Homeopathy & Dental Work & Dental Problems (includes info on fluoride & amalgam)

[Guest guest]

Arnica usually first several times and then find the one that sounds most

like you below

http://www.homeopathyhome.com/services/rshop/vshoppe/remguide/dental.shtml

Dental Support

Homeopathic remedies can be helpful in many ways, both before and after

dental work—to ease anxiety before a visit, reduce the tendency toward

bruising and tissue damage during procedures, and to relieve discomfort

afterward.

For dosage information, please read the information at the end of this

section. See also “Using Homeopathy With Professional Guidance” in What Is

Homeopathy?

Arnica montana: This is a useful first-aid remedy for any situation

involving bruising and tissue damage. Some dentists recommend that patients

take it both before and after stressful dental work, including dental

surgery. Arnica may be used as long as soreness lasts, or followed by

another remedy aimed at more specific symptoms.

Calendula: This remedy can help the body overcome inflammation, infection,

and abscess. It can be taken internally in potentized form, or used as an

herbal tincture. Applied to injured gums and areas around the teeth, the

tincture can help reduce the chance of infection, and help the tissues heal

after being cut or bruised.

Chamomilla: This remedy is often helpful when a person is hypersensitive to

pain and the aftermath of dental work seems intolerable. Chamomilla

sometimes works when pain medications have little or no effect, by helping

the person’s nerve response become more balanced.

Gelsemium: This remedy can help to ease the apprehension and anxiety that

often precede a visit to the dentist. The person may tremble and feel weak

from dread, develop a headache (in the back of the head and the muscles of

the neck), or feel mentally dull and lethargic.

Hypericum: This remedy is known for its soothing effect when nerves or

nerve-filled body areas are injured. Shooting, jabbing pains are often

felt. Hypericum is very useful after oral surgery, especially root canals.

Mercurius solubilis: A person with a tendency toward tender, bleeding,

swollen gums and teeth that easily loosen and decay may benefit from this

remedy. Offensive breath, excessive salivation, and swollen glands are

other indications. Symptoms are worse at night, and the person is very

sensitive to temperatures, both cold and hot.

Single Remedies Remedy Kits

Combination Remedies Topicals

Pet Remedies Bach Flower Remedies

Homeopathy Dosage Directions

Select the remedy that most closely matches the symptoms. In conditions

where self-treatment is appropriate, unless otherwise directed by a

physician, a lower potency (6X, 6C, 12X, 12C, 30X, or 30C) should be used.

In addition, instructions for use are usually printed on the label.

Many homeopathic physicians suggest that remedies be used as follows: Take

one dose and wait for a response. If improvement is seen, continue to wait

and let the remedy work. If improvement lags significantly or has clearly

stopped, another dose may be taken. The frequency of dosage varies with the

condition and the individual. Sometimes a dose may be required several

times an hour; other times a dose may be indicated several times a day; and

in some situations, one dose per day (or less) can be sufficient.

If no response is seen within a reasonable amount of time, select a

different remedy.

For more information, including references, see What is Homeopathy? and

Understanding Homeopathic Potencies.

Copyright © 1999 Healthnotes, Inc.

1505 SE Gideon St., Suite 200, Portland, OR 97202

Authors of the best-selling book The Natural Pharmacy

The information presented in Healthnotes Online is for informational

purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in

vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article.

The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many

of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or

over-the-counter medication is also available. Consult your physician,

nutritionally oriented healthcare practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any

health problem and before using any supplements or before making any

changes in prescribed medications.

**********

http://www.homeopathic.com/ailments/hesdent.htm

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Homeopathy and Dentistry Keep You Smiling

©1991, Dana Ullman, M.P.H.

(Excepted from Discovering Homeopathy: Medicine for the 21st Century, North

Atlantic Books)

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For further information about homeopathic medicine and for access to

homeopathic medicines, contact:

Homeopathic Educational Services

2124B Kittredge St.

Berkeley, CA 94704

(510) 649-0294

(510) 649-1955 (fax)

Portraits of our country's first president, Washington, rarely show

him smiling and for a good reason: Washington's false teeth were

made with wood. Though they were well sculpted by his blacksmith friend

Revere, this crude set of teeth did not have the same polish as

nature's artistry.

