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Holistic Dental Hygiene From a Chinese medicine standpoint, the mouth is a component It seems that the ADA has never considered the possibility that of the respiratory system, since it is the opening of the airway and the teeth and mouth are connected to the rest of the body and do contiguous with the linings of the bronchi and lungs. An imbal- not operate in isolation. The idea that cavities are the result of ance in the lungs could easily manifest as pain and degeneration systemic disease is not a new one. Other medical systems, such of the teeth. In the same fashion, a relationship can be drawn as oriental medicine, consider oral disease to be a manifestation of | between the teeth and all other body systems. The teeth are con- systemic imbalances and nutritional deficiencies. Although the nected very directly to the heart through the blood vessels. We role of bacterial infection in diseases of the oral cavity cannot be know this even in Western medicine, which is why some people entirely dismissed, it must be remembered that the functioning of must take antibiotics before having dental work in order to avoid the rest of the body is what allows or disallows a susceptibility to spreading infectious organisms to the heart and other organs. So these germs. When all of the body systems are working properly healthy blood and strong circulation are necessary for dental and efficiently, it is far more difficult for the pathogenic organ- health, too. While it is likely that oral hygiene plays a role in den- isms to make a stronghold. Bacteria can only grow if the micro- tal caries, it must be understood that oral disease is often an indi- environment is suited to their liking. cation of an imbalance present somewhere else in the body. Thousands of years ago, oriental medicine practitioners knew The quality or composition of the saliva has a great influence that the health of the teeth and gums was a reflection of the health on dental health. Having saliva that is at the proper pH and rich of the entire body.” Traditional Chinese medicine has long made in minerals, vitamins, enzymes and other protective factors which use of this holographic concept, wherein examination of one par- favour the remineralisation of the enamel and discourage the pro- ticular body part can reveal hidden clues about liferation of pathogenic organisms would go a the health of the entire system. This is a hall- long way towards preventing caries. While mark of oriental medical diagnosis, and it has . . . observations, both casual and scientific, attest been a precise and accurate art form for a very Having saliva that Is to the positive correlation between oral | jong time. Whether ns mv pus ' © tongue at the proper pH and hygiene and ealthy teeth it is the means of e face, the ear or the hand that is being . . . obtaining this hygiene that appears to be the examined, it doesn't seem to matter. A body rich In minerals, issue. Quality of saliva is the key! If one is Part with as much significance and intercon- vitamins, enzymes and able to tnerease me nena me enzyme and nectedness as the mouth surely has grea F vitamin content of the saliva, then it is possi- potential as a diagnostic tool in itself. Anyone other protective factors ble to emphasise the "building" effects of the who has ever "looked a gift horse in the which favour the saliva and minimise the growth of destructive mouth" can tell you that observing the teeth is . . . elements. This can only be accomplished remineralisation of the a quick and convenient method for through a healthy diet. assessing the soundness of the entire enamel and discourage There are three major classes of com- the proliferation of organism. pounds that were abundant in the diets of In oriental medical philosophy, the our ancestors but are typically absent teeth are not seen as separate from the i i from our modern diet.’ These are fat- rest of the body. On the contrary, the pathogenic organisms soluble vitamins, minerals and enzymes. would go a long way towards preventing caries. teeth are understood as an outcropping of other body systems.'* They are bones, and as such they represent the general health of the bones and skeletal system. Teeth appear to grow right out of the jawbone, and they are composed of the very substances from which bones are responsible for many of the biological derived. It has been demonstrated many processes that occur at the cellular level. times in China that when the bones are healthy, the teeth will be Lack of this vitamin has been implicated in birth defects, poor healthy. Conversely, when the bones are diseased, the teeth will vision, decreased immunity and many other conditions. Vitamin have a tendency towards the same type of degeneration. Even in D is essential for the uptake and utilisation of minerals in the Western science, we know that the teeth are composed of calcium, digestive tract and in the bloodstream. Its presence and minerals, proteins and other related compounds. Since the body abundance determine how well calcium and other minerals such cannot make these nutrients, the teeth will suffer if the necessary as magnesium can be absorbed from food and deposited into the building materials are absent from the diet. teeth and bones. These two vitamins are rare in that they are Another observation from Chinese medicine is that the mouth is typically found in only a few types of foods. Raw dairy products, the very beginning of the stomach and digestive system." If there eggs from free-range chickens, liver and some fish products such is illness or dysfunction in the digestion, then this can sometimes as cod liver oil are the only places where these nutrients can be show up as dysfunction in the teeth and lining of the mouth. found in appreciable quantities. Indeed, this can be understood if we recognise the fact that Vitamin A is essential for many body processes and is an indis- calcium and other minerals must be absorbed into the bloodstream pensable requirement for good dental health. This compound is a through the intestinal lining before they can actually be used by co-factor in many enzymatic reactions and cellular processes. It the body. It is not enough that the nutrients are in the food we eat: is an excellent antioxidant and is necessary for tissue growth and they must be taken up during the process of digestion if they are repair. The immune system is dependent upon an adequate sup- to be useful. This is an inefficient process in the best of cases, ply of this vitamin. Healthy bones and teeth are not possible and with the presence of disease in the digestive tract it only without sufficient vitamin A. Dr Price, in his travels to visit the becomes more so. people of indigenous cultures, found that on average these robust Fat-Soluble Vitamins The most essential components that are missing from our modern diets are the fat-soluble vitamins; namely, vitamins A and D. Vitamin A is at the proper pH and rich in minerals, 20 = NEXUS Having saliva that is www.nexusmagazine.com FEBRUARY — MARCH 2006