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From:	Shannon B (71.63.200.235)
Subject:	Re: Whole-body Health includes DENTAL?
Date:	November 6, 2009 at 4:44 pm PST

In Reply to: Whole-body Health includes DENTAL? posted by Anna on November 5, 2009 at 3:13 pm:

I am a Dental Hygienist in Minnesota. I love the Eat-to-Live philosophy. Hopefully, I can answer your question in part....
Once your teeth have developed, they pretty much are unchanged in adulthood. You generally do not absorb nutrients into your enamel (the protective outer layer of your teeth) through your bloodstream as other parts of your body might. You can absorb calcium, phosphorus and fluoride into your enamel at it's surface, which strengthens the enamel and makes it more impervious to acid. The most common diseases of the mouth are caused by bacteria and your body's response to them. There are different types of bacteria...some that cause periodontal (gum) disease (whereby bacteria and their by-products cause a low-grade, chronic infection and subsequent destruction of the supporting structures of the teeth, including bone) and some that cause decay. Tooth decay is caused by bacteria ingesting carbohydrate and then excreting acid byproduct onto tooth enamel. The acid "eats" through the enamel. (Any type of acid can cause decay/erosion...including stomach acid, citric acid, etc.) If a healthy person controls the bacterial load in their mouth with proper oral hygiene, and has a healthy diet that is not high in sugars, decay or periodontal disease should be very minimal. Your immune system, the quality of your saliva (which contains acid-neutralizing and anti-bacterial properties), your homecare, genetics, and the quality of your dental work (crowns, fillings, etc) can also affect periodontal health and decay susceptibility. People who smoke or who take medications that dry out the mouth tend to have more problems with these common diseases. Also, people secrete minerals in their saliva (which helps to remineralize enamel) that calcifies onto their teeth - you have heard of tartar, I am sure - and that is what builds up on your teeth. Tartar is a combination of many things; protiens, minerals and bacteria. If you do not have that removed from your teeth on a fairly regular basis, the bacteria cause an infection and can produce enzymes that break down the tissues that support your teeth (ligaments and bone). A healthy diet will not prevent that tartar from building up. Since Periodontal disease is by far the most common reason for adults to lose their teeth, perhaps that is what the person you referred to is suggesting. Also, a vegan lifestyle might not necessarily mean that you will never get another cavity....I had a patient who ate a lot of raisins and dates....they would get stuck in her teeth (on the grooves and pits of her back teeth) and she had decay due to the bacteria using those "healthy sugars" for energy to produce acids. I also had another patient who would suck on oranges or lemons while she exercised....they are obviously high in citric acid...and the acid eroded her enamel so that she had decay. If you have specific questions about your diet and your particular situation (do you get decay easily? Do your gums bleed? etc.) I would recommend asking your dentist. It seems that every person's situation is different. However, the healthier a person's diet is, the easier it is for their body to repair cells and fight off infection....so gum disease would be easier to fight. On a side note....periodontal disease that is moderate to advanced seems to have a link to whole body health (heart disease, pre-term and low-birth-weight babies, diabetes, etc.) so make sure you take care of your dental health, too!

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