotic Resistance https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/12/8/1264 Published online 2023 Jul 31.

14) PubMed.gov 23811290  In vivo human time-exposure study of orally dosed commercial silver nanoparticles

15) EPA Registration Eligibility Document (RED) For Silver

16) Ultradilute Ag-Aquasols with extraordinary bactericidal properties: the role of the system Ag-O-H2O   Rustum Roy, M. Richard Hoover, A.S. Bhalla, Tania Slawecki, Sandwip Dey, Wei Cao, Jing Li, S. Bhaskar

17) US Congressional Testimony of Dr. William Moeller on the use of nano silver to treat Malaria at Congressional request https://commdocs.house.gov/committees/intlrel/hfa20915.000/hfa20915_0f.htm

18) Silver Sol Completely Removes Malaria Parasites from the Blood of Humans Subjects Infected bwith Malaria in an Average of Five Days: A review of Jour Randomized, Multi-Centered Clinical Studikes Performed in Africa September 1010 https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/211377/Silver%20Sol%20Malaria%20The%20Indian%20Practitioner.pdf

19) Effect of Prophylactic Treatment with ASAP-AGX-32 and ASAP Solutions on an Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus Infection in Mice (The HIV Study is the Editors Note at the front of the publication)

20) Silverceuticals.com

The post It’s About Time We Take Care of Our Own! appeared first on Total Health Magazine.

After a recent dental visit, I went to meet with a colleague. I told him I just had lunch with my dentist on the deck of a nice restaurant with a view of San Francisco bay. “Lunch with your dentist!” he said surprised, “I imagine that must have been before your treatment, not afterwards, or the food would be falling out of your mouth?” “No, after my treatment,” I replied, “in fact my dentist just did two fillings and a crown. I don’t get injections for dental work and I haven’t for about forty years, so my face wasn’t numb.”

“Wow! that’s impressive,” said the friend, “How do you manage? Why don’t you write an article about that.”

It’s true, I haven’t taken injections or other painkillers like nitrous oxide, during dental work since the 1970s and our conversation got me thinking about different ways to handle pain, and that it might be an interesting subject to explore. Well, here’s my review on this topic.

When people are asked about what causes them anxiety, going to the dentist is high on the list. Just imagining a visit to the dentist may trigger fear or even anxiety and pain. By the way, the brain doesn’t know the difference between what you imagine and what is really happening.

How do you manage the anxiety or pain of going to the dentist? Do you use affirmations? This might be as simple as saying to yourself, “I will not experience pain during my visit today. I will relax fully and let my dentist do her work.” What do you do if you start to tense up? Can you relax? Do you use music to focus your attention and block out the sound of the drill? If so, do you have a favorite playlist? I have personally used a couple acupuncture points, like “hoku” or Large Intestine 4 on the hand in the notch between the thumb and the index finger. This helped my children when they had fillings done without anesthetic.

Of course, pain is pain as it forms in the brain, and from my experience, there is a wide spectrum related to how people handle pain, from a low to high threshold. Regarding dental pain, many people are even more sensitive. Maybe it’s because most of us experienced that loud and scary drill when we were youngsters and some of the drilling really hurt. For many, however, and from my interviews with people, the fear and anxiety about potential pain is often worse than what actually happens in the dental chair—the occasional pain that can happen as part of the drilling and filling teeth, preparing crowns, and the routine dental cleanings.

NOTE: My dentist consultant suggested that “drilling” is a “scary” term and we might use others that have less of a “cringe” factor. Maybe it’s “preparing the tooth, adjusting the tooth enamel, removing the decay, or smoothing the tooth surface with a diamond instrument.”

I am speaking from my personal experience in receiving much dental work without any anesthetic injection. I’ve had multiple crowns and fillings done over the years, as well as having had all the silver-mercury amalgams removed and replaced with gold initially and later with composite fillings, which I still have. And I’ve had both my kids and some friends handle the dental experience of fillings without the “caine-numbing” shots.

NOTE: on Anesthetic Drugs: Dentists have been administering local anesthesia for many years – starting with Novocaine injections into the gums to numb the local area before drilling or doing other work on a tooth. There are newer versions of this drug, such as Lidocaine, Marcaine, or Carbocaine, and they have minimal side effects, although allergic reactions can occur, as can bruising of the gum areas or prolonged numbness of the area. There has also been some concern about the carcinogenicity of the “caine” drugs, specifically Lidocaine. Some injections contain epinephrine as well, and this can lessen bleeding at the gums, but can also agitate people and cause them more anxiety. Some dentists prefer nitrous oxide gas to help relax people and to alter their pain sensation. However, the gas is found to have dangers to the brain and nervous system, so it is used much less often these days. Of course, this article emphasizes what I support—living free from anesthetics (and pharmaceuticals in general) when possible. On the other hand, dentists have legitimate concerns about patients jumping in pain or grabbing them, and issues of oral damage from quick movements or reactive patients. Overall, it’s crucial to find the appropriate approach for each person and their chosen dentist.

Would you like to know how this non-drug dentistry can be done? Some of you will say, “No way! Why?” Just the idea and memories of drilling the teeth that we have experienced previously may make us want to go numb. So we may even request local anesthesia for teeth cleaning and simple, superficial cavities. Of course, I am also aware that all dentists and especially those who care for younger children have learned more about gentleness and many ways to lessen pain and make the dental experience much better than decades ago. Also, some dentists may have learned hypnosis while still in dental school or afterwards, and this technique can be useful for any anxious patients or very scared children, having them relax deeply and imagine for instance that they are watching their favorite TV show.

I suggest here that the common application of anesthetics isn’t needed as often as it is used. I wonder if we could save the typical mouth and face numbing primarily for the deeper cavities and drilling. Most of the tooth enamel does not have a huge amount of sensation. “It can be like getting a haircut,” says dentist, Lila Skelley, although of course, dentistry is often much more than that. She confirms that teeth don’t have a lot of sensation unless the work goes deep and connects with the dental nerves or irritates the gum tissues. So I also suggest that you talk to your dentist before any procedure and find out if the nerves or gums will be affected rather than having injections every time as a matter of course.

Why did I even think about avoiding numbing injections? What was my motivation? It wasn’t even that I didn’t like needles or shots; I liked less the numb feeling and being uncomfortable for hours after dental work. Also, I was in my new lifestyle approach of natural living, not wanting any pharmaceutical drugs put into my body unless absolutely necessary. I still practice that approach many decades later.

