Natural Gum Care
by Dave Foreman
During a recent visit to the dentist, I was
surprised to learn just how many adult
Americans are unknowingly suffering from
the gum disease gingivitis, an inflammation of the
gums (gingivae) often caused by bacteria. Gingivitis
is usually painless, although the gums may be red,
swollen, and bleed easily with brushing.With some
people, bad breath or a constant bad taste in the
mouth can occur. More severe cases of gingivitis
are called periodontitis. In this condition, the
inflammation is much more severe and not only
involves the gingivae, but
other tissue around the
teeth.
These two conditions
can progress to the point
where you can lose teeth
or require gum surgery
to repair damaged tissue.
Even more worrisome
are the recent articles
linking gum disease with
heart disease.
So how do you help
your mouth stay at the
peak of good health?
AN OUNCE OF
PREVENTION
Luckily, you can prevent gum disease from ever
happening. Proper dental habits such as regular
brushing, flossing, examinations and cleanings may
be all that are required to maintain healthy gums.
I recommend using natural toothpaste such as
those made by Vitamin Shoppe BodyCare, Tom's
of Maine or Jason.You can even find floss and
other dental care products from natural health
companies.
For those of us with depletions of folic acid and
CoQ10, brushing, flossing and dental visits may not
be enough. Since an ounce of prevention is worth
a pound of cure, adding a supplement high in folic
acid and CoQ10 as part of your Dietary
Supplement Pyramid may be necessary.The dose
of 50 to 60 mg per day of CoQ10 is what I
recommend along with approximately 800 mcg
daily of folic acid.
ADD A MOUTHWASH
Prevention is great, but what about those who
already have problems with gingivitis? I encourage
you to follow the recommendations listed above
and include the addition of a natural mouthwash
such as the one offered by
Vitamin Shoppe BodyCare.
Jason Natural Cosmetics
Healthy Mouth Mouthwash
is great to use after brushing.
The herbs found in this
product help soothe
inflamed gums as well as
provide topical defense
against the bacteria that
may be causing your
gingivitis. Seek out a
knowledgeable Vitamin
Shoppe associate to
discover the many other
natural mouthwash
products available.
THE COQ10 FACTOR
Finally, I am not big on testimonials, but this one
takes me way back to my pharmacy days.While
I still owned my pharmacy and had a radio
program in Richmond,Virginia, I had a dentist
phone in to discuss how his patients were
reversing the effects of gingivitis by incorporating
CoQ10 into their diet. He stated that proper
dental care alone wasnÕt helping everyone in his
practice. It was only after patients added CoQ10
into their daily regimens that a marked effect
on their gingivitis was seen.
8 SIGNS OF PERIODONTAL DISEASE
If you notice any of the following signs
of periodontal (gum) disease, see your
dentist immediately:
-
Gums that bleed when brushing your teeth
-
Red, swollen or tender gums
-
Gums that have pulled away from the teeth
-
Bad breath that doesn't go away
- Pus between your teeth and gums
-
Loose teeth
-
A change in the way your teeth fit together
when you bite
- A change in the fit of partial dentures
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