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July 17, 2008
Dear Friend,
The next time you’re in the toothpaste aisle at the grocery store, take a hard look at the number of products that promise to whiten your teeth, freshen your breath, and keep your gums in the pink. It’s staggering! Unfortunately, most of these products are completely useless. Creative advertising actually has people believing that if their teeth are bright and shiny, their mouths are perfectly healthy.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Good dental health isn’t about white teeth. It’s about creating the proper environment in your entire mouth to control bacteria, eliminate inflammation, and wipe out plaque. Regular toothpastes and harsh whitening chemicals just don’t do the trick—which is why so many of us are struggling with poor dental health, especially as we age.
Gum disease, or periodontal disease, affects 75 percent of Americans over age 55 and causes 25 percent of them to lose their teeth. For countless others, it triggers painful bleeding and embarrassing bad breath. But the problems don’t stop there. Poor dental health can also lead to other more serious health concerns—including heart disease.
The good news is it’s relatively easy to avoid serious health complications from gum disease. Easy, that is, if you know what really works when it comes to proper oral care. Here are seven tips for better dental health.
- Choose Your Toothpaste Carefully: Many toothpastes are flavored with unnecessary artificial sweeteners. A number of them also contain
glycerin—which makes your teeth feel smooth and clean but actually coats
them, making it even harder to remove
plaque. Look for a line of products free of chemicals and additives such as Tom’s of Maine, which is sold in health
food stores and various retailers nationwide.
- A Real Plaque Buster: If you want to have a healthy mouth, you’ve got to
attack plaque. Plaque forms when Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and other bacteria that reside
in the mouth produce acids that stick to the teeth. This colorless bacterial
film eats through the enamel, causing cavities, irritating the gums, and
initiating gingivitis—an early form of gum disease. Brushing and flossing
is important but if you hate to floss try a good electric toothbrush, such as
the Sonicare.
- Fortify Your Smile From the
Inside: The
right nutritional supplements can also improve your oral health. One of my
favorites is coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which has been shown to reduce inflammation
and other signs of gum disease. In one 12-week study involving 56 patients, a
daily dose of 60 mg dramatically improved markers of periodontal disease.
- A Better Mouthwash: Along with my Sonicare, I also use my own inexpensive version of Peridex, a prescription mouthwash for the prevention and
treatment of gingivitis. I mix Hibiclens, an
over-the-counter antibacterial scrub containing the same active ingredient as Peridex—chlorhexidine gluconate—with regular mouthwash. You’ll get all the
benefits of Peridex at a fraction of the cost.
- Don’t Forget Your Tongue: You probably don’t want to
hear this, but your tongue is one of the dirtiest areas of your body. Its
protective mucous coating makes it an excellent hideout for bacteria. You can
brush your tongue along with your teeth, or borrow a tip from Ayurvedic medicine and scrape your tongue once a day.
Curved thin metal strips designed for this purpose not only remove
plaque-forming bacteria, but are also one of the most effective breath
fresheners around. Look for tongue scrapers in your health food store or
pharmacy.
- A Mouth-Friendly Sweetener: Sugar is the favorite food of the bacteria that are
primarily responsible for cavities. The more sugar you consume, the larger and
more destructive the colonies of S. mutans in
your mouth become. That’s why I
recommend xylitol, the reduced-calorie sweetener that’s found in many
“sugar-free” candies and gums. Unlike sugar, xylitol is slowly and only
partially absorbed by the body and, better still, it inhibits the growth of S. mutans. I recommend chewing xylitol gum after meals.
- Watch What You Eat: A diet high in refined carbohydrates is likely to be deficient in the B vitamins that are required to make a substance called ptyalin, which is one of your body’s first lines of defense against tooth decay. Ptyalin is a powerful enzyme found in saliva that begins the breakdown of starches. If you don’t have sufficient ptyalin, starches can remain trapped around the teeth, feeding S. mutans bacteria. Switching to complex, unrefined carbohydrate foods, such as beans, legumes, and low-starch vegetables, can supply the B vitamins you need to make sufficient amounts of ptyalin.
Keeping your teeth and gums healthy can help boost wellness in your entire body—which is why I’m always keeping up with new advances in dental care. And I’ll be sharing them with you, along with other important health advice, in my monthly newsletter, Health & Healing. The July issue is hot off the press. Don’t miss my do-it-yourself treatment for skin cancer plus more on how dental health means much more than a pretty smile. If you’re not already a subscriber, you can click here to find out more.
Here’s to your health,
Julian Whitaker, MD
P.S. If you can’t brush after a meal, try eating an apple. This fruit’s tooth-cleaning power is the next best thing to a toothbrush or dental hygienist!
During Summer Travel, Don’t Forget Your Circulation
This
summer, whether you are flying in an airplane or taking a long car trip,
healthy circulation should be at the forefront of your mind. But who knew a
simple pair of socks would be your ticket to ride? Jobst SensiFoot Socks use a technology called “gradient pressure” to help support normal circulation
and reduce swelling and fatigue in your feet and ankles. These compression
socks apply subtle pressure in decreasing amounts from the bottom up, prompting
normal blood flow back to the heart.
The Secret to Sound, Healthy Sleep
If you have trouble sleeping
occasionally, you’ll be amazed by how good you feel when normal sleep becomes a
part of your life. Dr. Whitaker’s Restful Night Essentials provides a unique combination of nutrients and calming
herbs that works quickly and naturally to induce healthy, high-quality sleep.
It’s safe, non-habit forming, and you’ll feel its effects the very first night.
No More Remembering to Order—And No Running Out!
With the free EasyShip Program, you can have all your supplements arrive at your door—right on time, exactly when you want them. Plus, you’ll save 10% on all orders, and pay far less in shipping. Just call 1-800-722-8008, and we’ll set it all up for you right now.
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