My exploration began back in the mid-1970s when I was studying Chinese and natural medicines. I realized that health and healing, “is all about energy!” According to Chinese Medicine, energy, called Chi, flows within us through the “meridian” channels, and when all is flowing without obstructions, we experience good health and vitality. Pain comes from an energy build-up (often with subsequent inflammation) or blockage in the flow. So, keeping everything moving became my goal. In Western science, pain is in the brain. It’s often how we perceive experiences that connects to how much pain we have.

So, what is the dentist’s drilling if not a loud and intense energy (referred to as neural-electric energy)? I thought, “Why can’t I just let that drill energy flow through me without resisting and see how that works?” So, at my next visit to Dr. Randy Rush, my local Bolinas town dentist in 1977, we drilled and filled a cavity without any anesthetic. I experienced a twinge of nerve pain and I gripped the armrests rather tightly and took a deep breath. We made it through. Of course, Randy was a little unsure and uncomfortable doing this since he didn’t want to hurt me. When I walked out of the office, however, I felt fine, even great, with no after effects, no numb lips and cheek, and no pain.

Another potential benefit of this no-drug approach involves the dentist. This is because dentists need to be more cautious with technique and the intensity of their work, and need to stay attuned to the patient and their pains, and often work more slowly and gently. The benefit to the patient is there may be less subsequent swelling and tissue pain after the treatment. I can’t remember experiencing any post-treatment pains or problems, and that’s after crowns and drilling and filling. This process may take a bit more time if the dentists adapt their speed, but remember; we are saving the time and cost of an injection, the time it takes to get numb and the extra time to recover. Of course not every dentist—and I’ve had six or seven of them work in my mouth in the past 40 years— embraces this for a variety of reasons.

So here’s how I approach injection/drug-free dentistry. To begin with, I visualize any drilling, the noise and vibration, as energy moving through the tooth and my whole body; I don’t resist and tighten. I let it go and let it flow. The next challenge or step is how to apply this same approach to any nerve stimulation and perceived “pain.” I use a similar technique—I repeat and say to myself, “This is energy passing through my nerve,” I don’t call it “pain” and I don’t resist. “It’s just a moment,” I tell myself and it passes almost as quickly as I can identify it. Crazy? I don’t think so.

How is this any different than taking a natural approach to dealing with a headache? It’s easy to just think, “I have a headache and what can I take to make it go away?” That’s a typical Western Medicine approach. I have taught and lived a more integrative and natural approach. “Why do I have this headache? Am I stressed? Dehydrated? Is my neck out of alignment? Is it intestinal toxicity from bad food or drink?” Ideally, for any condition, it’s a higher level of medicine to figure out and address the underlying cause. This doesn’t mean that we must suffer with pain; we can always use medicines to help counter problems, but my message is not as a first step. Ideally, my medical model is “Lifestyle first, Natural Therapies, next, and Drugs last.”

So, why do the dentists and most patients automatically assume that the mouth needs to be numbed for most procedures? What about just doing the various “caine” drugs for those situations where they know that it’s going to be intense? My point here is to reconsider this approach and attitude and try to handle some simpler procedures or superficial fillings first as an experiment.

My general suggestion is this: A good portion of the drilling and filling is at most, minimally painful, and momentary as well. And it’s often tolerable to go without shots and numbing and see how you feel. Work with your dentist to see if you can cooperate together for a new dental experience. And then perhaps begin to apply this approach to other areas of your life where you experience pain or anxiety.

Strategies To Improve Your Dental Experience

Imagery Exercise before you go see your dentist –

One easy practice to do before you go to the dentist is begin to imagine you are in your favorite place, like on the beach or in front of a cozy fireplace. Make this as real as possible, seeing the place, smelling the smells, like the smell of the ocean, and feel the pleasure of being in your favorite place. Now press your first finger and thumb together, which anchors this imaginary experience in your body and brain. You could also anchor with a scent that you like. Practice this a few times before you go to the dentist. The more you practice this the more you can depend on it working in real life, at the dentist’s office.

Imagery Exercise to do in the chair—

You have a few options here, do the same practice as above or simply use your anchors of touch and smell to move you into a calm peaceful state.

Another option
Relax and circulate energy with your breath, up the front of you as you breathe in and down the back as you breathe out. Feel the calm and comfort in your body. The drill and dental work are just energy, and if you don’t resist, it moves right through you.

Music to Soothe—
Choose a relaxing playlist of music to listen to on your smartphone.

Some dentists have music to listen to or a movie to watch to keep us, and especially kids, occupied and protected from the identifying sounds.

The post Is It Dental Pain Or Mental Pain appeared first on Total Health Magazine.

According to the National Institute of Health, in the United States, celiac disease affects an estimated two million individuals, or one in 133 people and occurs twice as often in females. The only treatment is a gluten-free diet. This disorder can start at any age when the diet first includes gluten.

With celiac disease, eating gluten triggers an immune response in your small intestine that eventually leads to inflammation and damage of the small intestine’s lining. With this damage, food is not absorbed properly, called malabsorption. With malabsorption, vital nutrients cannot be delivered to the brain, nervous system, bone, liver and other organs.

• Due to malabsorption, children with celiac disease can experience growth and developmental problems. There is no cure for celiac disease. Following a strict gluten-free diet helps management of symptoms. The common symptoms associated with celiac disease include the following, however, some people may have no symptoms.
• Abdominal pain (especially after eating)
• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Dermatitis
• Osteoporosis
• Dental defects

Oral Manifestation of Celiac Disease

Celiac disease has particular signs that show up orally, and dentists can have an initial important role in recognizing and identifying it in people who may not know they have the disorder. It’s estimated 90 percent of individuals in North America remain undiagnosed. Early referral to a gastroenterologist and treatment can help prevent complications of this gluten intolerance condition.

If celiac disease appears before age seven, the outer surface of the teeth (enamel) can have an abnormal appearance. The permanent teeth will show the following defects:

• Delayed eruption of teeth
• Cream, yellow or brown spots on the surface
• Rough surface with grooves and shallow pits
• Shape of tooth may be dramatically changed

These same oral symptoms can be caused by other dental conditions. In fact, dentists may diagnose the abnormal appearance of colored spots enamel to a condition caused by too much fluoride or that the mother took the antibiotic tetracycline during pregnancy.

