Dental Issues
Disclaimer. This web site is for research and educational purposes only. The information given in this site is not intended to replace a therapeutic practitioner relationship.
In my opinion dental issues that may possibly relate to CFS or FMS are:
1. Amalgam fillings
2. Electrical currents or charges produced by combinations of metals in the mouth
3. Periodontal and gum disease
4. Infections in dead teeth, parts of teeth or root canal fillings
5. Cavitations in jaw bones
Dental Amalgam Fillings
The main point with fillings is, look after your teeth! Avoid sugar and refined foods as much as you can and brush your teeth! Use dental floss and get regular dental check ups. In other words, try and avoid getting fillings of any kind!
Amalgam fillings fall into the category of environmental poisons. In my opinion dental infections are more potent and should be dealt with first. I am very hesitant to recommend removal of dental amalgam. It is expensive and often the money spent on removal would go further towards promoting optimal wellness if used in a different area. Even with the best dentists doing the job it is hard to avoid getting a spike of mercury exposure due to inhalation of mercury-containing vapour. Such exposure can set your health backwards. Also the "white fillings" are not necessary healthy either. I listened to a talk by a dentist some years ago outlining how composite fillings could release hormone disrupting chemicals. Frankly, some dentists do a botch job of amalgam removal and don't take all the amalgam out or don't use the right protective gear or don't give proper advise on detoxification. There are, however, in my opinion some people who probably do need to have their mercury amalgam out. These are people who have mercury allergy. There is also a case for amalgam removal in persons with a strong family history of Alzhiemer's disease and who have the 4/4 or 4/3 APOe Genotype. This genotype can be tested for using a simple blood test.
Electrical Issues
This is controversial. I am not a dentist and have not made up my mind on this one or checked out what research has been done. The theory is: Combinations of metals along with saliva can result in a battery being formed in the mouth. The brain runs on very small and sensitive electrical charges. So, if there is a big battery operating just under the brain with currents 100's or 1000's of times stronger than the neurons it might upset some brain activity. That is the theory. Some biological dentists do check the charges on teeth and can give advise on possible remediation therapy.
Periodontal and Gum Disease
Some of the bacteria in the mouth can produce rather nasty biotoxins (a.k.a. poisons). Also periodontal disease can result in the loss of teeth. So if you have an infection around the base of the teeth or on the gums you should get professional advise from a periodontist. Such infections are very important to treat.
Infections and Dead Teeth
Teeth without a pulp or with a dead pulp are dead teeth. Such teeth or parts of teeth are, by definition, dead tissue in the human body. Dead tissue has a habit of rotting. Teeth are not like stones. The white 'bony' part called the dentin is full of tubes. These tubes become the home of various bacteria once the pulp has died or been removed. Even with the best sterilisation techniques it is difficult to keep a root canal filled tooth from getting such infections. The bacteria in these dead teeth produce biotoxins. Many otherwise healthy persons can cope with these toxins and 'mop' them up as they are produced. But persons with compromised health may have trouble detoxifying these poisons and as a result suffer from a further compromise in their health. Not all root canal filled teeth should be removed in a person with CFS/FMS. Careful evaluation is required. I will often assign such dental work to 'last resort' status because of the potential expense and risk that it may not be the 'magic solution' to improve health. However, if you have a root canal filling and it continues to plague you with pain or discomfort or starts to 'play up' again after a period of being 'okay', I usually recommend removal. It is passed its 'use-by date'. Unfortunately it is not easy to find dentists who are familiar with the possible ill-health that can result from root canal fillings. It is hard to find dentists willing to extract root canal fillings that look okay but are suspect. One dentist that I have found particularly helpful with difficult cases is Dr. Andrew Taylor of Newrybar, NSW, Australia.
Cavitations
It is even harder to find dentists in Australia who know about the possible problems that can be caused by cavitations and that know how to surgically treat them. Cavitations are basically holes that form in the bones around the mouth and that contain toxin producing bacteria. They can cause unusual face pain, in which case they are sometimes referred to as NICO's (Neuralgic Inducing Cavitational Osteonecrosis). These holes can form underneath dead teeth including root canal fillings. They can form after difficult extractions, particularly of the wisdom teeth. Some medications, particularly a class of drugs used to treat osteoporosis can cause them. In otherwise health persons they may not be much of an issue. But in those who have poor health, they can be a big issue causing muscle pain, fatigue and facial pain. For me, cavitations are again a 'last resort' area of health to look at. This is due to the challenge of knowing how much of an issue they really are and the expense and risks involved in surgical treatment. Dr. Taylor, mentioned above, is a dentist in Australia who understands cavitation issues.