Dentistry has come a long way since the time of Washington, but it

still has a long way to go in order to deal with the degree of dental

problems affecting people today.

It has been estimated that 98% of the American public suffers from dental

disease. (1) Approximately 25 million Americans, or one in every eight

people do not have any teeth. (2) And over six million teeth are removed

each year. (3)

One may wonder what homeopathic medicine may offer dentistry. It initially

seems that dental disease is a straightforward problem that simply requires

good hygiene for prevention and the use of modern dental practices to deal

with dental problems as they arise. Dentistry doesn't seem to be a

controversial subject, or is it? Although there may be general agreement on

the importance of prevention, there is disagreement on how to prevent

dental problems, and there is significant controversy on how to deal with

them when they arise.

It is generally recognized that tooth decay (caries) results from bacteria

in the mouth which thrive on the sugar and refined foods that the person

eats. The bacteria produces a harmful acid which can dissolve teeth. When

the teeth are not kept clean through brushing and flossing, the germs are

able to infiltrate through the enamel and into the dentin of the teeth or

under the gums of the mouth, wreaking havoc by causing decay and peridontal

disease.

When the bacteria isn't cleaned out of the mouth, it binds with corrosive

waste products in the mouth and attaches itself to teeth and gums, forming

plaque. Plaque destroys the connective tissues that attach gums to teeth,

creating inflammation of the gums or gingivitis. If this disease process

continues, the teeth will loosen and eventually either fall out or need to

be removed.

Dental caries and gum problems are thought to result primarily because of

the poor care and maintenence of the oral cavity. There are, however, other

factors that influence the development of caries. It is recognized that the

salivary glands in the mouth help fight decay by trying to neutralize the

acid that the germs produce. The healthy functioning of the salivary glands

are dependent on the person's overall health.

The person's overall health also directly affects gum health. Hormones, in

particular, play a major role in the health of gums. If a person's thyroid

is either secreting too much or too little thyroid hormones, the ligaments

that hold teeth and gums together are weakened and the blood supply to gum

tissues is decreased. Imbalance in sex hormones can make a person more

susceptible to gum and teeth problems, which is why women experience

exacerbated dental conditions during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and

menopause. Anemia which can lessen the amount of blood oxygen reaching the

gums can also make a person more susceptible to gum disease. Even something

as general as stress can influence the strength of the connective tissues

between teeth and gums.

The person's overall health also influences the strength of the person's

teeth. The parathyroid regulates calcium levels in the body, and an

irregularity in this gland can create various dental problems.

A person's overall health is affected by proper nutrition, and dental

health is certainly influenced by it too. In particular, dentists have

found that appropriate amounts of calcium and fluoride are important for

dental health. There is however a major controversy on how much fluoride is

necessary and how people should get it.

Homeopathic Insights on the Controversy of Fluoridation

The American Dental Association asserts that water fluoridation decreases

dental caries by 50-70%. (4) Opponents of fluoridation question its value

in preventing these dental problems and cite dozens of studies which show

the toxic effects of fluoridation. Who's right?

The homeopathic point of view on fluoride is that it may be helpful in

preventing caries and it may cause various other dental and health

problems. The basic homeopathic principle is that a substance in microdose

will help cure those similar symptoms that it will cause in larger dose.

Fluoride is an effective medicine in preventing caries, but it can also

mottle (turn chalky white or yellow) teeth and cause various other symptoms.

The essential question then is: what is the proper dose to prevent caries

and what is the toxic dose? This questionis more difficult than it seems.

People have varying needs, and what may be helpful to one person may be too

much to another. A 1982 article in Science noted that the 1 part per

million of fluoride which is commonly added to water may be too much after

all. (5) The author noted that 28% of children between 11 and 13 years of

age who lived in communities with fluoridation experienced mottling of the

teeth.

Fluoride, as an enzyme poison, may in fact help reduce the formation of

bacterial acid in the mouth that corrodes teeth. However, even in the same

dose, fluoride may create various symptoms because of its side effects on

bodily enzymes which are beneficial for health. A new study reported in the

New Scientist has provided b evidence that " fluoride switches off the

enzyme by attacking its weakest links--the delicately-balanced network of

hydrogen bonds surround the enzyme's active site. " (6) The researchers

theorize that fluoride may interfere with the hydrogen bonding of DNA in

the same way that it interferes with certain enzymes, which may then

explain how fluoride can cause a wide variety of symptoms and syndromes.

