On Keeping All My Teeth
When I was a child, in the 1950s, cavities and fillings were a fact of life. Our dentist was a family friend, who used the standard amalgam material as a filler. He of course was unaware of the mercury hazard inherent in them. It was the 1980s when I had all the visible amalgam fillings replaced with the newer materials, one quadrant at a time. Too bad I let my standard dentist do it all, though the insurance covered it. Though he used a dental dam and suction, I learned later how much more there is to a safe removal protocol. I’m sure that my body absorbed a bit of that mercury, and the dentist and his assistant got their share too.
Perhaps 20 years later, when changing dentists and learning that 3 of my oldest crowns had decay underneath, I finally rid my mouth of the last of the amalgam that was under a couple of them. These days I’m using a simple and gradual heavy metal removal protocol that I learned from interviews with Dr. Wendy Myers. It involves taking 5 or 6 drops of BioSil (a fancy form of silica) on a few chunks of fresh pineapple (which increases absorption) and much later in the day or the next day (I’m unclear on optimal timing) having a dose of PectaClear modified citrus pectin on an empty stomach. The theory says that silica mobilizes heavy metals and PectaClear absorbs them and carries them safely out of the body.
Several years ago my twin brother recommended oil pulling, and I do that perhaps twice a month, though some people like Dr. Mercola do it daily. It involves the simple procedure of brushing the teeth and tongue first thing in the morning, while the stomach is still empty, rinsing thoroughly, and then swishing a tablespoonful of vegetable oil for about 15 minutes, without swallowing. When the time is up, spitting into the toilet is advised in order not to clog the sink drain with oil, and then rinse and spit again. People claim all sorts of health benefits from this simple procedure, which apparently puts bacteria and viruses from the mouth into suspension in the oil, so they can be ejected from the mouth. Traditionally, in Ayurveda, unrefined sesame oil is used, and that’s always been my favorite. Some people prefer coconut or other oil, and it can even be found with essential oils added specifically for oil pulling.
A couple years ago the same brother turned me on to the concept of remineralization, whereby the mouth can repair small spots of decay or thinning enamel through natural processes. Some authorities that I trust explain that the glycerin present in nearly all dental products — toothpaste and mouthwash — will coat the teeth which blocks the remineralization process. It takes several brushings with glycerin-free toothpaste to remove the residue. So I’ve switched, after a lot of searching and ingredient reading, to glycerin-free toothpaste and tooth soap, and made a nightly habit of swishing a remineralizing liquid or powder for 5 minutes before bed. The liquid and powder not only supply calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, but also alkalinize the mouth which not only helps the remineralization process, but also discourages decay by making the mouth less conducive to common tooth attacking bacteria.
So, these days, I brush with tooth soap once or twice during the daytime, then after the evening brushing I also floss with Gentle Floss, and remineralize with Uncle Harry’s liquid remineralizer. When the mood strikes, I brush first thing in the morning, then do oil pulling for 15 min with organic unrefined sesame oil. At each 6 month cleaning and checkup the hygienist tests my gums in many places and compliments me on having no gum problems. She also sees that I take care of my teeth, and only every 3rd checkup or so does the dentist find a tooth in need of filling, which is always a disappointment to me. I vow to up my game and avoid the next such cavity.
