Toothache and Gum Disease

Toothaches and gum diseases are usually only related in that they both occur in the mouth. They have in general very different causes and therefore will be discussed separately.

The classic toothache is almost always caused by nerve pain due to an exposed nerve root. While it is true that receeding gums can expose nerve roots, causing "tooth" pain.

Another scenario is that of a filling worn down or fallen out. Chewing gum regularly will make fillings come out more quickly, avoid it if possible.

Usually a toothache requires a trip to the dentist, however there a number of  treatments you can access relatively easily if you can't see the dentist right away.

• Avoid very hot or very cold foods or beverages, such as hot coffee or ice cream.
• Also, avoid hard to bite foods such as raw carrots or apples.
• Gentle pressure onto the hurting tooth through the cheek may provide some relief.
• The castor oil pack is a marvelous tool for pain relief anywhere. Simply apply a generous layer of castor oil to the area that hurts (in the case of toothache apply the oil to the cheek; putting castor oil in your mouth could cause stomach cramps or loose stools), cover with a layer of saran wrap then apply a hot towel or heating pad to the area. Be careful not to burn the skin. Rest with the heat on for at least 20 minutes. The castor oil will stimulate "drainage" of the blood congested with microbes, in the case of infection, or with pain producing elements, such as cytokines, in the case of dental nerve irritation. Castor oil is available in most health-food stores.
• One of the easiest and most effective natural pain killers, especially for toothache, is clove oil. Many dentists still use clove oil in their offices where stronger  analgesics. You can rub the clove oil directly onto the painful area inside the mouth.  Dilute it with olive oil if it is too strong straight. You can also hold a whole peg of clove in your mouth at the site of the toothache. The numbing sensation will kick in quite rapidly, and will last up to 90 minutes.  

The good news about toothache is that the tooth can usually be fixed.

Gum disease is more serious, generally more chronic, and not readily responsive to "quick fixes."

Gum disease is caused by infection, and prevention is the best approach to this disease.

• Avoid over-eating.
• Avoid excessive stress which may cause night time teeth griding.
• Avoid sugary foods and beverages.

Gum disease is very common, in fact it is listed as the most prevalent infectious ailment in the United States after the common cold. The rate of infection increases with age; it is a major cause of adult tooth loss.

The first stage is gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums, caused by sticky deposits of bacteria, mucus and food particles. These sticky deposits are called "plaque" or may still be refered to by a more outdated term: tartar. The plaque builds up around the teeth and, at the gum line, irritates the gums causing bleeding and ultimately infection. Gingivits is the medical term for gum infection; pyorrhea means bleeding gums.

The accumulation of plaque eventually causes the gums to swell and become infected, widening the gaps between the gum and the tooth, like pockets, which further enhances disease. These "pockets" gather food debris and can become soft, red, shiny and will bleed easily. When gum diseases progresses ad begins to affect the jaw bone, it is called periodontal disease.

All of this can be prevented or improved with physical measures.

• Foremost is consistent, thoughtful tooth, gum and tongue brushing with a clean, soft brush. Brush the teeth at a 45 degree angle to get under the gum line. Get a new toothbrush regularly (at least 4 times yearly) and make sure your toothpaste isn't irritating.
• If you make lots of plaque, consider an alkalinizing toothpaste, such as one containing baking soda. Bacteria prefer an acid environment. The FDA has approved the first toothpaste (made by Colgate) that can claim on the label to "prevent gingivitis and plaque" but you probably don't need drugs in your toothpaste to keep your gums healthy. If you can't get to your toothbrush soon after eating, at least vigorously swish out your mouth with water.

Gum disease is a major cause of bad breath.

• The next obvious preventive approaches to gum health are eating nutritious whole foods (not processed), flossing daily and regular dental check-ups.
• Avoid refined carbohydrates including alcohol and soda pop.
• Faulty dental fillings and ill-fitting protheses can also accelerate gum disease by providing sites for plaque accumulation.
• Sufficient saliva is also critical to clear the mouth of plaque and bacteria. Persons with dry mouth due to age or disease will need to stimulate their salivary glands more vigorously by chewing carrots  or sugar-free candies, sipping fluids throughout the day and attempting to breathe through the nose only.

Bacterial plaque is not the only cause of gum disease. A compromised "host" is also a factor in any disease; that is, someone with a poorly functioning immune system due to substance abuse, poor nutrition or poor general hygiene.

Smokers suffer from much more rapid gum deterioration than non-smokers. In case you needed just one more reason to quit! Smoking promotes periodontal disease and ultimately tooth loss by doing free radical damage to the cells on the surface of the inside of the mouth. Smoking also drastically reduces Vitamin C stores.

Gum problems which progress from gingivitis to periodontal disease may be a sign of a more systemic condition, such as diabetes mellitus, collagen diseases, luekemia or other diorders of white cell function, anemia, or vitamin deficiency. 

White patches on the gums or elsewhere on the oral mucous membrane (inside the mouth) that can be scraped off are a sign of fungal infection (thrush) which must be treated, principally by avoiding sugar, antibiotics and steroids (including inhalers) whenever possible. The reason you would want to avoid antibiotics, if possible, in treating gum disease is that they destroy "good" bacteria, which help to break down and digest food, in the mouth as well as along the whole length of the gastro-intestinal tract.

Once you have gum disease, what can be done?

Luckily, quite alot, including many non-drug and non-surgical methods.

• Natural bioflavonoids, the molecules that give plants their colors, decrease wound healing time and are useful in treating gum and periodontal disease. Blueberries, hawthorn berries and grapes are all rich sources of flavonoids.
• Vitamin C is also critical to gum health, found in amla, lemon, oranges etc.
• Another crucial nutrient for gum health is folic acid, or folate. The mucous membrane of the gastro-intestinal tract, which starts in the mouth, has the highest rate of cell turnover in the entire body. This is why many chemotherapy drugs, which are geared to "attack" cancer cells that are rapidly dividing, are folic acid inhibitors. People taking chemotherapy drugs will often suffer terribly from sores and blisters in their mouths, and all along the GI tract. Folic acid is essential for normal cell proliferation and the constantly renewing mucous membrane over the gums would not stay healthy without this important B vitamin.

Please give these methods a try, and hopefully surgery and/or antibiotics can be avoided.

Now, truthfully, when was the last time you changed your toothbrush?