Anti-fluoridationists readily acknowledge that dental caries declined

significantly when fluoridation was first tested. However, they also cite

the fact that dental caries declined for people in unfluoridated cities as

well. (7)

According to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, fluoride is not

considered an essential nutrient. (8) A deficiency of fluoride is extremely

unusual for those eating a standard American diet. Whereas the American

Dental Association asserts that fluoridation assures that people will get

amounts of fluoride that will prevent caries, anti-fluoridationists rebut

that we are already getting enough, perhaps even too much. The

anti-fluoridationists have expressed concern that additional fluoride in

the diet will cause a wide variety of serious health problems. It has been

estimated that dried cereals, ready-to-drink fruit juices, infant formula,

and strained baby food processed with fluoridated water contain up to 20

times as much fluoride as products made with unfluoridated water. (9)

Those who oppose fluoride have been portrayed as wild-eyed, crazy, health

nuts who see communist conspiracies in everything. This accusation has no

basis in fact, especially when one considers that most countries in Europe

have not fluoridated their water, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain,

Switzerland, Sweden, Holland, Denmark, Austria, and Belgium.

Further, recent scientific research has begun to verify several of the

health concerns of the anti-fluoridationists. Dr. Yiamouyiannis, a

biochemist who is one of the leaders of the anti-fluoridation movement,

noted that the mottling of teeth is " merely a reflection of the metabolic

disturbances of soft tissue cells " from an overdose of fluoride. (10) The

1983 Physicians Desk Reference has noted that 1/2 milligram of fluoride, an

amount equal to only one pint of fluoridate water, can cause skin problems,

gastric distress, headaches, and weakness in hypersensitive individuals.

Yale professor Dr. J.A. Albright reported that as little as one part per

million of fluoride decreases bone strength and elasticity. (11) A study

published in the Journal of Dental Research showed that one part per

million of fluoride fed to animals inhibited their immune system. (12)

Research has also shown that levels of one-half to one part per million of

fluoride causes increased tumor growth in mice by 15-25%. (13) Based on

this research, one might expect that those who live in cities with

fluoridated water may have a higher cancer rate than those who live in

unfluoridated cities. Dr. Yiamouyiannis in conjunction with former chief

chemist with the U.S. National Cancer Institute Dr. Dean Burk did this

comparison and found that people living in fluoridated cities did, in fact,

have higher cancer death rates than those in other cities in surrounding

geographical areas. (14) However, a careful analysis of these statistics

which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine noted that this

study was not age-adjusted research.* (15) This critique of the

Yiamouyiannis and Burk study indicates that there is no proven link between

fluoridation and cancer.

[* Age-adjusted research is a means of comparing populations based on

similar age groups. Without this adjustment certain cities with elderly

populations would seem to have significantly higher death rates than other

cities, which is just what happened in the Yiamouyiannis-Burk study.]

Although there may not be definate evidence that fluoridation may lead to

cancer, many clinicians have found that it can cause diarrhea, muscular

pains, excessive thirst and urination, episodes of acute abdominal pain,

skin rashes, and progressive exhaustion. Waldbott, M.D., a

practicing allergist for over 50 years and author of Fluoridation: The

Great Deilemma, has noted that many physicians misdiagnose this sensitivity

as " nerves, " and then prescribe drugs which ultimately exacerbate the

problem. (16)

In addition to the potential problems that fluoride in water may cause, new

research published in the highly respected scientific journal Nature has

found that using fluorided water in aluminum pots tends to leech more

aluminum into the food or water. (17) Since ingestion of aluminum has been

linked to Alzheimer's disease, it may be prudent to avoid aluminum

cookware, especially if one uses fluoridated water.

Whereas homeopathic organizations do not have a formal position on

fluoridation, there is general acknowledgement in the homeopathic community

that certain individuals in populations will be hypersensitive to fluoride.

Although the American Dental Association (ADA) acknowledges this

hypersensitivity in a very small number of Americans, homeopaths generally

assume that there are greater numbers than those assumed by the A.D.A.

There is also concern among homeopaths about what long-term exposure to

small doses of fluoride may cause.