Other oral related conditions of celiac disease include:

• Recurring mouth ulcers (canker sores also known as aphthous ulcers)
• Dry mouth
• Red, smooth, shiny tongue (atrophic glossitis)
• Squamous cell carcinoma (cancer of the pharynx and mouth)

Treatment of Oral Manifestations of Celiac Disease

Unfortunately, tooth defects that result from celiac disease are permanent and don’t improve with a gluten-free diet. However, there are treatments that your dentist can provide to help improve esthetics. These include:

• Tooth bonding to improve slight defects
• Veneers to improve the whole front surface of the tooth
• Crowns for teeth that are damaged throughout

Veneers and crowns are cosmetic solutions for older children and adults, while tooth bonding can also help with children’s teeth.

For dry mouth, avoid toothpaste with sodium lauryl sulfate. This harsh detergent can dry the tissues and exacerbate mouth sores. Mouthwash with alcohol also tends to worsen dry mouth.

For canker sores, it’s reported taking 500 mg of the amino acid L Lysine helps to reduce the occurrence and hasten healing.

Proper oral hygiene is crucial towards maintaining oral health, especially if you notice dry mouth. Harmful bacteria thrive in a dry oral environment. To keep the bacteria from causing gum disease, practice proper oral hygiene on a daily bases. Of course, regular dental check ups are important to detect early potential problems.

The post Celiac Disease and Oral Health appeared first on Total Health Magazine.

Eating healthy foods can help improve oral health by changing the pH of the environment in your mouth. The more acidic the environment of your mouth becomes, the more harmful bacteria thrive. It’s important to learn and choose what foods will result in healthy teeth and gums, and which foods will cause you to hide your smile. This article will help you learn the best and worst foods for oral health.

Low Versus High Glycemic Foods
The glycemic index ranks foods from 1 to 100 based on their effect on blood sugar levels. Most people love carbohydrates, such as breads, cakes, sugar, and starchy foods like potatoes. These are the same type of foods that don’t promote a healthy mouth and are ranked with a high glycemic index (GI).

The health of your teeth and gums depend on how much plaque builds up and what you do about it. Plaque is a sticky material that mostly contains bacteria and food. Bacteria break down carbohydrates and sugar and convert them into acid, leading to tooth decay and gum problems. If not treated, a small tooth decay or even decalcified (area where minerals are leached out, weakening the tooth surface) area can become a tooth abscess.

Maintaining a diet consisting mostly of low to moderate GI foods is best.

• Low GI (under 55) foods include beans, barley, pasta, most fruits, juices, non-starchy vegetables, nuts and dairy products.
• Moderate GI (56 to 69) include foods such as whole wheat and brown rice, corn, table sugar, honey, soda, sweet potatoes, bananas, mangos, and papaya.
• High GI (70 to 100) include white bread, white rice, instant oatmeal, most breakfast cereals, potatoes, and melons.

High GI foods and how they affect oral health have been studied for many years, starting with Dr. Weston Price in his book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration. Dr. Price reported that tooth decay was proportional to the type of food the teeth were exposed to. The more refined the food, the more prevalence of tooth decay.

It’s best to stick to whole types of foods with a low GI, and save the high GI foods for very rare occasions. There are many sites that include a list of foods and their GI index, including the newsletter from Harvard Medical School.

Supplements for Healthy Teeth and Gums
Supplements are important for the body as well as your teeth and gums:

1. Calcium—important for building strong teeth and bone. If your body needs calcium, it gets it from your bones. With weak bone, teeth become loose. This is why you need adequate amounts in supplement form or from your diet. From your diet, it’s included in sardines, canned salmon, green leafy vegetables, cauliflower, cabbage, almonds and fortified orange juice.
2. Phosphorus—important for strong teeth.
3. Zinc—helps with immune function and soft tissues.
4. Antioxidants—help with health of soft tissue and immune function. Helps fight off and prevent harmful free radicals. Foods high in antioxidants include blackberries, walnuts, strawberries, blueberries, artichoke hearts, and cranberries, small red beans, red kidney beans, prunes, pecan, and apples.
5. Vitamin C—important for healthy gums, helps with connective tissues, collagen formation, and immune system. Foods high in vitamin C include citrus fruit, broccoli, kale and berries.
6. B- vitamins—help with stress and they help fight inflammation. Beans, legumes and green vegetables are high in vitamin B. Vitamin D helps regulate blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. With inadequate vitamin D, your body can’t absorb calcium. Milk and cod liver oil are great sources of vitamin D
7. Coenzyme Q10—provides energy to help heal wounds, digest food and maintain healthy muscles. For healthy gums, it’s been reported to help with bleeding gums and to reduce inflammation. You can get coenzyme Q10 from pork, beef, chicken liver, and soybean. Parsley also is a good source, which can help fight bad breath.
8. Probiotics—from any source, probiotics may help decrease periodontal disease, gingivitis and plaque.

Sweeteners

• Sweeteners such as sucralose (Splenda) and aspartame (Equal) don’t appear to cause cavities, however, artificial sweeteners are controversial as far as general health.
• Xylitol has shown promise in helping to prevent tooth decay. Studies report chewing gum with xylitol after meals decreases the risk of tooth decay.

Stevia is a natural sweetener that doesn’t appear to have any negative effects on oral health, but not enough research has been completed to determine if it is helpful for oral health.

Tips for Healthy, Beautiful Smile
No matter how healthy your diet is oral hygiene cannot be neglected. The following are important tips for a healthy smile, no matter what age you are.

• Daily oral hygiene routine—Floss and brush daily. Within 24 hours bacteria start to cause damage. Floss first and then brush with a xylitol toothpaste that contains calcium pyrophosphate. This helps reverse decalcified areas that have been attacked by bacteria. If you remove plaque daily and adequately, your risk of poor oral health decreases.
• Avoid smoking and tobacco products—These products can cause major problems in your mouth, not to mention risk of oral cancer.
• Eat healthy snacks—Chew on raw vegetables and fruit in between meals. American Dental Association reports that 23 million children and teens are overweight or obese. This increases the risk of serious diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
• After meals—Chew xylitol gum.
• Limit high GI foods—Beverages and food high in sugar and simple carbohydrates bring about an acidic pH in your mouth, which harmful bacteria love and thrive on.
• Manage stress—Get regular exercise to boost your immune system and get the blood circulating. Exercise helps strengthen bones, which are an important part of your teeth and their supporting structure.
• Vegetables—Your meals should contain half your plate with fruits and vegetables.
• Grains—Stick with whole grains such as whole wheat bread and brown rice.
• Dairy—Low-fat or fat-free dairy foods are best for adults.
• Protein—Lean protein options are important for a balanced meal. These include lean beef, skinless poultry and fish.
• Empty Calories—Candy, mints, cookies, cakes and chips are among the enemy list of oral health. Minimize or totally take them off your list of foods.

