Castor Oil Pulling

As many of you already know, oil pulling has been around for hundreds of years. It is an ancient Ayurvedic technique used for detoxification and improving health. Conventionally, sesame, sunflower or coconut oils are the most popular for oil pulling, each having their own particular therapeutic effects. And if you want to know the best oil to use for your individual condition, feel free to ask at your next visit with us.

However, there is a new kid on the block: Castor oil. Historically castor oil was mostly used topically to promote healing and to pull toxins out through the skin. But for now there seems to be a sudden interest in oil pulling with Castor oil.

The main plus of using Castor oil, is you can expect similar effects as other oils in a fraction of the time. This can be a game changer for those of us in a rush for a quick daily detox. But the down side is that Castor oil is so much more viscous than other oils. So if oils make you queasy, it may not be the best choice for you.
When practiced regularly, the process benefits the rest of the body as well. In addition to improving oral health, oil pulling can also:
-Relieve migraines
-Correct hormone imbalances
-Reduce inflammation
-Treat digestive issues
-Reduce dental plaque buildup
-Whiten teeth
-Improve vision
-Reduce allergies
-Detoxify the body of heavy metals
When looking for the correct oil to use, organic, cold pressed is usually the best choice. For Castor oil, look for organic, cold pressed, hexane free and packaged in a glass bottle.  We would be happy to recommend a particular brand if you ask at your next dental visit.
As for how to oil pull, it is so simple. You can read our original post with all the directions here.

Castor oil pulling is done exactly the same as the other oils, but only two to five minutes of pulling is needed. That sure beats the usual twenty minute process.

Screening for Oral Cancer

Mouth and throat cancers are on the rise. And the number one cause of these types of cancers is not from smoking, and not from alcohol use. These used to be the most common causes, but times have changed. Nowadays, the number one cause of oral cancer is from the HPV virus.

 

So what is the HPV virus?

According to recent studies, 79 million Americans are presently living with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). The number of people who have oral HPV has continuously increased over the past three decades. The CDC says nearly everyone will get a form of HPV at some point in their lives, and about 14 million Americans, including teens, become infected each year. It is more common in men than women.

There are low-risk HPV types which have a low association with cancer, but these can lead to genital warts or oral papillomas.

And there are high-risk HPV types which can cause cell changes and pre-cancers. The most common high-risk HPV types include HPV 16 and 18. These contribute to chronic, or long-lasting infections that can convert to cancer over time.

 

So how does one acquire the HPV virus?

Oral HPV occurs when the virus enters the body, usually through a cut or small tear inside of the mouth. According to the CDC, these are the most common risk factors:

 

• Oral sex. Evidence suggests that an increase in oral sexual activity may be a risk, with men being more at risk, especially if they smoke.

• Multiple partners. Having multiple sexual partners may increase your risk. According to the Cleveland Clinic, having more than 20 sexual partners over your lifetime can increase your chances of getting an oral HPV infection by up to 20 percent.

• Smoking. Smoking has been shown to help promote HPV invasion. Inhaling hot smoke makes you more vulnerable to tears and cuts in the mouth, and is also a risk factor for developing oral cancers.

• Drinking alcohol. Research has indicated that a high intake of alcohol increases the risk for HPV infections in men. If you smoke and drink, you’re at an even higher risk.

• Open mouth kissing. Some research has said that open mouth kissing is a risk factor, as it can be transmitted from mouth to mouth, but more research is necessary to determine if this increases your risk for oral HPV.

• Being male. Men have a greater risk of receiving an oral HPV diagnosis than women.

• Age. It’s more common in older adults because it takes years to develop.

All these factors together can create the worst scenario for developing oral cancer. And this is how the actor Michael Douglas believes he developed his Stage 4 oral cancer back in 2010. You can read about him here.

In the past, it has been difficult to diagnose oral HPV, until a (cancer) lesion was actually present. But now there is a simple painless Saliva Test that can be done in your dentist’s office to see if HPV is present, and which types, if any. The prognosis is excellent if HPV is discovered early, before the cancer develops.

At your next dental visit, be sure to ask for this simple diagnostic screening test. With proper health care, most oral HPV infections will go away on their own without treatment. But you would need to know its presence before taking steps to eradicate it.

E-cigarettes and Oral Health

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), cigarette smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths each year in the United States. Concomitantly, many studies show that there is an increase in the risk of death from all cancers for anyone who smokes.

