Dental Herbalism

A comprehensive practical reference to herbal dental care for all ages

• Details the use of 41 safe and effective herbs for the mouth

• Explores 47 common conditions that affect the mouth, such as gingivitis, periodontitis, acid reflux, and tooth loss

• Provides recipes for herbal toothpastes, mouth rinses, pain-relieving poultices, and teas for prevention and daily care

• Examines infant and toddler oral care, including remedies for teething and thrush

Our oral health is intimately linked with our overall health and well-being. In this practical guide to herbal dental care, medical herbalist Leslie Alexander and registered dental hygienist Linda Straub-Bruce detail how to use 41 safe and effective herbs for the mouth for optimum oral health, prevention of decay and inflammation, and relief from pain and discomfort.

The authors provide recipes for herbal toothpastes and rinses, poultices for pain and inflammation, and teas and tinctures for intervention, prevention, and daily care. They explain how recent research confirms the link between poor oral health and many diseases, such as diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. They examine the risk factors, symptoms, causes, and herbal preventives and remedies for 47 common conditions that affect the mouth, such as gingivitis, periodontitis, bruxism, acid reflux/GERD, and tooth loss. They explore the complete anatomy of the mouth and explain proper brushing, flossing, and tongue-cleaning techniques to prevent tooth decay and gum disease and maintain bridges, implants, and braces. The authors address the importance of diet and nutrition in oral health as well as controversial topics including fluoride. They provide an in-depth chapter on pregnancy, infant, and childhood oral care, including herbal remedies for teething and thrush.

Ideal for those looking to improve their own oral health, herbalists looking to address the root cause of systemic inflammation, or dental professionals searching for natural alternatives, this authoritative yet practical guide empowers each of us to reclaim the health of our mouths and sustain a full, strong set of teeth for a lifetime.

Auteur

Leslie M. Alexander, Ph.D., RH(AHG), is a practicing medical herbalist and former research scientist. A professional member of the American Herbalists Guild, she is co-owner of Restoration Herbs. She is a member of the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health and lives in western Pennsylvania.

Contenu

Acknowledgments

Foreword by M. Leslie Williams, RH(AHG), M Ed

Foreword by William D. Hammerlee, DMD, FAGD

Foreword by K. P. Singh Khalsa, RH(AHG), DN-C

Foreword by Richard Mandelbaum, RH(AHG)

Introduction

Part I
The Lay of the Land

1 It All Begins in the Mouth
Inflammation - Measures of Inflammation - Digestive Health - The Mouth, Disease, and Illness - An Herbal Niche

2 The Mouth and What's Inside It
Let's Start with Our Teeth - Parts of a Tooth - Supporting Structures of the Mouth - Sinuses

3 Everyday Care for a Healthy Mouth
Health and Hygiene Basics - Brushing - Tongue Scraping - Flossing - Rinsing -Toothpaste and Tooth Powder

4 Monitoring Oral Well-Being
Keeping Notes - What's Worth Recording about Our Oral Health? - Taking a Look Inside the Mouth - The Symptom Checklist

5 Getting to Know Your Dental and Herbal Team
A Trip to the Dentist - The Dentist - Other Dental Professionals - Venues - Financing - Herbalists

Part II
From infancy to old age
The Mouth through a Lifetime

6 Pregnancy, Infants, and Toddlers
During Pregnancy - Newborn - Teething - Microbial Transmission from Caregiver to Infant - Thrush - Sucking Thumbs, Fingers, and Pacifiers - Baby Bottle Decay - Tooth Discoloration - Growing Up with Healthy Teeth - Toddler Snacking - The First Dental Visit

7 Tooth Decay
Getting Down to Basics: What Is Decay? - Contributing Factors - Symptoms of Decay - Dealing with Pain - Dental Interventions - Protecting Teeth from Decay

8 Gum Diseases
What Is Gum Disease? - Coming to Grips with Chronic Periodontitis - Preventing Periodontitis - Other Types of Periodontitis

9 Tooth Loss, Replacement, and Orthodontics
When One Tooth Goes Missing - Implants - Bridges - Removable Partial Dentures - Dentures - Prostheses for the Masses

10 Habits, Conditions, and Diagnoses Affecting the Mouth
How to Use the Symptom Checklist - Summaries of Commonly Occurring Conditions Seen in General Dental Practice

Acid Reflux/GERD - Amalgam Tattoo - Angular Cheilitis - Black Hairy Tongue - BRONJ/ONJ - Bruxism - Candidiasis - Canker Sores (Aphthous Stomatitis) - Caries - Cysts/Tumors - Denture Sores - Diabetes - Eating Disorders - Erosion - Fluorosis - Glossitis - Gum Disease - Gum Recession - Herpes - HIV/AIDS - Human Papillomavirus (HPV) - Hyperplasia - Infection - Kawasaki Disease - Leukoplakia - Lichen Planus - Meth Mouth - Mouth Breathing - Nail Biting - Nicotine Stomatitis - NUG/Vincent's Disease (Trench Mouth) -Nutritional Deficiencies - Oral Cancer - Oral Piercings - Osteoporosis - Papilloma - Pemphigus vulgaris - Pericoronitis - Pharmaceutical-Related Oral Issues - Root Resorption - Sinusitis - Sjögren's Syndrome - Smoking - Stress - TMJ Disorders - Torus/Tori/Exostoses - Trauma/Injury - Wisdom Teeth - Xerostomia (dry mouth)

Part III
Herbs for the Mouth

11 An herba l Materia Medica for the Mouth
An Introduction to the Materia Medica - The Herbal Materia Medica Arnica - Barberry - Barley - Bee balm - Calendula - Cardamom - Cayenne - Chamomile - Cinnamon - Clove - Echinacea - Fennel - Goldenseal - Hops - Kava - Lavender - Lemon balm - Marshmallow - Milky oats - Myrrh - Neem - Oak - Orange peel - Peppermint - Plantain - Prickly ash - Propolis - Red clover - Red raspberry leaf - Rose hips - Rosemary - Sage - Salt - Skullcap - Slippery elm - Stevia - Thyme - Turmeric - Willow - Wintergreen - Yarrow

12 How To Prepare Herbal Remedies
About Identification and Assessing Quality - Dosing - Making Herbal Remedies: Teas, Decoctions, Poultices, Tinctures, and More - Herbs by Action - Herbs by Symptom - Hands-on and How-to

Part IV
Sustaining a Healthy Mouth

13 Food and Drink
Healthy Food Choices - The Truth about Sugar - Saliva, pH, Snacking, and Sugary Drinks - Hydration - Vitamins and Minerals - Nourishment during Pregnancy - Foods and Beverages that Stain - Eating Seasonally

14 The Mouth as a microcosm of the Body
The Oral-Systemic Connection - Taking an Oral Health History - Frequently Asked Questions

15 Changing Ideas
Current Issues Affecting Oral Health

Access to Oral Health Care - Alcohol in Oral Health Care Products - Antibiotic Use - Bisphenol A (BPA) - Dental Amalgam (contains mercury) - Fluoride - Gluten - Green Heath Care Offices - Health and Dental Insurance - Herbal Supplements - Herbicides and Pesticides - Latex - Probiotics - Radiation (dental) - Radiation (irradiated foods) - Real Food - Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) - Triclosan

Concluding Remarks

Appendix 1 Professional Organizations

Appendix 2 Suppliers of Herbs and Oral Care Products

Appendix 3 Herba l Cultivars and Wildcrafting

Appendix 4 Useful Conversions, or Your Pint's Bigger than my pint

Appendix 5 Oral Health Charts and Tables

Glossary

About the authors

Index