Question:
Has anyone else with type 2 experienced constant gingivitis problems with
the occasional loss of a tooth through jaw bone deterioration.
Answer:
One of Arnold Gold's recent (last 2-3 weeks) mentioned periodontal
disease and diabetes. A search on http://dailynews.yahoo.com with search
terms "diabetes and periodontal" should find the article. I can't
remember the article contents.
Hyperglycemia makes most bacterial and fungal infections worse, and
gingivitis is a gum infection so it wouldn't surprise me that diabetics
have more than their share of periodontal disease.
Someone on a list I'm on even recommended that patients ask their
dentists for prophylactic antibiotics for dental care because of the
infection problem.
The ADA site has some information on dental care.
1. I would suggest purchasing the book, "How to Become Dentally Self
Sufficient" by Robert O. Nara, DDS. The book is out of print, but
you can still get it from: http://mizar5.com/htbdss.htm
The bottom of the web page links to the "Order Page" and describes
whom to send email to order a copy of the book. Please let me know
if you have any trouble ordering it.
The book has one of the best-designed oral hygiene programs I've
come across and a good plan to help treat/prevent periodontal
disease. I do not follow all of the parts of the program
(in particular I *avoid* the fluoride applications/rinses and
I don't bother with the disclosing tablets), but most of it has
been enormously helpful to me.
I don't sell the book, by the way.
2. In order to more effectively treat periodonal disease, you will
need an oral irrigator with a special tip designed to get underneath
the gumline. The technique is described in the book. I purchased
mine quite a number of years ago from Silos Products in Florida. See
the bottom of the following web page for more information:
http://www.holisticmed.com/dental/prevent.html
However, I do not know if they still sell it or if the price is
the same. There are a couple of oral irrigators listed at:
http://mizar5.com/products.htm
and you can order the special adapter tips to help treat
periodontal disease. There are other products listed on
that page. I'm quite wary of long-term use of TheraSol (the
anti-microbal product listed on the page), but short-term
use may (or may not) be helpful. I would consider one
of the herbal rinses available at many health food stores
or online.
Of course, much of this will not be helpful, it the Dr. Nara's
primary dental care techniques are not used.
3. I have found that a ocassional and gentle massage of the gums to
be helpful as an *addition* to the other ideas. Dr. Nara may mention
it in his book, but I learned of this technique in the 1970's
from another source. Some people use a very soft bristle brush
to *very* gently massage the gums.
4. I don't agree with Dr. Nara's dietetic suggestions, but I do think
that a reasonably healthy diet can change the condition in the mouth
(e.g., the percentages of various oral bacteria) and thereby
effect oral health. My ideas for nutrition are detailed at:
http://www.holisticmed.com/food.html
5. It is my understanding that there are other situations which can
can oral health problems. For example, some people can have
not-so-easy-to-diagnose reactions to dental materials such as
mercury amalgam fillings, composite/plastic fillings, palladium
used in bridges, etc. Even some "non-toxic" metals such as
pure titanium has been known to cause reactions in some people.
Mixtures of metals in the mouth -- e.g., gold and mercury amalgam
(within the same tooth -- mercury under a gold crown -- or in
separate teeth can cause problems in some people. For some
people, undiagnosed cavitations (which cannot be seen on x-rays)
or Neuralgia Inducing Cavitational Osteonecrosis (NICO) may
contribute to oral health problems.
These situations may not effect most people with periodonal disease,
but I raise the issues because it may be relevent to some people's
situation. More information about these and other issues are availble
on various organizations' web pages around the Net.
6. There was a book published by Blue Poppy Press (www.bluepoppy.com)
which was entitled: "Treatment of Disease in Tcm : Disease of the
Mouth, Lips, Tongue, Teeth and Gums." Unfortunately, the publisher
is out of stock according to amazon.com, but I haven't checked with
Blue Poppy Press to confirm it. It would be interesting to see
what recommendations are made by practitioners of Chinese Medicine.
This book may have been meant for practitioners as opposed to
laypersons.