Aside from these obvious statistics, cigarette smoking can cause significant changes in your oral health. The most frequent side effect from smoking is stained yellow-brown teeth. Lesser known effects are bad breath, dry mouth, gum disease, tooth loss and increased incidence of oral cancer.

Looking for a substitute, one may immediately go to e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes don’t contain tobacco. Instead they contain nicotine in a chemical solution that is heated and vaporized so that you can inhale it.

The good news is that it won’t stain your teeth yellow-brown, but that may be the only advantage.

Studies show that e-cigarettes are just as harmful as conventional cigarettes and perhaps even more detrimental. This is because they contain solvents and flavorings that are highly carcinogenic.

Even though these e-cigarettes contain no nicotine, the substitute chemical flavorings added, exacerbate the damage that was previously caused by nicotine. Menthol flavored vapor is considered the most toxic.

While some e-cigarette manufacturers advertise that these e-cigarettes can help you quit regular cigarettes, this has not been proven.

Replacing one toxic habit with another toxic habit is not a solution. The best way to avoid smoking is to never start. Electronic cigarettes are not the solution if you want to quit smoking. There are other choices. It is paramount to speak to your health care professional for further advice.

Cold sores vs. Angular Cheilitis

With so much stress in our lives, cold sores on the lips (and in the mouth) are commonplace.  But sometimes a cold sore may be something else. If you've ever had cold sores that didn't respond to medication designed to treat them, it might be angular cheilitis, a completely different medical condition that looks surprisingly similar. The good news is that angular cheilitis is usually easy to treat, perhaps even easier that cold sores.

Angular cheilitis may mimic cold sores, but there are specific signs you can look for to tell them apart.

1.     Angular cheilitis usually begins as a patch of dry, irritated or cracked skin at one or both corners of the lips. It can persist for years, if left untreated.

2.     Cold sores typically begin as an itchy or painful area that turns into one or a group of small, painful blisters. Over a 7-10 day time period, they may weep, scab over, and then finally heal. They can be found anywhere on the soft tissues of the mouth, intraorally and extraorally.

3.     Angular cheilitis originates from a yeast or staph infection, vitamin deficiencies or poor fitting dentures.

4.     Cold sores are a contagious viral outbreak, usually manifesting when you are under stress or have a weakened immune system.

A cure for either one of these conditions is simple and quick once we know the cause. Nutritional support with a painless laser treatment is usually the easiest way to treat these and to prevent recurrence. Knowing which one you have can make all the difference in the outcome. Always best to see your health provider for a proper diagnosis and plan of action.

Genetic Testing for Gum Disease and Oral Cancer

The link between genetics and degenerative diseases has become a focal point in the medical field.
DNA testing for Alzheimer’s, breast cancer, diabetes, etc. is fairly common nowadays; and the addition of new types of genetic testing is mounting.

Cross over to dentistry, and let’s see what’s available. Presently, in New York State, the dentist is now allowed to test for genetic markers in saliva for periodontal disease and oral cancer (from HPV). Both are relatively simple and painless tests. No needles, no drills, no blood. Just rinse with a saline (salt) solution and spit into a test tube. One week later, your results are in.

So why is this important? Well, if you have the genetic markers for gum disease, you really don’t want to postpone periodontal care. Losing teeth is never a good thing (can’t smile and can’t eat) and it will be expensive to replace missing teeth with implants or dentures. Best to diagnose it before it is symptomatic to prevent it from manifesting.

As for the genetic oral cancer test, it is good to know which HPV gene you have if any (there are 51 HPV types tested in the saliva analysis), so that you can be proactive in eradicating it BEFORE oral cancer strikes.

According to a new study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, nationwide rates for oral HPV infections are 11.5% of men and 3.2% of women. That’s 11 million men, compared with 3.2 million women. That means that about one in nine American men is infected with the oral form of human papillomavirus (HPV).

Genetic testing for the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease, as well as the assessment for oral cancer susceptibility, allows for a personalized approach to holistic preventive health care.

Bear in mind that that nearly all oral diseases cause absolutely no pain until they are quite advanced. This includes tooth decay, periodontal disease, and oral cancer. Oral cancer occurs more frequently than most other common cancers. Due to late diagnosis, about half of the nearly 50,000 patients diagnosed every year with oral cancer in the U.S. will die of their disease. The only positive way to impact this devastating outcome is with yearly physical examination of the oral cavity, head, and neck. Saliva genetic analysis may just save your life.

Be sure to ask for you saliva genetic testing at your next visit.