The post The Best and Enemy Foods for Your Teeth and Your Smile! appeared first on Total Health Magazine.

Your Baby’s Health

Studies report poor oral health increases the risk of problem pregnancy including miscarriage. However, since 80 percent of spontaneous miscarriages occur during the first trimester, it is advisable to avoid any non-urgent treatment until the second or third trimester. By the second trimester, the major layers of the internal organs of the baby have developed, thereby reducing the risk of exposure to any harmful or necessary medications.

During the second trimester, it’s also easier for mother to recline in the dental treatment chair for extended periods of time. However, it may be helpful to get short breaks if you do have to be in the dental chair for quite awhile.

X-rays and Pregnancy
With modern digital radiology, exposure to radiation is extremely low. You and your unborn child are generally at a higher risk from gum disease or tooth infection, than you are with radiation exposure. Other ways you are exposed to radiation include the sun, microwaves and your cell phones. If you do need x-rays for needed dental problem, your dentist will protect you by covering your throat and abdomen with a leaded apron. The collar of the apron will protect the thyroid during radiation.

Medications During Pregnancy
Your dentist may need to prescribe medications or over-the-counter drugs during dental treatment. Make sure to inform your dentist of any medications you are taking. Your dentist may consult with your physician to determine the best medication, if any may be needed, such as antibiotics or for pain management.

Gum Disease and Problem Pregnancy
Evidence from recent studies shows a connection between gum disease and low birth weight babies and premature delivery. In order to avoid transmission of oral bacteria from mother to children and to prevent problem pregnancies, it’s important to see a dentist before and during pregnancy.

Often during pregnancy, due to hormonal changes, the gums become easily inflamed and appear to be swollen. This overgrowth of tissue is called “pregnancy tumor.” It usually shows up during the second trimester, if at all. The swelling is nothing to worry about as far as being cancerous. It is usually found between the teeth and caused by poor oral hygiene, which means excess plaque. You’ll notice the swelling bleeds easily and has a red appearance due to inflammation. The cleaner you keep the teeth and gums, the less likely that this condition will occur or get worse. Self-help with daily oral hygiene and three month visits to your dentist can help prevent “pregnancy gingivitis.”

Healthy Mom = Healthy Baby When you’re pregnant, you have the responsibility for your health and your baby’s health. Healthy habits will help you have an easier pregnancy and a healthier baby. What you eat and your oral hygiene are habits that you need to practice daily by making smart choices. Now that we know an unhealthy mouth can affect the health of your unborn, it’s important to take a few steps to help prevent problem pregnancy:

• Practice proper oral hygiene on a daily basis.
• Get a dental check up before you become pregnant, or as soon as you find out.

How to Brush:

1. Use alcohol-free mouthwash and swish it around your mouth before your brush.
2. Floss properly, and if you’re not sure how, check with your dental hygienist.
3. Rinse your toothbrush and dab a small amount of toothpaste on it.
4. Brush every side of every tooth in a circular motion.
5. Brush your gums gently.
6. Rinse.
7. Keep your toothbrush in dry place.
8. Change your toothbrush after a cold, or if it looks worn.

The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Policy Center has a list of tips to follow during pregnancy for healthy nutrition:

• Eat a variety of healthy foods, such as fruits; vegetables; whole-grain products such as cereals, breads or crackers; and dairy products like milk, cheese, cottage cheese or unsweetened yogurt.
• Eat fewer foods high in sugar, including candy, cookies, cake, and dried fruit; and drink fewer beverages high in sugar, including juice, fruit-flavored drinks, or soft drinks.
• For snacks, choose foods low in sugar such as fruits, vegetables, cheese and unsweetened yogurt.
• Read food labels so you can choose foods lower in sugar.
• If you have trouble with nausea, try eating small amounts of healthy foods throughout the day.
• Drink water or milk instead of juice, fruit-flavored drinks or soft drinks.
• Drink water throughout the day, especially between meals and snacks.

To reduce the risk of birth defects, get 600 micrograms of folic acid each day throughout your pregnancy. Take a dietary supplement of folic acid and eat foods high in folate and foods fortified with folic acids, including:

• Asparagus, broccoli and leafy green vegetables such as lettuce and spinach
• Legumes (beans, peas, lentils)
• Papaya, tomato juice, oranges or orange juice, strawberries, cantaloupe and bananas
• Grain products fortified with folic acid (breads, cereals, cornmeal, flour, pasta, white rice.)

See Your Dentist
If you’re expecting to get pregnant, see your dentist to determine the health of your teeth and gums. Based on your dentist’s recommendation, continue to see your dentist for check ups, cleanings or treatment during your pregnancy. The first trimester is best only for urgent treatment.

The post How to Have a Healthy Smile For Expectant Moms appeared first on Total Health Magazine.

Importance of diet in dental health
Diet plays a very important role in dental health. A healthy, balanced diet should contain the essential vitamins and minerals that keep the teeth and gums in optimum condition for a long time.

A diet rich in vegetables, lean protein, healthy fats, and low glycemic carbohydrates (e.g., fibrous vegetables and fruit) and low in simple sugars (e.g., bread, cakes and candies) go a long way in preventing tooth decay.

Link between dental health and disease
Researchers have discovered a correlation between gum (periodontal) disease and cardiovascular disease. While a concrete scientific relationship has yet to be established, the researchers reported two interesting findings.

First, the type of bacteria present in gum disease is also present in the blood vessels undergoing atherosclerosis (the prelude to heart disease). Second, inflammation of the gums increases the levels of a body protein called CRP (C-reactive protein). CRP is also one of the indicators used by doctors to evaluate a person’s risk of having heart disease, and interestingly enough, CRP levels are also higher in those suffering from obesity (another well-known risk factor for heart disease).

Cancer is another health condition that has correlation with oral health. A study by Harvard researchers showed a link between periodontal disease and pancreatic cancer. While the study has not yet been verified by laboratory experiments, it is the initial speculation of the researchers that gum inflammation is a significant factor, as it also causes inflammation in other parts of the body.

Nutrients for optimum tooth and gum health

Just like the rest of the body, the gums and the teeth also require specific nutrients to keep them in optimum shape and prevent infection, inflammation, and damage. The following nutrients are essential for dental health:

1. Calcium
Calcium is a trace element that is the main component of the physical structure of teeth and bones. Normal calcium levels help keep the tooth enamel healthy and resistant to erosion caused by bacteria. Calcium deficiency leads to tooth decay brought about by the weakening of tooth enamel.

