Periodontal diseases are host-mediated, pus-forming, bone destroying bacterial infections with deadly consequences. The amount of damage to your teeth, bones, and health depend on the presence of specific bacteria and how strong your immune system is to fight them.

These gum infections are caused by overgrowth of specific (bad) bacteria passed between family members and partners through saliva. There are several factors that increase your risk of developing gum disease such as: smoking or chewing tobacco, medical conditions that affect your immune system, i.e. diabetes, HIV infections and blood disorders. Other factors that increase your risk are: medications that dry your saliva or create hormonal imbalances and the strength of the immune system you inherited from your family.

What symptoms should I look for?

Some people may experience swelling, sore, or bleeding gums, bad breath or loose teeth. However, most people have no symptoms until the destruction is very advanced. The good news is that there are diagnostic tests that can detect and confirm the infection in the earliest stages before the teeth, bones and health are compromised.

That is why regular dental check-ups and periodontal examinations are so very important. A thorough periodontal examination by a dentist would include: a physical examination of the teeth and pockets around the teeth, digital x-rays to check bone levels supporting the teeth, microscopic and other diagnostic tests of the specific bugs in your mouth.

How is gum disease treated?

With the results of the examination, a treatment plan is formed for the unique needs of the patient. A partnership is begun between the patient and the dentist in order to approach the common goal of eradicating the bad bacteria, healing the tissues, and strengthening the patient’s own defense system.

Early gum infections are controlled with Initial Diagnostic Therapy (IDT) appointments that include: debridement and detoxification of the teeth and gums, meticulous home care and customized recare appointments.

Moderate to Advanced gum infections are treated with multiple, gentle, deep cleaning Periodontal Therapy (PT) appointments with natural medications placed underneath the gums to kill bad bacteria and support healing, laser gum therapy, customized home care, and recare appointments.

They found that exposure to some dental x-rays performed in the past, when radiation exposure was greater than the current machines, appears to be associated with an increased risk of intracranial meningioma. As with all sources of artificial ionizing radiation, considered use of this modified risk factor may be a benefit to patients. Cancer, 2012. American Cancer Society.

They found that dental bite-wing x-rays taken on a yearly or more frequent interval and PANO dental x-rays taken at a young age or on a yearly basis or with greater frequency had an elevated risk for this type of brain cancer.

This study suggests that dental x-rays, the most common artificial source of ionizing radiation, can be easily modified to be safer for the patients.

For example, prudent precautions could be:

• Do not let dentists take old style x-rays of your teeth
• All dentist should be using digital x-rays
• Dentists should be using the minimum x-rays to meet the needs of the patient

Digital dental x-rays can cut your exposure to ionizing radiation by up to 90%. Your dentist should be customizing your dental x-ray recall to the minimum amount to properly care for you. Do not let set insurance policies or rigid x-ray requirements by individuals or companies, outside your dentist’s control, dictate your need for more ionizing radiation than is necessary.

Talk with your dentist about your concerns and go to a dentist that customizes your dental x-rays to the minimum for your needs, like our practice does.

So, where do we find this poison?

Most of the world has banned fluoridation or is trying to remove fluoride from their water supplies. Denmark, Sweden, Holland, and 90% of Europe are non-fluoridated. 43 million Chinese people suffer with severe dental fluorosis and 2.4 million with skeletal fluorosis, a severe crippling disease with bone deformities. Only in America and countries under strong American influence does the practice of adding this poison to the water supply exist.

Some in-home filters (like the one pictured here) can be used to remove fluoride from your tap water.

California had remained 85% non-fluoridated, until recently, due to more than 70 rejections by voter initiatives. In October 1995 the California State Legislature ignored 50 years of voter’s rejections at the local-level and mandated the mass medication of California citizens with fluoride. AB733 passed with Governor Pete Wilson’s signature mandating that all water systems in California with 10,000+ connections fluoridate the public water supplies.

The legislature left it up to the health departments to find funding. A private health-care foundation has granted $10 million dollars to fluoridate water in California. Individual cities or water districts are applying for the money as Los Angeles did, which as of 1999 has a fluoridated public water supply.

Other sources include; Toothpastes typically use 1000-1500ppm fluoride, fluoride mouth rinses containing 500ppm fluoride, fluoride tablets, drops and vitamins. Many sources not usually thought to have high levels include, fruit juices, sodas, soups, milk, canned goods, beer, wine and fruit esp. raisins. Primarily these are due to the fluoridated water used to process the items, pesticide residue on the fruits and ingredients to stop fermentation.

What does fluoride do to you at these small levels?