There is further concern among some homeopaths that fluoridation amounts to

forced medication. Even those who get bottled water will receive additional

fluoride as the result of increased fluoride in the food chain from

watering fruits and vegetables, from washing fruits or vegetables in tap

water, and from feeding fluoridated water to animals who will be consumed.

Ralph Nader expressed a similar concern when he spoke at a college in 1974,

saying, " Fluoridation has been promoted without giving consumers their free

choice. " (18)

Some anti-fluoridationists have flippantly advocated that we " fluoridate

candy, not water. " Perhaps even this isn't a good idea.

Amalgam Fillings: The Controversy

In 1840 the American Society of Dental Surgeons (ASDS) was formed, and it

was America's first licensing body. This organization required that its

members sign an oath affirming that they would not use mercury-containing

materials in their dental fillings. The ADSD eventually died a couple of

decades later and its rival organization, the American Dental Association,

advocated for amalgam fillings. Throughout the ADA's history, some dentists

have questioned the safety of these fillings.

Recently however, a small but growing group of ADA dentists are again

expressing concern about amalgams. Amalgam fillings are primarily composed

of mercury, silver, tin, and cooper. The anti-amalgam dentists assert that

the oral cavity is the only place in the human body where we commonly place

non-biological materials. These dentists also note that the upper teeth are

less than 10 centimeters to the brain and that high concentrations of

mercury found post-mortem in the brain have been correlated to the numbers

and surfaces of the amalgam fillings. (19) They express further concern

that we have never adequately tested the bio-compatibility of these metals.

It is ironic, they note, that public health officials require that dentists

keep their mercury in an airtight container and that they do not throw

their excess mercury away in the trash, but must dispose of it in a

carefully determined fashion. And yet, dentists readily place this toxic

substance in people's mouths. In fact, over 85% of the American public have

amalgam fillings in their mouth.

Joe Graedon, a respected pharmacologist and author of The People's

Pharmacy, expressed concern about amalgam feelings, stating, " How can the

mercury get loose? Corrosion is the culprit. While a hunk of metal in your

tooth looks impervious, it may be subject to corrosion. In addition to the

chemical environment of your mouth, which includes a constant saliva bath

which tends to dissolve tin, amalgam in contact with other metals (such as

a good bridge) creates a minature electrochemical cell which is hellbent on

dissolving itself out of existence, freeing mercury in the process. " (20)

Until very recently, the ADA has rebutted the anti-amalgam dentists noting

that there is no evidence that the amalgams release any mercury or other

metals into the body. New technology however has been able to detect this

leeching. Studies have shown that people with amalgam fillings have

detectable levels of mercury vapors in their breath. (21) The ADA responded

to this research by stating that mercury vapors in the mouth did not prove

the presence of increased mercury in the blood. Newer studies however have

shown that blood mercury concentration in patients with amalgam filling

were signficantly higher than those without such fillings. (22) Although it

is not yet conclusive what symptoms this leeching may cause, some research

has shown that people with amalgam fillings had a significant decrease in

T-cells* after insertion of fillings than before their insertion or after

their removal. (23)

[* T-cells are important components of the immune system.]

Counter to those who have asserted that amalgam fillings release toxic

amounts of metals into the body, the Medical Letter, one of the most

respected medical newsletters in the U.S., has doubted if the leeching

causes any medical problems, except in a very small number of people

allergic to the amalgam. (24) The Medical Letter, however, did not address

the concerns of acupuncturists and others familiar with Chinese medicine

who do not simply worry about toxic exposure, but also about how the

fillings affect acupuncture points under the teeth. Acupuncturists note

that the metalic fillings have the potential of acting as batteries and

capacitors which can generate current and store electrical charges. Since

every tooth is situated on an acupuncture meridian, the filling may provide

additional stress which may create acute and/or chronic symptoms in

susceptible individuals.

The fact that acupuncture points reside under the teeth may be one possible

explanation that homeopaths sometimes observe that the action of

homeopathic medicines are antidoted by some dental work, including getting

teeth cleaned or getting new fillings. It has been conjectured that some

dental work stimulates so many acupuncture points in a short period of time

that it may " short circuit " the action of the homeopathic medicines. More

research on this phenomena would certainly be worthwhile.

Although most homeopaths are unfamiliar with the controversies surrounding

amalgam fillings, there have always been certain ones who have noted the

health effects of these fillings. As far back as the late 1800s, Dr.