The US National Institutes of Health recommends the following daily intake for calcium: 1200 milligrams for men and women over the age of seventy, 1000 milligrams for men and women aged nineteen to seventy, 1300 milligrams for children who are between the ages of nine and eighteen, 1000 milligrams for children between four and eight years old, and 700 milligrams for children between one and three years old.

Calcium is readily available in dairy products (e.g., milk and yogurt), turnip and collard greens, and kale. It can also be found in its most bioavailable form within humic acid (i.e. Leaf- Source).

2. Zinc
Zinc is another important trace element that is also involved in many body processes. While not as abundant as calcium, it plays an important role in maintaining dental health by preventing gum infection and plaque build-up. Deficiency in zinc can lead to mouth sores and gingivitis.

Aside from preventing infections, zinc has also been proven to significantly reduce bad breath. Researchers have conducted studies on the effect of zinc-fortified mouthwashes and chewing gum on bad breath. They discovered that the zinc in the oral products reduced the real cause of bad breath—sulphur-containing compounds.

The recommended daily intake for zinc is eight milligrams for adult females and eleven milligrams for adult males. Zinc can be easily incorporated into one’s diet, as its sources are readily available to everyone. Oysters are said to contain the highest amount of readily available zinc, followed by liver and beef. Other sources include wild rice, cheese, and humic acid (i.e. LeafSource).

3. Iron
This trace mineral functions mainly as a carrier of oxygen throughout the body via the bloodstream. Lack of iron in the diet causes anemia, which in turn reduces oxygen flow in the various body cells and tissues. Lack of oxygen flow has been linked to infections and sores. In the mouth, this is manifested by bleeding gums and painful canker sores that often take a long time to heal.

Just like zinc, dietary sources of iron are plentiful and inexpensive. Good sources are liver and other meat products. Iron-fortified foods like breakfast cereals can also help a person meet the recommended daily iron intake of eight milligrams (for adult males) and 18 milligrams (for adult females), however in my opinion, most are way too high in sugar, which negates any of their fortification.

4. Magnesium
Together with calcium, magnesium helps strengthen the tooth enamel and prevents the formation of cavities and the onset of tooth decay. The recommended daily requirement for magnesium is 400 milligrams.

One of the best supplemental sources of magnesium is magnesium bisglycinate (magnesium bound to the amino acid glycine). The bisglycinate form is believed to be many times more absorbable than the citrate form. Dietary magnesium can be found in a wide variety of sources—fish, dark green leafy vegetables, dark chocolate, and bananas.

References:

1. Slade GD, et al. Relationship between periodontal disease and C-reactive protein among adults in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study. Arch Intern Med. 2003 May 26;163(10):1172–9.
2. Michaud DS, et al. A prospective study of periodontal disease and pancreatic cancer in US male health professionals. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2007 Jan 17;99(2):171–5.
3. Periodontal Disease and Systemic Health. American Academy of Periodontology. (Accessed May 21, 2015).
4. NIH Medline Plus. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/winter11/articles/winter11pg12.html.
5. Fedorowicz Z, et al. “Mouthrinses for the treatment of halitosis.” Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (4): CD006701. Oct 8, 2008.
6. Iron: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements

The post Mouthing Off About Nutrition For Dental Health appeared first on Total Health Magazine.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandates every toothpaste with fluoride have the following warning posted on every label:

“WARNING: Keep out of reach of children under the age of six. If more than used for brushing is swallowed, contact the nearest poison control center or your physician immediately.”

To market and sell toothpaste to children, those branded for kids, usually contain not only fluoride but also sparkly, bright colored dyes, artificial flavors and sweeteners. Some may even contain antimicrobials and harsh ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS).

When choosing toothpaste, it’s important to read the ingredients on the label. You don’t want your child to be exposed to a daily dose of antibiotics or other potentially harmful ingredient through their toothpaste.

Ingredients To Avoid In Toothpaste

• Saccharin—this ingredient has been on and off the FDA’s list of safe food ingredients.
• Antimicrobials—natural or synthetic antimicrobials can include tea tree oil, alcohol and triclosan among others. These days found in many products, such as deodorants, dish soap, hand and body soaps, shampoos, etc. Center for Disease Control warns that with over use, antimicrobials may result in antibiotic resistant bacteria.
• Chlorine dioxide—industrial bleach, used for bleaching wood, flour, and disinfection of municipal water.
• Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)—industrial detergent may cause canker sores, dry mouth and allergies.
• Sodium hydroxide—NaOH, also known as lye or caustic soda, is a metallic base, used in textiles, drain cleaners and industrial detergents.
• Salicylates—allergic reactions to products are becoming very common. Salicylic acid, the common Aspirin ingredient for inflammation, could be one of the causes. Always look for salicylate free products.
• Herbal extracts—natural toothpaste ingredients often contain herbs. Herbs have side effects and drug interactions. With frequent use, they could also cause allergies. Many products add herbal extracts and oils for marketing and call their products ‘natural.’
• PEG/PPG—polypropylene glycol is a surfactant used as a wetting agent, dispersant and in leather finishing.
• Fluoride—under the age of six, toothpaste should be free of fluoride. Fluoride is toxic if a child swallows it in toothpaste. Xylitol has been shown to be effective for preventing tooth decay. It’s best to choose toothpaste that is fluoride free, but contains xylitol.

Toothpaste for your child should be chosen carefully. Choose one without the warning on the back. Also important is to choose one free of SLS or any of the ingredients listed above.

Baking soda in toothpaste is helpful as is one with xylitol as a sweetener and to help prevent tooth decay. Follow proper oral hygiene as taught by your dentist, make appointments for checkups as recommended by your dentist, and your child will have a beautiful, healthy smile.

The post How To Choose Toothpaste For Your Child appeared first on Total Health Magazine.

Function of Teeth in Digestion
Adults should have 32 teeth, four of which are the wisdom teeth. These four wisdom teeth might not develop at all or may be pulled at anytime due to lack of space or other reasons. There are different sets of teeth and each set has a particular function. Teeth may be considered organs of chewing (mastication) and serve a very important function of the digestive process. Chewing food properly gives the signal to saliva to aid in the break down of certain carbohydrates.

The parts of the teeth that are visible are called crowns. The structure of the outer layer of the crown of teeth consists of a hard outer surface called enamel. This is the hardest substance in the human body.

