Alternate dental options

Okay, so the background on this is pretty simple.

I don't trust dentists. There may be some out there that are trustworthy, but the ones I've seen in the past either inflate the issue they're "seeing" (I just recently found one one told me I needed a root canal when I actually did not) or they haven't listened to me when I ask them to stop doing whatever they're doing, and I end up biting them to make my point.

So I tend to avoid them. For years.

I went to one recently, for a root scaling and a checkup, since it's been about 7 years since my last appointment. My Xrays show a lot of bone loss, and the dentist says he'll have to refer me out to an orthodontist for surgery, bone grafts and oh, these two molars need to be removed.

FUCK. THAT.

I've been doing some research and trying to find options that don't involve surgery or tooth removal, and thought I would post something here, to see if anyone has had any success with something OTHER than dentists and surgery. Anyone do Oil Pulling? There's a lot of stuff out there on alternative care for teeth and such. Does it work?

Not a fan of dentists but I have a bigger dislike of lingering dull pain in my mouth. Just had my first root canal and it was in a tooth that was my second crown. I believe good dental health is one of the biggest reasons for longer and better life. At least that is one of the things that seems to be born out by my knowledge of history.

Dentistry is not cheap, but being a cash customer has helped me negotiate some good cost savings.

I wish you luck in your search for better dental care.

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Originally Posted by cstone

Not a fan of dentists but I have a bigger dislike of lingering dull pain in my mouth. Just had my first root canal and it was in a tooth that was my second crown. I believe good dental health is one of the biggest reasons for longer and better life. At least that is one of the things that seems to be born out by my knowledge of history.

Dentistry is not cheap, but being a cash customer has helped me negotiate some good cost savings.

I wish you luck in your search for better dental care.

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Thank you!

I agree, dental health is certainly something that should be prioritized.

I'm fortunate in that I have no tooth pain, but my gums are not in good shape. Right NOW, that is.

I'm researching, and I'll post what I find. In the meantime, I imagine that I will have to make a number of dental visits for root planing...but I am not going to go the route of surgery.

"refer me out to an orthodontist for surgery, bone grafts and oh, these two molars need to be removed."
None of those procedures are what an orthodontist does. Orthodontists do braces.

You need a periodontist. They specialize in gum disease and treatment. Root planing and scaling is a first step in preventing further gum issues, but once your dental health is to the point that you have "a lot of bone loss", there are no simple solutions. Alternative to dentistry, means going without teeth, as opposed to having teeth.

Have you considered going expat for cost savings?

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Originally Posted by Alpha2

"refer me out to an orthodontist for surgery, bone grafts and oh, these two molars need to be removed."
None of those procedures are what an orthodontist does. Orthodontists do braces.

You need a periodontist. They specialize in gum disease and treatment. Root planing and scaling is a first step in preventing further gum issues, but once your dental health is to the point that you have "a lot of bone loss", there are no simple solutions. Alternative to dentistry, means going without teeth, as opposed to having teeth.

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This.

Ignore the issue too long, past the point of no return, and you're looking at dentures or $50K Clear Choice full uppers/lowers.

Cheap in MX if you trust that sort of thing and willing to gamble your health.

To answer your question, yes, we do oil pulling and use natural resources for our oral care. It does work. Very well. You must be diligent, consistent and be sure to add minerals back into your mouth!


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Originally Posted by Alpha2

"refer me out to an orthodontist for surgery, bone grafts and oh, these two molars need to be removed."
None of those procedures are what an orthodontist does. Orthodontists do braces.

You need a periodontist. They specialize in gum disease and treatment. Root planing and scaling is a first step in preventing further gum issues, but once your dental health is to the point that you have "a lot of bone loss", there are no simple solutions. Alternative to dentistry, means going without teeth, as opposed to having teeth.

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That was my mistake- it was a periodontist that I saw on a referral. He chatted about bone grafts and surgery as though it were no big deal.

Thanks, Mazin!

