When I was 14 I got a crown put on a tooth that I had to have a root canal on. (The cause of the root canal was just that my tooth was rotting away from the inside out -- it was not due to improper care, but looking back now I realize it probably was due to lack of necessary nutrients).
Oh well. Live and learn, right?
So... years go by. My tooth slowly decays as a result of the exposure to that sticky caramel candy... which tasted good at the time but totally not worth all that it would put me through in the coming years. Around age 19/20 I start to have REAL problems. I go back to the dentist and he says there is no way to save that tooth -- that we have to pull it.
So we do.
To fill the gap I had to choose between a bridge and an implant. I chose an implant because that didn't ruin the perfectly good teeth next to it like a bridge would. I wish now that I had chosen differently. The implant was a horror story in and of itself. I went to a maxillofacial surgeon and he explained all about the 2-step process... first drill a hole in my jaw, and put a screw in. Then let that heal.
The next step would be to put a post in, and then get a fake tooth crown to screw onto that post. Except it didn't work that way. My jaw didn't heal and it didn't look good. I got to be the topic of discussion at one of those dental conventions that they go to each year. Finally the recommendation by all those good dentists was to do a gingival graft. They would cut open the roof of my mouth, and get some connective tissue out. They would graft that connective tissue to my lower jaw bone where it wasn't healing properly. So that is what they did. And it finally healed. I got the rest of the implant done.
And I went on my merry way. But... I have a metallic taste in my mouth all the time now in that area. The screw is made from titanium. I don't have any mercury fillings or anything else metal in my mouth, but that metallic taste will not go away. So that worries me. And I am extra vigilant now about taking care of my mouth.
I always brushed... at least 2x a day if not more. I hate the taste of my mouth when it isn't clean. I can't sleep at night without brushing my teeth. Seriously, I think maybe there have been less than 5 days in my adult life where I didn't brush my teeth before bed. I am 38 now so that is more than 20 years!
So, I have found a regiment that works for me, and I want to share it with you.
When I first wake up in the morning I take my thyroid medication. I can't eat for an hour after this, so I wait about 45 minutes and then get a teaspoon of coconut oil and put 3 drops of essential oil on it (I don't like to name brands but it is similar to the Four Thieves Blend). Then, I swish it around my mouth and through my teeth for 15 minutes. It is VERY refreshing and feels awesome. My mouth feels clean the rest of the day as a result, and my teeth are so smooth. Some people claim it helps to whiten teeth, but I have pretty white teeth overall, and so I really don't notice a difference.
I make my own toothpaste. I use bentonite clay, Himalayan pink salt, hot water, stevia and essential oils (I usually use peppermint but sometimes I make a batch of cinnamon and cloves). I don't follow a specific recipe but just make it to my taste and desired consistency.
I love to floss as well. Because I have the implant, food often gets stuck under that tooth and that is something I cannot stand. So I floss frequently. Sometimes 3x a day if required.
Even though I have pretty white teeth, sometimes they do seem a little dull. So that is where activated charcoal comes in. If you have never heard of this before, or have never tried it, you HAVE to try it to believe it. It is AMAZNG. There are so many wonderful uses for activated charcoal (the most important one is that of neutralizing poisons). A couple times a month I put some activated charcoal powder on my toothpaste (it is black and makes a HUGE MESS). It looks scary because it is so pitch black. But it works great. So you will want to brush your teeth with this. It attracts anything that stains your teeth and pulls it off your teeth. It works about a million times better than baking soda and peroxide.
I don't use mouthwash because of all the bad chemicals in it. But when I need a breath freshener, I will use a few drops of peppermint essential oil and swish it around in my mouth with my saliva, and then spit it out. Essential oils should very rarely be taken internally, and one drop of peppermint essential oil is equivalent to 75 cups of peppermint tea. I don't think it is a good idea to ingest. I know some is getting into my system from the lining in my mouth, but a small portion of 1 small drop of peppermint oil is all I am willing to allow.
And last of all, for the health of my mouth and overall, I take fermented cod liver oil every day. Because it is hard for me to swallow gross things, I take it in capsule form. It is more expensive that way, but worth it to me. That is one thing that I have read works to improve the health of your teeth via supplementing. I have read articles that have before and after pictures of horrible teeth, and after doing some of these same protocols, have their teeth do a total about face and become healthy without any dentist intervention.
Since many people don't have dental insurance or don't go to get their teeth cleaned religiously, these methods may help you save money, save your teeth and save your health.
About Me: Hi! I am Rebecca :) I am the owner of Purify Your Body Detox Foot Pads. I love natural health and wellness, and I love to eat real food. :) I love my family, and my pets. I actually love all animals -- they are much nicer than most humans! I don't watch TV and haven't watched a movie in the theater for more than 6 months. I would much rather read a book!
I love to garden and make homemade products -- body butter, toothpaste, perfume, cheese, yogurt, etc. It tastes better when it's made from scratch! Contact me here