• Molars have a large surface with pits and grooves that make them suitable for grinding food between opposing upper and lower molars. There are two molars in each of the four arches of the mouth. Molars are the last teeth in the mouth of each quadrant. There are actually three molars on each side, with the “3rd molar” being the wisdom tooth.
• Incisors, or the front teeth consist of sharp edges that are made for cutting food. There are six upper and six lower incisors. At the corner of each set of front teeth are the canines. These have long roots and are designed to tear food. The incisor teeth cut food and push it to the back teeth (molars and premolars) with the help of the tongue. The back teeth actually aid in the chewing and breaking down of food with their surfaces.
• Premolars are smaller than molars and help with the chewing process by crushing food. There are also two premolars in each quadrant of the mouth and they are situated in-between the molars and incisors.

How Saliva Starts the Digestive Process
When you eat food, it’s first mixed with saliva that is secreted by sets of glands. The three main salivary glands are the parotid, sub-mandibular and sublingual glands.

Parotid glands are located at the side of the face on the inside of your cheeks. They have an opening where the secretion occurs, called Stensen’s duct. It’s the largest of the salivary glands that helps with mastication and swallowing mostly of starches.

Submandibular glands are located on the inner side of the lower jawbone. This gland produces amylase to break down starches and mucous cells to help lubricate the throat.

Sublingual glands are located beneath the tongue. They produce mucin that helps promote the production of saliva. Most of saliva is produced during waking hours, and decreases while you sleep. If you wake up with dry mouth and morning breath, the reason is due to lower saliva production helping your oral hygiene. The sublingual glands function to help lubricate and bind food, which is needed for easy swallowing. Without adequate saliva with resulting dry mouth, swallowing can become difficult and increase the risk of choking as food gets lodged in the throat.

You Need Healthy Teeth to Chew And Digest Food
Anyone who has experienced a toothache knows it’s difficult to eat if you have pain. Misalignment, infection and missing teeth can all affect proper chewing, breakdown of foods and therefore, proper digestion.

Misaligned Teeth
The teeth are said to be in occlusion when they fit together ideally. That is, the upper fit slightly over the lower teeth and the cusp tips (pointy surfaces) of the molars fit the grooves of the opposing molars. Proper occlusion keeps the cheeks and lips from being bitten and the lower teeth protect the tongue and keep it in place.

If your teeth do not align ideally you have malocclusion. Heredity, poor childhood habits, such as thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, prolonged use of pacifier or bottle can be some of the causes of malocclusion.

Malocclusion may also have been the result of an injury or fracture of the jaw. Tumors can also cause malocclusion. Other causes can include ill-fitting dental fillings, crowns, and dentures.

Not replacing missing teeth in a timely fashion, can cause surrounding teeth to shift, bringing about misalignment of teeth. This malocclusion cannot only affect your appearance but also difficulty in biting or chewing foods. Misalignment of teeth cannot be underestimated and should be corrected.

Prevention
Your ability to chew your food properly is just as important as the quality of the food you eat. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends proper daily oral hygiene as the number one way to keep your teeth healthy. Flossing and brushing are the main tools that are needed. Below are some tips on how to properly keep your mouth clean and healthy for a beautiful smile and healthy digestion.

Oral Hygiene 101

Brushing and flossing properly is very important. If you quickly run a toothbrush over your teeth three times a day and floss quickly without properly cleaning under the gums, germs continue to cause harm to your teeth with resulting tooth decay, gum disease and even worse, lead to loose teeth. Ask your dental professional how to floss properly. But in summary, hold a small part of the floss between your fingers, and wrap the floss around each side of the tooth and gently extend it under your gums. Slow up and down movements will clean these areas that a toothbrush cannot reach. Use a clean piece of floss for each tooth. Floss first to release food and plaque stuck under the gums and between the teeth, and follow with brushing and rinsing.

Make sure to brush your gums as well as every side of every tooth. If you can’t brush after every meal, rinse with water or chew xylitol chewing gum. Brushing and flossing at night is crucial because saliva production slows down as you sleep, which means your mouth is more prone to attack by bacteria. Dry mouth can also be a problem and proper brushing and flossing can help prevent gum disease and tooth decay, which are typically more likely with reduced saliva.

Using effective toothpaste and mouthwash is very important. Baking soda toothpaste with xylitol is a good choice for toothpaste and mouthwash. The benefits of baking soda toothpaste are many including helping remove stains, to help make your teeth appear whiter.

Don’t think just because a product label says ‘natural toothpaste’ that it’s good for you. Many contain saccharin and/or sodium lauryl sulfate, which can actually cause dry mouth. For the best toothpaste and mouthwash use:

• Alcohol-free mouthwash—alcohol dries the mouth and changes the pH to what germs like. This is one reason drinking excessive alcoholic beverages is also bad for healthy mouth. Mouthwash with xylitol is excellent because it helps flow of saliva.
• Xylitol natural toothpaste and mouthwash—studies report xylitol has many benefits for a healthy mouth when used regularly in toothpaste, and especially in chewing gum. It helps promote saliva, which is good for dry mouth. It’s also been shown to help prevent tooth decay.

Take care of your teeth and gums with proper daily routine of brushing and flossing. Eat nutritious, healthy foods and your tummy will thank you.

The post How Your Teeth Affect Your Digestive System appeared first on Total Health Magazine.

Curious as to the exact cause of cavities and malformed dental arches that resulted in crooked, overcrowded teeth, Dr. Price began investigating a potential connection to diet and nutrition. Microscopes and laboratories were devoid of the answers he searched for. Dr Price felt that the most logical way to research was to observe different cultures. It was necessary to compare those societies that ate modern diets consisting mostly of processed and refined foods such as white flour products, sugar, white rice, canned foods, and fats with those that regularly consumed a more nutritious diet, and where most of the food was grown locally.

Over a ten-year period, Dr. Price traveled worldwide to accomplish his mission. He observed several primitive or non-developed cultures that had no contact with “civilization,” to learn, in depth, their health habits and physical development. During those years he studied, took photographs and described his findings about Swiss villagers, Irish fisherman, Eskimos, Indian tribes in Canada and the Florida Everglades, South Sea Islanders, Aborigines in Australia, Maoris in New Zealand, Peruvian and Amazonian Indians, as well as tribesmen in Africa. Dr. Price documented his findings and startling conclusions in his book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration. Weston Price is still regarded today by many nutrition researchers as the “Charles Darwin” of nutrition. And his book provides the origins and background of the relationship between the foods we eat and our health.