1ppm fluoride increases production of deformed collagen throughout the body, most easily visible as white, mottled spots on your teeth. This level also affects other proteins and approximately 100 enzymes in the body by forming extremely strong H-bonds in proteins, enzymes and DNA.

As a result liver, oral and bone cancers rise, kidney disease increases, incidences of hip fracture increases and fluoride in the brain lowers the IQs in children and hinders learning behaviors.

Who is at the greatest risk?

Studies of susceptible groups in the populations include: those who drink 8-12+ cups of water/day (i.e. warm climates or athletes), elderly, those with poor nutrition esp. low Ca, Mg and Vitamin C Levels, patients with cardiovascular or kidney diseases.

Is there a way to avoid exposure to this poison?

If your water supply is fluoridated, you can try to filter it out with a distiller but the fluoride molecule, because it binds so strongly to most elements will probably over-whelm the filters after a few months. You can try to get a non-fluoridated source of water i.e. delivered spring water company and use only organic sources of foods to minimize exposure.

Many communities have rejected the fluoridation of their water supplies in California eg. Just recently: Santa Cruz, La Mesa, Escondido cities and the Helix, Riverview and Lakeside Water Districts.

Fluoride is classified both as a drug and as a poison.

As with most other drugs, ideally you want there to be a wide safety margin between the useful (therapeutic) dose of a medication and the harmful (toxic) dose. Fluoridation starting at 1ppm in our water is already at a level that has the potential to do damage to human systems and therefore does not have a wide margin of safety. This is the definition of a toxin and everyone would be advised to minimize over-exposure to this toxic addictive to our water supply.

To obtain a simple, house water test kit for fluoride call or write to my office. For information and prices call (760) 729-9050.

Located in the southern part of Carlsbad, in the Von’s shopping center, at 6985 El Camino Real, Pharmaca will help you and your family achieve optimal health and vitality.

Store hours are 9am-9pm Monday through Saturday and 10am-7pm on Sunday. Stop in to visit or go to their website, www.pharmaca.com  for more information.

Fluorine, because of its small size and because it is one of the most electronegative elements on earth, is extremely reactive. Fluoride is more toxic than lead and slightly less toxic than arsenic.

The National Federation of Federal Employees, local 2050, union of the EPA in Washington, D.C. states: “Our union member’s review of the literature over the past 11 years had lead us to conclude that a causal link exists between fluoride exposure and cancer, increased hip fracture, and damage to the central nervous system”.

In fact, fluoride has been linked to increases in fluorosis of teeth and bones, cancers, genetic damage, bone pathology, brain, artery, and kidney damage and lower IQs in children.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and the British Ministry of Health admit that no laboratory experiment has ever shown that 1ppm fluoride in the drinking water is effective in reducing tooth decay. They also admit that there are no double-blind epidemiological studies on humans showing that fluoridation reduces tooth decay.

Three recent large-scale studies show no difference in decay rates of permanent teeth in fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas.

My position on Fluoride/Fluoridation is one of several opinions in this field, in which much research is still going on and needed. For example, “Over the years, and as recently as 1997, the (American Dental Association) ADA has continued to reaffirm its position of support for water fluoridation,” saying “fluoridation is the single most effective public health measure to protect tooth decay and to improve oral health over a lifetime.”

Here are the facts:

FLUORIDE FACTS

1. Fluoride is a violent protoplasmic poison which accumulates, over a lifetime, in calcium-rich tissues of the body.
2. Fluorides are used commercially in pesticides, aluminum smelting, etching metals and glass, aerosols propellants and refrigerants.
3. In medicine, fluorides are used in chemotherapy, psychiatric drugs and anesthesia.
4. Fluoridation commonly uses hydrofluosilicic acid and sodium silicofluoride both toxic waste products of phosphate fertilizer production.
5.  Sodium fluoride commonly used in prescription and general toothpastes is a hazardous waste product of aluminum manufacturers.

Researchers at the Minnesota Department of Health said they were surprised to find that some of the 1,465 children they tested had very high concentrations. It’s solid evidence that infants in the state are contaminated by mercury, a pollutant that can cause neurological damage.

The combination of their mother’s mercury fillings, eating the fish from the Lake Superior waters and the coal-fired power plants in this part of the nation all contribute to these unsafe levels in the infants.

In all, 8 % of the babies had blood concentrations above the EPA health standards-up to a thousand times higher and 10% of the blood samples were above the healthy standards.

This is a clear indication that mercury exposure to infants in Minnesota is too high and expectant mothers should be reminded to be aware of all the sources of mercury their body and the baby’s body are being exposed too.

Dr. Lo (as she’s known) was kind enough to give me permission to post the audio here in my blog. Take a listen by hitting the “play” button in the BlogTalkRadio widget below and feel free to leave me any comments or questions below.

