Mommy Goes Green

Natural and green living can be applied to all parts of your life.  Recently, Mommy Goes Green talked to natural dentist, Dr. Inna Shimanovsky, about oral care tips from a natural perspective.  She practices in Portland, Oregon and has partnered with The Natural Dentist, a line of natural oral care products.

Q:  How is a natural dentist practice differently from a conventional dentist? 

A:  Natural, whole body dentistry has developed from the understanding that the health of the human body is directly related to the health of the mouth. When patients receive conventional dental care, the dentist merely treats the infected area, whether that entails a cleaning to remove plaque or a restorative procedure to fix damaged teeth. Your body is made up of interrelated systems, and your overall health can affect your oral health and visa versa. Based on those finding, I believe in and practice natural dentistry.  

Mainstream dentists will use “mainstream” products including ones that may contain chemicals. Natural dentists consider those chemicals, even in small amounts, unhealthy and opt for products that use natural ingredients to keep teeth clean and healthy. Another difference between natural and mainstream dentists is “natural” dentists do not use mercury fillings. When I see a patient with one, it is important to me as well as my patient that the filling be replaced and removed in a safe way. Natural dentists also use biocompatible materials (such as composites, porcelain) in the restoration of patients teeth. 

Q:  What part does mercury play in oral care? 

A:   The ADA and FDA both state that the mercury in the silver amalgam fillings is stabilized and safe even with the possibility of very minor leakage. These fillings are typically easier for the dentist to put in place than composite fillings however, as I previously mentioned, most natural dentists, including myself, do not use them. Mercury is a toxin and even small amounts, I think, are too great a risk for me to use on my patients. While amalgam fillings last longer than composites, they put extreme pressure on the tooth and often cause weakening of the tooth structure – meaning that the filling may cause more damage to the tooth and lead to its eventual failure.

Q:  What common oral care problems can be treated with natural remedies? 

A: Well, for this, you need to understand the importance of oral hygiene. I recommend a three-part process to all of my patients which includes brushing, flossing and using mouth rinse, and actually one of the reasons I chose to work with The Natural Dentist is because I know that they do as well. This process is absolutely crucial for your oral health as it helps protect against both cavities and periodontal disease.  

Common oral care problems such as canker sores and any cuts or scrapes found on the inside of the mouth can all be alleviated using natural products. Aloe, which is a natural ingredient that is known to sooth sores is a wonderful remedy as well. Just recently, The Natural Dentist added 6 times more aloe into its Healthy Gums Antigingivitis Rinse making it the active ingredient in the product.

Dry mouth is something I see a lot of as well. Interestingly enough, many mainstream mouth washes incorporate a fairly high percent of alcohol which tends to dry your mouth preventing the flow of saliva which is essential in helping to eliminate bacteria found in your mouth. To prevent dry mouth, I would recommend avoiding mouth rinses with alcohol. None of The Natural Dentist products contain alcohol.

Q:  Giving fluoride to children is a controversial topic- what are your thoughts?

A:  I am a strong believer of using topical fluoride. However I am opposed to systemic fluoridation such as giving it to children in a form of drops, vitamins or via water fluoridation. In my opinion it is easy to overdose on fluoride which could be very toxic. For many, Fluoride is a personal choice and that is why The Natural Dentist sells products with and without Fluoride (which they source naturally) to offer options for everyone.

Q:  There are so many teeth whitening options, can you recommend any that are safe? 

A: Removing surface stains from the teeth is the real key to keeping them white and healthy looking. Most teeth whitening products contain hydrogen peroxide and the concentration of this ingredient determines the efficiency as well as safety. If you are interested in something like permanently bleaching your teeth, you should have this process done in a dental office or have your dentist recommend products instead of pulling something at random from a store shelf as this will be safer for you. If you do decide to bleach your teeth without speaking with your dentist first, it is likely you could use a product improperly and wind up burning your gum tissue.  

The natural way to polish surface stains is with ingredients such as silica. Personally I would begin by using a natural whitening rinse like The Natural Dentist Pre-Brush Whitening Antigingivitis Rinse, which uses bamboo powder, which contains a natural silica, that sticks to your teeth and gently removes stains after you brush.

You can get coupons for The Natural Dentist products here and make sure to enter the contest below for a free set of mouthwash and toothpaste!

If you are interested in finding a dentist that practices natural dentistry, look at these organizations for a local practitioner:

• Mercury Free Dentists
• Holistic Dental Association
• International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology

FREE STUFF: The Natural Dentist is generously giving away a set of mouthwash and toothpaste to 5 lucky readers!  You can enter to win in any of the following ways: 

• Check out The Natural Dentist and tell us what interests you about natural dentistry!
• Follow us on twitter @mommygoesgreen and retweet this contest.

Leave your comment by Sunday, December 6th, 2009 at 11:59PM PST.  Contest open to all U.S. residents, ages 18+.  We will choose 5 winners, by random, and contact them via email.  Privacy Policy.

This post may contain affiliate links, please see my disclosure policy.