Dr. Price found that in the groups of people that did not live the fast-paced life or eat the processed foods typical of modern culture, rarely was there any tooth decay in children, dental crowding of teeth or malformed jaws. Crowding of teeth and malformed jaws resulted with the specialty we call Orthodontics, which focuses on correcting misaligned teeth.

In our modern society, adults are not the only ones at higher risk of disease from eating poorly; children are becoming increasingly obese and showing signs of diabetes as well as gum disease, normally not seen in the young. Soft drinks have replaced water and milk. Drinking sodas is the equivalent of bathing the teeth with sugar and acid. Many people have become addicted to soft drinks; it’s become like a drug. A habit that’s hard to break. Here are some startling statistics:

• According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average American consumes 31 five-pound bags of sugar every year. We don’t get this right from a bowl of sugar, but mostly hidden in many kinds of foods such as cereals, sodas, yogurt, ketchup, canned vegetables, toppings, sweetened fruit juice, sports drinks, peanut butter, just to mention a few.
• Each 20-oz. soda contains 16 teaspoons of sugar.
• Sports drinks contain an average of 14 teaspoons of sugar.

The same practical, common sense rules that apply to why poor diet and eating habits are detrimental to general health should be used for oral health. Foods that lower the quality of our lives and increase the risk of disease do the same for tooth decay and gum disease. This is why the mouth can truly be a microcosm of the body as a whole, because it gives us a bird’s eye view of the inside of the body.

Studies show that if we eat sugar with a meal, it’s less damaging to the teeth than eating smaller quantities of sugar all day long. Unfortunately, we are constantly tempted with the abundance of types of food available that contain hidden sugars. And we tend to eat more for emotional reasons than to satisfy physical hunger. Food has become a poor substitute for emotional nourishment, and the types of food that feed our emotions are usually void of healthy nutrients.

Sugar and Your Health

Sugar is responsible for and can lead to tooth decay, obesity, and a weakened immune system. Technically speaking, there are many types of sugars. By far the best known and overused sugar is sucrose, which is found in large amounts in sugar cane and sugar beets. Those five-pound bags at the grocery store with the beautiful white crystals are pure sucrose, and that’s what everybody refers to as just plain table sugar.

Maple sugar is the sucrose-rich sap of the maple tree. Other common sugars are the fructose in ripe fruits and the lactose in milk. All sugars are sweet and fructose is even sweeter than sucrose.

Corn sweeteners have replaced sugar in most American prepared foods ever since it became politically incorrect to use Cuban sugar. While ripe ears of sweet corn contain some sugar, that is not the source of the corn sweeteners that you see on food labels. These sweeteners are made by using acids and enzymes to break down the cornstarch molecules which are made up of thousands of sugar molecules all joined together. In the body, most starches and sugars are further broken down into glucose, a fundamental sugar that can go directly into the blood stream and is our major source of energy.

Honey contains 40 percent sucrose (table sugar) and 60 percent fructose (fruit sugar). Because honey is sweeter than just table sugar, often less is used in a recipe; for example 3/4 cup of honey is the equivalent of one cup of table sugar.

Aspartame is made up of two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine. NutraSweet is the brand name of aspartame. A quart of diet cola contains about 100 milligrams of aspartame. Sorbitol and mannitol are sugars derived from alcohol. They are converted to fructose and glucose. They are low in calories, but if large amounts are ingested, they may produce a laxative or gaseous effect.

Saccharin has been controversial for many years. Studies have shown that it may cause bladder cancer. It is banned in Canada, but the Food and Drug Administration has approved it, albeit with a warning on the label indicating that saccharin may be hazardous to your health.

Stevia is a natural, non-caloric sweetener derived from a shrub in South America. It’s about 300 times sweeter than table sugar. It has yet to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an artificial sweetener because little is known about its long-term effects. Canada and the European Union (EU) do not allow stevia as a food additive. However, it has been used since the 1970s in Japan and other regions of the world. In the United States, stevia is sold only as a dietary supplement. It’s not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women due to lack of information.

In general, the use of sugar, whether white, brown, powdered, raw, artificial or in the form of honey, should be limited in your diet. Organic sugar or honey is the best form to use, since it has not been processed with dangerous chemicals or stripped of all its nutrients. All artificial sweeteners should be avoided.

At its most basic level, as the saying goes “we are what we eat,” and poor oral health often begins with what we put in our mouth as food. Our choices clearly aren’t always wise. In fact, an estimated three out of four Americans suffer from gum disease—a problem largely based on poor diet.

Healthy snacks for healthy mouths
The following are simple snacks to help feed your soul and your tummy:

• Celery with cheese or 1 tablespoon peanut butter.
• Vegetables such as cucumbers, zucchini, and broccoli with dip made of non-fat yogurt and/or low fat sour cream seasoned with garlic powder, and your favorite seasoning. Also good with low fat blue cheese or ranch dressing.
• Fruit
• Rice cakes
• Frozen fruit bars with no added sugar (this can be home made with organic fruit juice).
• Unbuttered air popped popcorn
• Low or non-fat yogurt with your favorite fresh fruit added or plain.
• Low or non-fat cheeses
• A few nuts
• Home made smoothie made from your favorite fresh fruits including banana and low- or non-fat milk or soymilk.
• Hard boiled egg

Teeth—Love Them, or Lose Them

Picture a house of cards. Removing the good nutrition card at the base can make the whole assembly topple. Studies now indicate that poor nutrition can increase the production and secretion of stress hormones (glucocorticoids) and lower the secretion of insulin, among other hormonal changes. Stress plays an important role in a variety of illnesses as well as dental diseases. When people are under stress, they produce less saliva, which is very important to preventing tooth decay and gum disease. Poor diet also impact the level of the hormone glucocorticoids in the gums, so that gum tissue is unable to fight off inflammation. As a result, chronic gum inflammation fatigue and a general feeling of ill health overcome your body.

So the questions have to be asked: why is it that with the abundance of food and information on health available today, we still make poor choices? Why is it that having the ability to choose how and what we eat, and with the relative ease of choosing common sense healthy meals, we still decide not to exercise control and instead eat poorly? Why is it that we donft take care of our bodies the same way as we do the other things that are important to us?

Each of us has been gifted with one body and one mouth. Replacements are unavailable in this life. Each of us is capable of accomplishing anything we want in life, especially in America. By knowing that we can, and imagining what is possible, each of us is capable of becoming a healthy, happy person. Eating well is a vital part of staying healthy. Take a counter-offensive approach. We are surrounded by so many foods that are not healthy. Eat organic when possible. Take the simple steps towards modifying poor eating habits, so that you can make a major impact on your overall health.

