November 17, 2022

Last week I talked about the implications of poor dental health on individuals with eating disorders and also how it can affect other parts of the body, including the brain. Poor oral hygiene includes:

  • Bad brushing habits 

  • Neglecting to floss

  • Grinding your teeth

  • Eating foods high in sugar

  • Smoking or chewing tobacco

Why Does This Matter?

A tooth infection can result in memory loss when the infection spreads to the brain (Okamoto, 2010). When your cavity reaches the tooth’s root, the infection threatens nerves and blood vessels, which directly connect to the brain (Yorkshire Village, 2021). Stop the infection from spreading by maintaining proper oral hygiene, swishing with coconut oil, and being sure to visit your dentist on a regular basis.

Studies show that severe tooth loss and dementia are also correlated (Fang, 2018). While the reason for the connection remains unproven, there is certainly a link. So if you have already lost a lot of your teeth, you might be at a higher risk of getting this brain disease.  Again visit your dentist regularly and do whatever it takes to improve your oral hygiene.

What Can I Do?

This week I want to dive into how you can improve your oral hygiene and save yourself from further damage. Fortunately, there are a variety of treatments available to restore the health and appearance of damaged teeth. 

Dry Mouth Relief 

In the case of dry mouth, it is best to:

  • Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated

  • Chew sugar-free gum to encourage saliva production

  • Use a humidifier to add moisture to dry air

  • Brushing and flossing multiple times a day to help prevent damage from plaque and acid exposure

Coconut Oil For The Win

Coconut oil is a potent antibacterial that passes the blood-brain barrier and basically cleans it. Turns out that the only thing that has ever been shown to reverse Alzheimer’s is indeed coconut oil (please see references 2, 4-7 below).

Not only is coconut oil a potent antibacterial, but it is also antiviral and antifungal. More importantly, because it passes the blood-brain barrier it successfully treats brain infection, now believed to be the leading cause of dementia.

Swishing with Coconut Oil

Use an oil pull, particularly coconut oil, on a regular basis. Use it more frequently if you are sick and especially if you have cavities. To oil pull with coconut oil:

  1. Put a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth.

  2. Swish the oil around for 15–20 minutes, pushing and pulling it between teeth. Similar to how you would use mouthwash. 

  3. Spit out the oil. It is best to spit into the trash since it can clog sink pipes.

  4. Follow up with brushing your teeth.

General Tips For Improving Oral Hygiene:

Here are a few more tips to help keep your teeth and gums healthy:

  1. Brush your teeth 2-3 times per day

  2. Floss, or better yet use a waterpik. Put hydrogen peroxide or an organic mouthwash in the water for the water pic.

  3. Use an electric toothbrush or a good toothbrush and change it regularly especially if you get sick or the bristles begin to wear out.

  4. See your dentist at least twice a year to get your teeth cleaned and to address any possible cavities that you may have. Be proactive.

  5. Finally, if you have an eating disorder, understand that the nutrients your body lacks can have a catastrophic impact on your teeth. Prevent cavities it isn’t necessarily about how much you eat. It is about what you eat. So ditch the sugar and include the dairy in order to get vitamin D and calcium. (Do not supplement with calcium.) Supplement with fish oil. 

  6. Get sulfated vitamin D3 from Sunlight whenever possible. Do not overexpose your skin, just get enough sunlight to raise your vitamin D3 levels. This is because vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and phosphate — both of which are crucial for building and keeping strong tooth enamel. Without an adequate intake of vitamin D, our teeth are at risk of weakening and developing cavities.

  7. There is an amazing app called DMinder that tells you how much vitamin D3 you are getting depending upon the time of day, your latitude and longitude, and how bright the sun is on a particular day. It will also track your vitamin D levels. Very cool!

  8. The following foods have been shown to strengthen tooth enamel:

  • Green or black teas neutralize plaque-causing bacteria.

  • Sugar-free chewing gum helps promote saliva production.

  • Fruits and vegetables are high in fiber which cleans teeth naturally.

  • Foods high in protein help promote stronger teeth. First, dairy products like cheese, yogurt, and milk encourage your body to produce more saliva, protecting your teeth. Second, cheese and yogurt are high in calcium and protein, which helps strengthen your teeth.

As always, I practice what I preach and get great results. For the last several years my dentist, as well as my oral hygienists’, have commented repeatedly on the amazing uptick in the health of both my gums and my teeth. This probably sounds crazy, but I swear my tooth enamel feels stronger since I have bumped up my oral hygiene. My teeth look whiter, feel stronger, and according to my dentist, my gums are in perfect condition, especially compared to five years ago. Many people my age find themselves in a very different situation. My point? Good oral hygiene seems to work no matter what your age.

References

1. Fang, Wl., Jiang, Mj., Gu, Bb. et al. Tooth loss as a risk factor for dementia: systematic review 

and meta-analysis of 21 observational studies. BMC Psychiatry 18, 345 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1927-0

2. Hu Yang I, De la Rubia Ortí JE, Selvi Sabater P, et al. [COCONUT OIL: NON-ALTERNATIVE 

DRUG TREATMENT AGAINST ALZHEIMER´S DISEASE]. Nutricion Hospitalaria. 2015 Dec;32(6):2822-2827. DOI: 10.3305/nh.2015.32.6.9707. PMID: 26667739.

3. Okamoto, N., Morikawa, M., Okamoto, K. et al. Relationship of tooth loss to mild memory 

impairment and cognitive impairment: findings from the fujiwara-kyo study. Behav Brain Funct 6, 77 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1186/1744-9081-6-77

4. Rafatjah, S. (2021, June 10). Coconut Oil for Alzheimer\’s: Does It Fight Dementia? Prime Health Denver. Retrieved November 16, 2022, from https://primehealthdenver.com/coconut-oil-for-alzheimers/

5. Ross, Stephanie Maxine MHD, MS, HT, CNC, PDMT. Coconut Oil: Effects of Medium-Chain 

Triglycerides for Prevention and Treatment of Alzheimer Disease. Holistic Nursing Practice: January/February 2021 – Volume 35 – Issue 1 – p 49-50

doi: 10.1097/HNP.0000000000000425 

6. Schultz, H. (2021, August 4). Personal history leads physician to coconut oil for dementia relief. NutraIngredients-USA. Retrieved November 16, 2022, from https://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Article/2019/03/27/Personal-history-leads-physician-to-coconut-oil-for-dementia-relief

7. Watanabe S, Tsujino S. Applications of Medium-Chain Triglycerides in Foods. Front Nutr. 

2022 Jun 2;9:802805. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.802805. PMID: 35719157; PMCID: PMC9203050.

8. Yorkshire Village. (2021, September 1). Poor Dental Care and Dementia. Yorkshire Village. Retrieved November 16, 2022, from https://www.yorkshire-village.com/blog/view/1230/poor-dental-care-and-dementia