Taft, professor of dental surgery at a homeopathic medical college

in Chicago, claimed that amalgam fillings were responsible for the fact

that some patients with chronic disease were not responding to homeopathic

medicines. Once these fillings were removed, he found that the medicines

worked, and the person's chronic condition disappeared or was significantly

reduced. (25)

As with fluoridation, homeopaths find that some people are more sensitive

to certain metals. Since dentists generally recognize this fact also, the

most practical way to deal with it is for dentists to test the

bio-compatibility of various types of fillings before placing them in a

person's mouth. Certain recognized immunological tests can be used, though

they are expensive. Some dentists have found that new electroacupuncture

machines are able to assess subtle but measurable changes in the meridian

energy which acupuncturists feel can determine hypersensitivity. (26)

Although this new technology may hold promise, its accuracy is presently

undetermined.

Homeopaths are also concerned about the inevitable long-term exposure to

metals in the fillings. Some homeopaths have found that potentized doses of

Mercury has helped some people, but most homeopaths recognize the

importance of strict individualization of the person in order to provide

help to people suffering from their fillings. Homeopaths also have

observed, as did homeopathic dentist Taft, that fillings sometimes have to

be removed before improvement in health is possible.

Homeopathic Medicines for Dental Problems

" For there was never yet a philosopher that could endure the toothache

patiently. "

--Much Ado About Nothing, Act V, Scene I, Shakespeare

Besides offering a different perspective on fluoridation and amalgam

fillings, homeopathy also offers specific medicines that can be invaluable

in reducing dental pain and alleviating dental disease.

It should first be mentioned that homeopathic medicines do not replace good

dental care but complement it. Also, the medicines may be effective in

relieving dental pain, but it is often necessary to discover what the

source of the pain is in order to cure the underlying problem. If pain is

occurring due to an abscess, it is not enough simply to reduce the pain.

The abscess must be treated.

One dental problem that homeopaths report treating effectively is fear,

anxiety, and anticipation of the dental visit. Whether these emotions be

" rational " or not, homeopaths have found three medicines to be most

commonly effective. Aconite (monkshood) is a common medicine given to

patients, usually children, for their fear of dentists. These people become

furious, restless and angry (children tend to stamp their feet and kick),

and tend to express extreme sensitivity to touch. Gelsemium (yellow

jasmine) is indicated in those people who experience trepidation, feeling

of weakness (especially a weak feeling in the stomach), drowsiness, loss of

memory, and diarrhea. Those who need Gelsemium tend to be hypokinetic,

whereas those who need Argenicum nitricum (silver nitrate) tend to be

hyperkinetic. Argenticum nitricum is useful for patients who experience

tremor and trembling of the whole body, who tend to be particularly

talkative and hurried in their actions, and who have an inner nervousness

which affects the bladder and intestines.

In order to determine the appropriate homeopathic medicine for toothaches,

it is helpful to learn what the source of the problem is. If it is the

result of a dental abscess, the common medicines are Belladonna (deadly

nightshade), Mercurius (mercury), Hepar sulph (Hahnemann's calcium

sulphur), and Silicea (silica). Belladonna is indicated at the initial

formative stages where there isn't much swelling, though there is much

throbbing and redness. Mercurius is helpful when the person is salivating

excessively, has foul breath, and experiences a pulsating pain which tends

to be worse at night or from exposure to anything extremely hot or cold.

Hepar sulph is valuable in the later stages of abscess when pus has formed.

The tooth affected is hypersensitive to touch and to cold, and the gums

bleed easily. Homeopaths have reported that this medicine helps drain pus

from the abscess. Silicea is indicated after the pus has discharged; at

this stage it hastens the resolution of the abscess.

Although these medicines may be helpful in alleviating the pain and in some

instances in curing, it is often necessary for the abscess to be drained

and either a root canal established or the tooth removed.

For pain and inflammation around wisdom teeth, homeopaths and dentists have

found that Belladonna is often given for throbbing pains and Hepar sulph to

promote expulsion of pus. Mercurius is helpful in treating the pulsating

pains that extend to the ears, especially at night. People who need

Mercurius also tend to have noticeably increased salivation. Locally,

mouthwashes with tincture of Salvia (sage) are sometimes helpful.