The post Your Mouth: A Bird’s Eye View of Your Health appeared first on Total Health Magazine.

Can’t Get Enough
The United States pioneered the introduction of community water fluoridation in 1945 when Grand Rapids was the first city in the world to fluoride public water.¹ The FDA limits the amount of fluoride from 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams per liter of community water² and today, almost the entire country and many parts of the world follow this practice. In the ensuing years, fluoride found its way into toothpastes, dental implants, dental treatments (think swish and spit), many antibiotics and even food.

If you are someone who doesn’t mind bathing or consuming fluoride, don’t you think you deserve to know; 1) if it’s actually doing anything to prevent tooth decay and 2) if it’s really as safe as you’re being told it is?

Have We Been Lied To?
Well I’m not going to waste a bunch of your precious time on answering question number one other than to say, if fluoride really did work like the American and Canadian Dental Associations would lead us to believe, why then do citizens of numerous cities, towns and countries who snub fluoridation show declining rates of dental decay in spite of increased sugar intake?^3,4,5,6

To answer the second question, in spite of numerous potential problems with excess fluoride intake, I’m going to concentrate on one vital area—your hormones. Over the years, researchers have closely monitored the effects of long-term use of increased fluoride through several studies and have found evidence that it might have negative effects on our sex hormones. However, before I get into any specifics, let’s first take a peek into the steadily declining fertility rate in the U.S.

The birth rate in developed countries has been on a steady decline for some time now. Take for instance the decline in the United States, which went from 4,316,233 childbirths in 2007 to 3,941,000 in 2013 as reported by the CDC.⁷ While there may be several factors contributing to this decline, one cannot ignore the vital importance of our sex hormones when it comes to fertility and the profound ways fluoride impacts them.

Fluoride And Men
Let’s first look at the effect of fluoride on male sex hormones. Male sex hormones are called androgens and testosterone is the main androgen that enables our reproductive function.⁸ Recent studies have shown that when it comes to testosterone production, men should be quite careful of what they choose to put on their toothbrushes. Researchers from China conducted a study on males between 18 and 50 years of age who lived in three separate villages. While one group was exposed to high levels of fluoride, the other was not. The study results clearly indicated that prolonged exposure to fluoride could greatly reduce testosterone levels in otherwise healthy men.⁹

Another collaborative study conducted by researchers from Waterloo, Canada, China and Chengdu goes on to show that fluoride causes decreased sperm count, disturbances in the levels of sex hormones, reduced fertility and even alterations in the male reproductive system. The study goes on to say that increased exposure to fluoride can cause deficiency of zinc in the testes leading to testosterone suppression and shrinking of your family jewels.¹⁰

Fluoride And Women
Another Chinese study conducted on rats of the lady variety (I had to) brings to light the devastating effect that fluoride can have on female sex hormones and the reproductive system.¹¹ During the study, the rats were divided into three groups and each group was given fluoride in varying degrees over a period of six months. Luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, progesterone, testosterone, and estradiol were continuously monitored over this period. The study found that the reproductive hormone concentration in all three groups had significantly declined. The study subjects even demonstrated damage to their uterine and ovarian structures.

The National Center for Toxicological Research released an 18-year study of women (this time of the human variety) between the ages of 10 to 49 from different counties with varying fluoride exposure through the public water systems. Their conclusion was the total fertility rate of women in areas with higher fluoride exposure was significantly lower in comparison to the ones that had lower exposure.¹²

It’s bad enough that we may be creating hormonal mayhem within our own bodies when it comes to excess fluoride consumption, but what about our mini me’s? According to the official website of the European Union, if a child between the ages of one and six years drinks more than a liter of fluoridated water, that child could be receiving excessive fluoride.¹³ Now, if we add the amount of fluoride that they take in through toothpaste and other means, it is clear that we are subjecting our children to excessive levels from a very early age. This means that we may be inadvertently pushing our children towards sex hormone imbalances later on in life.

Here’s one last deep thought for when you’re brushing your teeth with your favorite fluoridated toothpaste and gargling afterwards with fluoridated water. If fluoride is so safe, why does every tube of toothpaste that contains it have a warning that reads: Keep out of reach of children under six years of age. If you accidentally swallow more than used for brushing, seek professional help or contact a poison control center immediately. Deep thoughts!

References:

1. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, “The Story of Fluoridation.”
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Community Water Fluoridation.
3. Miyazaki H, Morimoto M. “Changes in caries prevalence in Japan.” European Journal of Oral Science. 1996 Aug;104(4 ( Pt 2)):452–8.
4. Kalsbeek H. Caries “Experience of 15-Year-Old Children in the Netherlands after Discontinuation of Water Fluoridation.” Caries Res 1993;27:201–5.
5. Seppä L., Kärkkäinen S., Hausen H. “Caries Trends 1992–1998 in Two Low–Fluoride Finnish Towns Formerly with and without Fluoridation.” Caries Res2000;34:462–468.
6. W. Künzel, et al. “Decline of caries prevalence after the cessation of water fluoridation in the former East Germany.” Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology Vol 28, Issue 5, pages 382–9, October 2000.
7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Recent Trends in Births and Fertility Rates Through June 2013.
8. Tamarkin DA, Male Sex Hormones, Springfield Technical Community College.
9. Zhou T1, Yang R, Li S, Zheng G, Xi Y, Cheng X, Hou J, Cui L, Ba Y. “Influence of water fluoride exposure on sex hormone binding globulin and testosterone in adult male.” Journal of Hygiene Research 2013 Mar;42(2):241–4.
10. Hu Long, Ying Jin, Mu Lin, Yu Sun, Liang Zhang, “Fluoride Toxicity In The Male Reproductive System.” Research Review Fluoride 42(4)260–76, Oct-Dec 2009.
11. Zhou Y, Zhang H, He J, Chen X, Ding Y, Wang Y, Liu X. “Effects of Sodium Fluoride On Reproductive Function In Female Rats.” Food and Chemical Toxicology 2013 Jun;56:297–303.
12. Freni SC. “Exposure to High Fluoride Concentrations in Drinking Water is Associated With Decreased Birth Rates.” Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health 1994 May;42(1):109–21.
13. European Union. Public Health. Fluoridation.

The post YOUR HORMONES ON FLUORIDE What you need to know appeared first on Total Health Magazine.