Yes, I have gum disease and that's the issue. According to the dentist, there are no hapy solutions.

Nope, I'm not gonna go expat. It is the whole surgery angle that has me crawling the walls...doesn't matter where it's done. It's not happening.

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Originally Posted by sellersm

To answer your question, yes, we do oil pulling and use natural resources for our oral care. It does work. Very well. You must be diligent, consistent and be sure to add minerals back into your mouth!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Can you tell me more about oil pulling? What kind of oil do you use? And what are the natural resources you use?

I'm boosting my vitamins and minerals, and spent all weekend making bone stock to start taking daily.

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Originally Posted by Mazin

Btw if you need I have two dentist that I know and trust,

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really?

https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.G...=0&w=296&h=168

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Originally Posted by TheGrey

Can you tell me more about oil pulling? What kind of oil do you use? And what are the natural resources you use?

I'm boosting my vitamins and minerals, and spent all weekend making bone stock to start taking daily.

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We follow this simple process of oil pulling using coconut oil (we buy it in the big jars at Costco because we use it for all of our cooking):
- 'swish' in your mouth, about a tablespoon of oil, for 20" each day in the morning, *before* eating anything is best
- rinse thoroughly
- every few days, 'gargle/rinse' with a fairly high solution of minerals in water: we use the Redmond brand mineral salt since it has a pretty high mineral content
- we sometimes add the following essential oils to the coconut oil: clove, copaiba, peppermint

When we brush, we use either a natural toothpaste or a mix of our own, and add a few drops of diluted clove oil (diluted with fractionated coconut oil).

Clove and copaiba essential oils are 2 of the best for oral/gum health, you can research some others that are very helpful as well.

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Originally Posted by sellersm

We follow this simple process of oil pulling using coconut oil (we buy it in the big jars at Costco because we use it for all of our cooking):
- 'swish' in your mouth, about a tablespoon of oil, for 20" each day in the morning, *before* eating anything is best
- rinse thoroughly
- every few days, 'gargle/rinse' with a fairly high solution of minerals in water: we use the Redmond brand mineral salt since it has a pretty high mineral content
- we sometimes add the following essential oils to the coconut oil: clove, copaiba, peppermint

When we brush, we use either a natural toothpaste or a mix of our own, and add a few drops of diluted clove oil (diluted with fractionated coconut oil).

Clove and copaiba essential oils are 2 of the best for oral/gum health, you can research some others that are very helpful as well.

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Thank you. That's very helpful!

Man...it took me a LONG time to realize how important dental health is. Fortunately, I didn't do too much damage to my teeth. My health improved greatly just because I started seeing a dentist regularly and flossing regularly. Unfortunately, I haven't found a dentist I like or trust since I've been here. I went to one who totally fucked up an old filling repair. He was able to unfuck it a little bit when I went back to complain but it's still not right.

Now I'm afraid to try another. I'm contemplating going all the way back to Conifer to see my old dentist/hygienist.

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Originally Posted by Bailey Guns

.... Now I'm afraid to try another. I'm contemplating going all the way back to Conifer to see my old dentist/hygienist.

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Having a dentist you like and trust is really important. I drive across the state to Fruita to continue seeing the dentists I've had for over twenty years. They are a husband and wife team who study and keep up on the latest tools and techniques in dentistry. Even when I lived in the area full time, I drove 33 miles one way to see them.

We should all be glad that Obamacare didn't screw up the dental profession.

Now I'm afraid to try another. I'm contemplating going all the way back to Conifer to see my old dentist/hygienist.

I've already spoken to mine about trying to find a colleague in the area I'm moving to.......no luck. I might fly back here twice a year just to maintain that relationship.

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Originally Posted by TheGrey

Thank you. That's very helpful!

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+1

I believe folic acid is the fluid needed to help gums.
Bad gums are not good period.
Note other issues.
if smoker quit smoking
bone loss will ultimately mean tooth loss