Neuralgic toothaches often yield to Chamomilla when the person is in such

pain they can't take it any more. People who need Chamomilla tend to be

particularly sensitive to warm food and drink (especially coffee), and

their symptoms are worse at night. For those who are so frantic with pain

that they cannot sleep, whose pains are also relieved by holding cold water

or ice in the mouth, and who are not relieved by Chamomilla, Coffea is

indicated. Plantago (plantain) is one of the more common medicines

indicated when there is a toothache with radiating pains to the ears.

Accompanying these pains generally are salivation, facial neuralgia, and

headache. Homeopaths usually use the tincture or low potencies for the best

results from this medicine. Other medicines that homeopaths consider when

dental pain extends to the ears are Mercurius and Sulphur, the prescription

of which is determined by the totality of the person's symptoms (these

medicines however are never given in tincture).

Hypericum (St. 's wort--the herb) is the prominent medicine given to

people for neuralgic pains after tooth extractions. Recent double-blind

research has confirmed its effectiveness. (27) This study showed that when

Hypericum was given in alternation with Arnica (mountain daisy) to people

after tooth extraction, they experienced significantly less dental pain as

compared to those given a placebo.

Dr. Baldwin, an Oakland, California dentist, Dr. Philip Parsons, a

Keystone Heights, Florida dentist, and Dr. Fischer, an ndale,

Virginia dentist, have allreported impressive results using Ruta (rue) for

people who have pain after dental surgery. Ruta is known in homeopathy as a

great medicine for injuries to the bone and periosteum (the bone

covering)[see Chapter 10 on Sports Medicine for more detail]. Since teeth

are actually considered by anatomists to be joints,* it is certainly

understandable that Ruta would be useful for traumas or injuries to them.

[* It is surprising to realize that teeth are considered ball and socket

joints.]

Homeopaths have also reported success in treating hemorrhage after

extraction, surgery, or accidental dental trauma. Some homeopaths give

Arnica to prevent hemorrhage or give it in the very initial stages of

bleeding. If bleeding persists and is bright red, Phosphorus is commonly

effective. In the rare instances when Phosphorus doesn't act rapidly,

Ipecacuanha (ipecac) is often indicated. Lachesis (venom of the bushmaster

snake) is valuable if the blood is dark. And if a person commonly has

bleeding problems, it is recommended they receive constitutional

homeopathic care.

If a puncture wound in the gum is incurred from surgery is causing pain,

Ledum (marsh tea) can relieve the pain and help it heal. If infection has

already set in, Pyrogen (artificial sepsin) is indicated. Calendula

(marigolds) in its tincture form is also helpful in conjunction with either

of these medicines.

The tincture of Calendula is not only useful in speeding the healing of

punctures, it is also valuable in healing trauma from injuries to the oral

cavity. It is of use for kids whose braces irritate their gums or mouth and

for the elderly whose dentures do not fit well (ultimately getting the

braces or dentures adjusted will also be necessary). Burns from ingesting

extremely hot food or drinks or from aspirin burns are alleviated

byCalendula tincture as well. If the tincture isn't readily available,

making a tea of marigolds is as effective.

A " dry socket " is the source of many people's dental pain. This condition

occurs after an extraction when the blood doesn't clot well, and the bone

and its nerve endings are exposed. Mouthwashes of Salvia (sage) infusions

several times a day diminish some of the pain. Other medicines for this

pain are: Belladonna for redness around the gums and throbbing pains that

come and go rapidly; Coffea for unbearableble pains that cause the person

to be very restless and that are temporarily relieved by cold water or ice

in the mouth; Hepar sulph for pain that is hypersensitive to touch and to

cold; and Silicea to help in the final stages when clot around the tooth

ultimately needs to be detached. If none of the above medicines seems

indicated or is working, Ruta should be given.

A dental problem which has only recently become widely recognized is

temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome. (28) This condition has linked

various dental and other health problems to the malalignment of the jaw

joint, the temporomandibular joint. It has been estimated that 38% of all

impulses that go to the brain pass near this joint area. Malalignment of

this jaw has been found to lead to symptoms as diverse as headache,

vertigo, ringing in the ears, sinus pains, hearing loss, depression, and

tic doulourex. Dr. Harold Gelb, director of the TMJ Clinic at the New York

Eye and Ear Infirmary, has estimated that 20 million Americans suffer from

TMJ. (29) Some dentists have estimated that 50% of all headaches are

traceable to this syndrome. (30)

Because of the diversity of symptoms that TMJ sufferers experience, there

are many medicines which homeopaths consider in determining proper

treatment. As with any other chronic malady, the homeopathic approach

requires an assessment of the person's totality of symptoms. Care from a

professional homeopath is clearly indicated in such cases.