Thanks for reading (and listening)!

Some of the new sour candies on the market have a pH close to battery acid. Below is the list of some of the worst pH level candies on the market. They are dissolving your kid’s teeth as fast as battery acid would.

Your teeth start to dissolve at any pH below 4.0. Some of these candies are below that pH and some of them are very close to battery acid’s pH of 1.o. The manufactures make them sour to attract the consumer and stimulate the sour taste buds in your mouth. Most of these worst offenders are sour powders but some are sour gummy type candies that stick to the teeth for a long time.

If you would not put battery acid on your kids teeth, then avoid these candies that are dissolving your kids teeth and may require fillings or crowns.

 
Better snack options to help fight cavities and help avoid dental problems would be fresh fruit, carrots sticks, popcorn and any foods that are high in Arginine i.e. spinach, soy, seafood, nuts, seeds, coconut, and chocolate. Also they could brush right after their snacks to avoid some of the harmful affects of these snacks. All candy, gums and mints with the sugar, Xylitol, help push the bad bugs off the teeth and avoid cavities.

If you need advise or have questions, call or write to me and I would love to help.

Previous studies have shown mercury’s effects on loons and other fish-eating waterfowl, as well as bald eagles, panthers and otters. In one study, zebra finches lost the ability to hit high notes in mating songs when mercury levels rose, affecting reproduction.

“We’re seeing many other species in a much larger landscape of harm from mercury,” said the principal author, David C. Evers, who is the institute’s executive director. He called the EPA’s new stricter federal mercury standards, adopted last month and scheduled to take effect over the next four years, “an excellent step forward in reducing and minimizing the impact on ecosystems and improving ecological health, and therefore our own health.”

Most of this mercury exposure comes from the exhaust air when coal is burned in power plants. The gaseous mercury can drift hundreds of miles before settling back to earth, sometimes along with rain. The mercury can be absorbed by tree leaves, absorbed into plants and the soil, entering our natural food chain. Bacteria in the soil and other organisms can convert this mercury into the organic form, methyl mercury, a powerful neurotoxin.

The neurological and reproductive damage is spreading and getting more pronounced in many of the ecological species and mimic the effects of mercury on humans whose primary exposure is the mercury-silver fillings in their mouths.

“It’s incredibly important that someone is following what is happening to these birds,” said Joanna Burger, a behavioral ecologist at Rudgers University who has studied mercury contamination in animals. “The birds not only act as sentinels to what is happening in nature, but the results of these studies propose hypotheses for effects that have not yet been identified for people.”

Stay tune for more news and updates on the effects of mercury in our environment at www.wellnessdentalcare.com. I welcome any questions and comments that you may have on these important issues.

Rev. Dr. Stephen A. Lawrence

The Nuvora Company has developed a long-lasting lozenge, called Dentiva, which gives you that “professional cleaning” fresh breath and clean teeth feeling any time of the day. So when you don’t have time to brush after lunch, are driving all day in your car, traveling away from home or just want fresh breath for a meeting use this simple oral health candy.

Dentiva’s patented time-release (SuRe Technology) provides a programmed 1-hour delivery of the active ingredients. The essential oils (Thymol, Wintergreen, and Eucalyptus) are slowly released and bathe the teeth and gums for up to an hour. These essential oils help dissolve the sticky plaque on your teeth, kill up to 99.9% of the bad bacteria that cause gum disease, and neutralizes the acidic pH of your mouth. These and other natural ingredients, such as peppermint, menthol, sodium bicarbonate, and the natural sweetener, Xylitol, help give you an instant clean mouth that lasts for hours.

Other conventional mouthrinse, gum, and breath mint products are flushed away to fast, limiting their effectiveness and lasting benefits. The Dentiva lozenge is designed to dissolve slowly, delivering the cleaning and freshening ingredients consistently for up to an hour. Dentiva is also sugar and alcohol free so they are safe to use anytime and whenever you need them.

An added benefit of the Dentiva is the buffering ability it has in the mouth. Because it neutralizes the pH of the mouth, the teeth have time to re-mineralize damaged tooth structure and help reverse cavities. This health pH balance helps reduce the gingivitis (red gums) which is one of the first signs of more advanced gum disease.

The Nuvora Company has a convenient online way to purchase the product at www.nuvorainc.com or call 1-877-530-9811. I am so delighted with the results of this product that I offer it to all my patients. We can sell the product at my dental office also, at 1-760-729-9050.

Dentiva is a pleasant tasting, safe, effective, non-alcoholic, sugar-free, and easy way to reduce bad bacteria in the mouth and stop gum disease when you can’t brush or floss.

Fresher breath and cleaner teeth any time of the day!