1. Amalgam fillings
2. Electrical currents or charges produced by combinations of metals in the mouth
3. Periodontal and gum disease
4. Infections in dead teeth, parts of teeth or root canal fillings
5. Cavitations in jaw bones
Dental Amalgam Fillings
The main point with fillings is, look after your teeth! Avoid sugar and refined foods as much as you can and brush your teeth! Use dental floss and get regular dental check ups. In other words, try and avoid getting fillings of any kind!
Amalgam fillings fall into the category of environmental poisons. In my opinion dental infections are more potent and should be dealt with first. I am very hesitant to recommend removal of dental amalgam. It is expensive and often the money spent on removal would go further towards promoting optimal wellness if used in a different area. Even with the best dentists doing the job it is hard to avoid getting a spike of mercury exposure due to inhalation of mercury-containing vapour. Such exposure can set your health backwards. Also the "white fillings" are not necessary healthy either. I listened to a talk by a dentist some years ago outlining how composite fillings could release hormone disrupting chemicals. Frankly, some dentists do a botch job of amalgam removal and don't take all the amalgam out or don't use the right protective gear or don't give proper advise on detoxification. There are, however, in my opinion some people who probably do need to have their mercury amalgam out. These are people who have mercury allergy. There is also a case for amalgam removal in persons with a strong family history of Alzhiemer's disease and who have the 4/4 or 4/3 APOe Genotype. This genotype can be tested for using a simple blood test.
Electrical Issues
This is controversial. I am not a dentist and have not made up my mind on this one or checked out what research has been done. The theory is: Combinations of metals along with saliva can result in a battery being formed in the mouth. The brain runs on very small and sensitive electrical charges. So, if there is a big battery operating just under the brain with currents 100's or 1000's of times stronger than the neurons it might upset some brain activity. That is the theory. Some biological dentists do check the charges on teeth and can give advise on possible remediation therapy.
Periodontal and Gum Disease
Some of the bacteria in the mouth can produce rather nasty biotoxins (a.k.a. poisons). Also periodontal disease can result in the loss of teeth. So if you have an infection around the base of the teeth or on the gums you should get professional advise from a periodontist. Such infections are very important to treat.
Infections and Dead Teeth
Teeth without a pulp or with a dead pulp are dead teeth. Such teeth or parts of teeth are, by definition, dead tissue in the human body. Dead tissue has a habit of rotting. Teeth are not like stones. The white 'bony' part called the dentin is full of tubes. These tubes become the home of various bacteria once the pulp has died or been removed. Even with the best sterilisation techniques it is difficult to keep a root canal filled tooth from getting such infections. The bacteria in these dead teeth produce biotoxins. Many otherwise healthy persons can cope with these toxins and 'mop' them up as they are produced. But persons with compromised health may have trouble detoxifying these poisons and as a result suffer from a further compromise in their health. Not all root canal filled teeth should be removed in a person with CFS/FMS. Careful evaluation is required. I will often assign such dental work to 'last resort' status because of the potential expense and risk that it may not be the 'magic solution' to improve health. However, if you have a root canal filling and it continues to plague you with pain or discomfort or starts to 'play up' again after a period of being 'okay', I usually recommend removal. It is passed its 'use-by date'. Unfortunately it is not easy to find dentists who are familiar with the possible ill-health that can result from root canal fillings. It is hard to find dentists willing to extract root canal fillings that look okay but are suspect. One dentist that I have found particularly helpful with difficult cases is Dr. Andrew Taylor of Newrybar, NSW, Australia.
Cavitations
It is even harder to find dentists in Australia who know about the possible problems that can be caused by cavitations and that know how to surgically treat them. Cavitations are basically holes that form in the bones around the mouth and that contain toxin producing bacteria. They can cause unusual face pain, in which case they are sometimes referred to as NICO's (Neuralgic Inducing Cavitational Osteonecrosis). These holes can form underneath dead teeth including root canal fillings. They can form after difficult extractions, particularly of the wisdom teeth. Some medications, particularly a class of drugs used to treat osteoporosis can cause them. In otherwise health persons they may not be much of an issue. But in those who have poor health, they can be a big issue causing muscle pain, fatigue and facial pain. For me, cavitations are again a 'last resort' area of health to look at. This is due to the challenge of knowing how much of an issue they really are and the expense and risks involved in surgical treatment. Dr. Taylor, mentioned above, is a dentist in Australia who understands cavitation issues.
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