Besides treating acute dental problems, homeopathic medicines have the

capacity to treat various chronic dental problems as well. Since some

chronic dental conditions result from general health problems of the

person, homeopathic medicines which have the capacity to strengthen a

person's overall health therefore can augment general dental hygiene in

order to prevent and treat teeth and gum disease.

The proper functioning of the salivary glands enables the body to digest

foods and to neutralize the acids that germs in the mouth produce. Healthy

functioning of the endocrine system helps the ligaments that hold teeth to

gums remain b and aids the transport of blood to gums. The parathyroid

gland is instrumental in helping to regulate calcium levels in the body.

Because overall functioning of the body play an integral role in dental

health, homeopathy will inevitably be recognized as a necessary part of

general health care as well as good dental health.

It is certainly encouraging that more and more dentists are utilizing

homeopathic medicines. For those whose dentists have not yet made the

transition to homeopathy, lay people can learn to use the medicines

themselves with impressive success. In order to obtain the best results, it

is recommended to obtain several books (not just books on homeopathy and

dentistry, but also some of the materia medicas in order to learn more

about the medicines--See the resources section at the end of this book for

details on accessing books). And, when possible, it is highly recommended

to attend seminars on homeopathic dentistry.

Homeopathy can help keep you smiling!

REFERENCES

1. Melvin Denholz and Elaine Denholtz, How to Save Your Teeth and Your

Money, New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1977, 12.

2. McGuire, The Tooth Trip, New York: Random House, 1972, 2.

3. Denholz, 12.

4. J.H. Shaw, Fluoridation as a Public Health Measure, Washington, DC:

AAAS, 1954. J.J. Murray, Fluorides in Caries Prevention, Bristol, England:

, 1976. E. Newbrun, editor, Fluorides and Dental Caries, Springfield,

Il.: , second edition, 1975.

5. Dennis H. Leverett, " Fluorides and the Changing Prevalence of Dental

Caries, " Science, 217, July 2, 1982, 26-30.

6. " How Fluoride Might Damage Your Health, " New Scientist, February 28,

1985, 20.

7. Leverett, 26-30.

8. " Is Fluoride an Essential Element? " Fluorides, Washington, DC: National

Academy of Sciences, 1971, 66-68. Maurer and Harry Day, " The

Non-Essentiality of Fluorine in Nutrition, " Journal of Nutrition, 62, 1957,

561-573.

9. Ellen Ruppel Shell, " The New Flap Over Fluoride, " American Health,

October, 1984, 60-63.

10. Yiamouyiannis, Fluoride: The Aging Factor, Delaware, Ohio: Health

Action, 1983, 172.

11. J.A. Albright, " The Effect of Fluoride on the Mechanical Properties of

Bone, " Transactions of the Annual Meeting of the Orthopedics Research

Society, 1978, 3, 98.

12. D.W. Allmann and M. Benac, " Effect of Inorganic Fluoride Salts on Urine

and Tissue 3'5' Cyclic-AMP Concentration in Vivo, " Journal of Dental

Research, 55 (supplement , 1976, 523.

13. Alfred and Nell Carmichael , " Effect of Sodium Fluoride on

Tumor Growth, " Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and

Medicine, 119, 1965, 252-255.

14. J.A. Yiamouyiannis and Dean Burk, " Fluoridation and Cancer: Age

Dependence of Cancer Mortality Related to Artificial Fluoridation, "

Fluoride, 10,3, 1977, 102-123.

15. J. kson, " Mortality in Selected Cities with Fluoridated and

Non-Fluoridated Water Supplies, " New England Journal of Medicine, 298,30,

May 18, 1978, 1112-1116.

16. L. Waldbott with A.W. Burgstahler, and H.L. McKinney,

Fluoridation: The Great Dilemma, Kansas: Coronado Press, 1978.

