More on Holistic Dentistry:
Holistic Pain Management
B L O G | S U N R I S E D E N T I S T R Y
https://sunrise-dentistry.com/
We find that most of our patients
come to our office because of their
commitment to live their life as
holistic as possible. Many of our
patients come from alternative
medicine backgrounds, serving as
naturopaths, acupuncturists,
chiropractors and oriental doctors.
Part of what our patients are seeking
when they come to us is to be able to
have more control over the
materials used in the care of their
teeth.
In addition, many avoid unnatural
medications, eat diets rich in
organic vegetables and grass-fed
meats and grow their own food.
So, what happens when a tooth
starts hurting and taking pain
medication, over the counter or
prescription, isn’t an option or is the
last resort?
There are actually some choices of
products that you can use, and some
of them are probably already in your
kitchen.
Salt
Let’s start with salt. Did you know
that salt is an antimicrobial? An
Antimicrobial is a substance that
slows or kills the growth of microbes,
such as bacteria and mold.
We advise our patients of a warm salt
water rinse after they have dental
work (except after extractions) to
promote healing and reduce the
possibility of developing a painful
issue. It also reduces the swelling and
inflammation often associated with
dental work. To use, mix half a
teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm
water and rinse your mouth
thoroughly.
Clove
Clove oil is another option for
addressing pain. In addition to
containing analgesic properties that
can provide a numbing effect, clove is
an antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-
oxidant and anti-inflammatory.
Clove came to us from Indonesia and
it is recognized as not just being a
powerful spice.
Worldwide it is known as a very
powerful medicinal and shows
antimicrobial and antioxidant
qualities that are considerably higher
than other spices and fruits and
vegetables. The National Library of
Medicine has some great studies on
the use of cloves as medicine. To use
clove oil, grind two fresh cloves and
mix with a little olive oil. Using a
cotton swab, apply to the affected
area as needed.
Grinding whole cloves is
recommended over using already
ground cloves as the whole cloves
maintain more potency than already
ground cloves.
For convenience, you can buy clove
oil at most health food stores instead.
Clove oil is very high in antioxidants;
therefore, it has additional healthy
effects.
Oregano oil
Oregano oil is antifungal, antiviral,
antiparasitic anti-inflammatory and
has antiseptic qualities. Go for a high-
quality oregano oil you can find in
most health food stores. You would
use a cotton swab or finger to place
some on the gum beside the tooth
near the root area.
Oregano oil is very strong and can
“burn” the tissue. It is best to test it
first by placing a small amount on the
inside of your wrist. If that does burn,
you can dilute it 50/50 with olive oil to
alleviate it.
Oregano is often used in Chinese
medicine and is also used in
medicines that address respiratory
issues. It can assist in alleviating
digestive issues, fungus, parasites,
UTI’s and Rheumatoid arthritis.
It can be used topically to address a
variety of conditions from an athlete’s
foot and spider bites, to ringworm
and warts.
To use, add 5-6 drops of pure oregano
oil to one ounce of olive oil or other
healthy food-grade oil such as olive
oil or avocado oil. Apply to the
affected area.
It is much more anti-microbial than
clove oil. Oregano and clove oil are a
great combination of dental pain and
infection and are a great asset to any
first aid kit for other infections as
well.
Traumeel
Traumeel is a homeopathic anti-
inflammatory that is an option to
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDS). It has been used in
Germany for nearly 70 years. Until
recently, it was readily available in the
United States and that is not so much
the case these days. It is available
readily in many European countries.
In 2014 the German maker pulled it
from the US market, so it is hard to
come by in the U.S. now. A company
out of Delaware purchased the US
operations, phased out traumeel and
replaced it with a product called T-
Relief. There have been mixed
reviews on its effectiveness. If you can
find the original traumeel, it is
available in both ointment and
capsules.
Arnica
Arnica is a pain reliever often used for
bruises and pain and it can help to
alleviate sore muscles and joints. Part
of the sunflower family, it has been
used as a homeopathic since the
1500’s and has a wide array of
benefits.
Arnica gel or cream applied along the
jawline and or cheek near the effected
tooth can alleviate dental pain. There
are also small arnica pellets that can
be dissolved under the tongue. Arnica
is also available in tinctures and
mouth rinses. It is important that
arnica only be ingested in a diluted
homeopathic form as arnica is toxic
when it is not diluted. Topical use is
good, though at full strength.
Salt and Pepper Together
We already talked about salt and now
let’s take it a step further. Did you
know pepper is an antioxidant?
Black pepper is also used in ayurvedic
medicine to improve digestion and as
a remedy for flu and colds.
The combination of salt and pepper
adds a combined medicinal benefit of
these two staple seasonings.
To use, combine equal amounts of
salt and pepper with a few drops of
water then apply to the affected area.
Garlic
Aside from keeping away certain
creatures of the night, garlic is a great
homeopathic remedy. It is an
antifungal that also has antibacterial
and antiviral benefits. Perhaps it is
actually the garlic in chicken soup
that makes it such a great remedy for
colds, not so much the soup itself.
Garlic contains an ingredient called
allicin.
This ingredient is what gives garlic its
healing qualities. It can be used to
prevent gum disease and tooth decay
as well as relieve dental discomfort.
To use for tooth pain, crush a raw
garlic clove sprinkle it with a little salt
and apply it directly to the affected
area. Chew a couple of garlic cloves if
you prefer. You can also mix the
crushed garlic with olive oil and a
little salt and apply it to the affected
area.
Propolis
Propolis is a product that comes from
honey bees. The flavonoids in it can
help suppress the bacteria that cause
dental decay. It is an antimicrobial,
antioxidant and antiviral. Propolis
that is commercially extracted is
processed with a variety of different
types of solvents, as propolis is not
useable in pure form.
Because of this, if you choose to use
Propolis, try to find a brand
organically processed using water.
There is a lot of information on the
National Library of Medicine Website
on this fascinating substance. In
tooth extractions, propolis can be
used to treat the painful condition
that sometimes occurs called dry
socket. It speeds up the process of
regenerating healthy tissue.
It has also been used as a disinfectant
during root canals. It is available in
capsules, tinctures and pieces. It
could be very beneficial in the
prevention of dental caries (cavities)
by using a propolis toothpaste
available in healthfood stores. Read
the label to confirm all the
ingredients are natural and confirm
there is no triclosan or fluoride. To
use to relive dental pain, apply the
water-based tincture directly on the
gums of an effected area.
There are likely many other herbal
remedies for addressing dental pain.
Your first course of action should be
to contact your dentist at the first sign
of a possible problem and hopefully
you will be able to avoid the problem
getting worse by the passage of time.
Also remember that pain causes
stress on the whole body, not just the
area that is hurting.
dale@durangolive.net
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