17. Quoted in Dr. Dean Edell's Medical Journal, San Francisco Chronicle,

April 29, 1987.

18. Quoted in Yiamouyiannis, Fluoride: The Aging Factor, 118.

19. Stortebecker, Mercury Poisoning from Dental Amalgams, Orlando:

Bio-probe, 1986.

20. Joe Graedon, " Dental Dangers, " San Francisco Chronicle, January 11, 1984.

21. C.W. Svare, L.C. , J.W. Reinhardt, D.B. Boyer, C.W. , D.P.

Gay, R.D. , " The Effect of Dental Amalgams on Mercury Leveles in Expired

Air, " Journal of Dental Research, 60, 1981, 1668-1671.

22. J.E. Abraham, C.W. Svare, and C.W. , " The Effect of Dental Amalgam

Restorations on Blood Mercury Levels, " Journal of Dental Research, 63,1,

January, 1984, 71-73.

23. D.W. Eggleston, " Effect of Dental Amalgam and Nickel Alloys on

T-lymphocytes: Preliminary Report, " Journal of Prothetic Dentistry, May,

1984, 617-623.

24. " Mercury in Dental Fillings: Is There a Problem? " The Medical Letter,

November, 1985.

25. Taft, " Injurious Effects of Amalgam Fillings, " Medical Advance,

30,6, June, 1893, 422-430.

26. R. Voll, " Twenty Years of Electroacupuncture Diagnosis, " American

Journal of Acupuncture, March, 1975, 15-38. R. Voll, " Electoacupucnture

(EAV) Diagnostics and Treatment Results in Odontogenous Focal Events, "

American Journal of Acupuncture, 9,4, December, 1981, 293-302.

27. Henri Albertini, Goldberg, Bernard Sanguy, and Claude Toulza,

" Homeopathic Treatment of Dental Neuralgia Using Arnica and Hypericum: A

Summary of 60 Observations, " Journal of the American Institute of

Homeopathy, 78,3, September, 1985, 126- 128.

28. Denholz. Irwin Smigel, Dental Health, Dental Beauty, New York: M.

and Co., 1979.

29. Denholz, 42.

30. Smigel, 236.

Additional References:

- D. Fischer, " Dentistry and Homeopathy: An Overview, " Journal of

the American Institute of Homeopathy, 78,4, December, 1985, 140-147.

-Colin B. Lessell, The Dental Prescriber, London: British Homoeopathic

Association.

-F. Steinlechner, " Homeopathy in Dentistry, " British Homoeopathic Journal,

73,3, July, 1984, 145-149.

-Sam Ziff, The Toxic Time Bomb: Can the Mercury in Your Dental Fillings

Poison You? New York: Aurora, 1984.

HOW DO I LEARN MORE ABOUT HOMEOPATHY?

The best source of homeopathic books, tapes, home medicine kits, and

software is:

Homeopathic Educational Services

2124B Kittredge St.

Berkeley, CA. 94704

(510)649-0294

(510)649-1955 (fax)

The Consumer's Guide to Homeopathy is available from Homeopathic

Educational Services or through your local bookseller (starting January,

1996).

Dana Ullman, M.P.H. is one of America's leading educators on homeopathic

medicine. He has authored Discovering Homeopathy, Homeopathic Medicine for

Children and Infants, The One-Minute (or so) Healer and co-authored

Everybody's Guide to Homeopathic Medicines. Dana is the formulator of the

Medicine From Nature line of homeopathic products. He is also the Director

of Homeopathic Educational Services, a leading resource of homeopathic

books, tapes, medicines, and software in Berkeley, California. In January,

1996, Dana's newest book, The Consumer's Guide to Homeopathy, will be

published.

*******

more info on amalgam & fluoride on my webpages

http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/amalgam.htm

http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/fluoride.htm

--------------------------------------------------------

Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Classical Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales UK

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vaccineinfo@... voicemail US 530-740-0561

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ANY INFO OBTAINED HERE NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS MEDICAL

OR LEGAL ADVICE. THE

DECISION TO VACCINATE IS YOURS AND YOURS ALONE.

******

" Just look at us. Everything is backwards; everything is upside down.

Doctors destroy health, lawyers destroy justice, universities destroy

knowledge, governments destroy freedom, the major media destroy information

and religions destroy spirituality " .... Ellner