new comer and teeth issues

[Vandy]

Hi everyone... I'm new at this journaling thing but I am a college student and I have been 100% raw for about 5 months now (which has been quite a challenge living in the dorms), but I was just wondering if anyone knew any other college students I could get in touch with. Also, does anyone have any teeth problems? I've heard that raw foodists have problems with losing lots of enamel on their teeth b/c of all the acid we eat. Maybe that is what I am starting to see happen to my teeth???? Thanks again!

[Rawkinlocs]

Hi and welcome!

Here is a previous discussion on citrus and teeth that will give a few pointers, an informative article on the subject, as well as point you to yet another discussion: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6439&highlight=teeth

Just make sure you include dark leafy greens in your diet even if by way of green smoothies (see here for more on those: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3089&highlight=green+smoothies) and when you DO eat acidic fruits such as oranges, etc., rinse your mouth out with water afterwards or drink water to dilute and flush the juice off of your teeth so it won't just sit on there and possibly errode the enamel!

But not all raw fooders face dental issues.

[Vandy]

Thanks that was a big help. How long have u been raw?

[exurb]

Here is a study that did show a significant increase in "dental erosions" in raw foodies.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9831783&dopt=Abstract

I have talked about it with my dentist (I am pushing 40 years old, so he says I am sort of past the cavity years, more in the years where gum health is an issue). I have been cavity free for a long time now, but had no shortage of them in my youth. I asked why he thought there was such an increase for raw eaters (because I don't want any issues :D ), and we bounced around some ideas, so maybe they could try to be counteracted.

We thought raw foodies are more likely to use non-fluoride toothpaste. (BTW, there are some Colgates that don't have animal products in them (though lots of them do), the company will provide a list). We're more likely to drink purified water. We eat way more salads with vinegar! The sugar in fruits? Do we brush our teeth less often or leave them unbrushed after meals because our mouths taste clean from eating raw food, we don't have gross tastes and textures to get rid of from eating gross food and sugar, etc... Are there any nutrients we're low in?

I find knowing that there is an increased risk empowering, so I've been trying to compensate. If anyone has any other theories as to why or what we're doing to cause this increased risk, I'd love to hear them.

[theresaann]

the best stuff I've read about teeth so far is from Victoria Boutenko in her new book "Green for Life" (avail. from rawfamily.com). I saw her here in Michigan about a month ago, and just got the book on Friday. It's AWESOME! Green smoothies are saving people's teeth, and health. she put a LOT of research into this book-it's going to revolutionize health care AND the raw movement, I think. Check it out!

[Sunshine9]

Hey Vandy! I'm a college student. Where do you go to school? I was very happy to see your post.. i don't know anyone my age who is raw. How do you do it in the dorms!?

And about the teeth--hygiene and greens are key! Do you have a really good toothbrush and toothpaste? I think it is common for raw foodists to have teeth problems, but I think they can be reversed if they are getting the right proportion of vitamins and minerals and keep their teeth very clean!

[theresaann]

it not meant to be "common" for raw fooders to have teeth problems. We shouldn't even NEED to use tooth brushes or tooth paste. The problem is an acid BODY condition that demineralizes the teeth FROM THE INSIDE, in addition to poor digestion and malnutrition. The answer is EATING GREENS, by blending and eating, and not too much fats, or fruits and fats. easy!

[Arky]

We shouldn't even NEED to use tooth brushes or tooth paste.

With respect, theresaann, while you may feel there is an elegant logic to that argument (just one possible example being the arguement that, 'Cavemen didn't use toothbrushes' etc. etc.), I believe that your assertion is, from a practical standpoint, overly-idealistic. Certain bacteria may proliferate in some people's mouths more so than in others. These bacteria may convert sugars into acids which can attack the teeth. There are many other facets of this subject which point to a potential unevenness in the playing field, so-to-speak, such that some of us may, to a certain extent, be more vulnerable to decay than to others, even allowing for a reasonable level of dental hygiene in all cases.

Furthermore, dried fruits, for example, are a (largely) modern phenomenon that can, potentially, contribute significantly to acid production in the mouth, by sticking to the teeth and feeding oral bacteria with fructose over an extended period of time, and in hard-to-reach areas of the mouth (e.g between teeth or below the gumline, where brushing often fails to reach).

Fred Patenaude (a very prominent raw food commentator, who you may have heard of) publicly admits that, in the past, he was assured by other raw-foodist authors that teeth brushing was theoretically unnecessary, and Fred tells of his disgust at where this led his dental health over a period of time, even though he was eating a virtually 100% raw food diet. If you have not read his personal dental health experience, I heartily recommend that you do so ASAP.

As you rightly stated, consumption of adequate levels of mineral-rich greens is virtually essential for good dental health, and these should ideally be chewed wherever possible, to allow release of the minerals directly in the oral cavity/mouth. There are many useful, and widely-varied, links contained within the thread sublinked in the thread Rawkinlocks posted above. Note that a very important, and oft-neglected, aspect of dental hygiene is that of cleaning BELOW the gumline - VERY important!!


J.

[theresaann]

here's one of those times when printed word meant to be tongue in cheek is read literally. Sorry about that. I didn't mean people should stop brushing their teeth, what I meant is that our teeth should be strong enough FROM THE INSIDE that they dont' need it. We have a LONG way to go of remineralizing and alkalinizing and detoxing to get there.

And chewing greens is great, but we'll never get enough in us that way. Plus for most of us, low acid in the stomach makes it very difficult to break down the cellulous in green leaves, which is where we get most of our alkalinizing minerals to rebuild the teeth. PLus we have to eat a LOT of it. That's why I mentioned green smoothies-the vitamix does most of the "break down" our weak teeth can't do, and the fruit makes it palatable so we'll get enough greens in us to make a difference. Over time, it's been shown that drinking green smoothies everyday actually reverses all kinds of degenerative conditions, even in long term raw foodists, restores teeth and stomach acid levels. It's all about the greens!

[dreamrawalwz]

I'm a college student in VA. Where are you? I am at a community college now and living at home, so food isn't an issue like it is in dorms, but in 1.5 years I'm transferring to dorms and was wondering how well that worked.

[swiddweas]

hello!


I noticed a change in my enamel after I stopped using the toothpaste my Denitist reccommended because i thought that since I am all raw, i should do raw toothpaste so I started brusing with celtic sea salt and smoothing coconut oil over my gums and teeth for my rinse. For me, boy was that a mistake. I noticed immediately how sensitive my teeth were becoming. to the point that i coulnd't even brush.

Went to the dentist because I couldn't even brush. He said to start again using the Sensadine toothpaste and rinse with floride.Of course, I questioned him. The Dentist said that we all need floride and God put it in the Earth for a mineral essential to our health and we don't need huge amounts as that would be poisionous. He said just as we use a bit of clorine to sanitize drinking water, we use just a little floride to de-sensitize and build up (re-minerialize)our enamel. Interesting. Now, I am no longer afraid of using floride or toothpaste, what a revelation! If this means no more tooth pain, you better believe I am gonnna use it. Just as i would take an advil if I got a migraine.. can't deal with pain...raw foodist or not. I will not fool around with it.

That was a month ago. Now, by golly-gumbo,, my teeth are no longer painful! For me, this philosophy works.. It beats the extreme pain of tooth enamel degeneration, in my opinion, anyway.


pattye

[Vandy]

I know I am getting the greens in my diet, but I'm starting to think that it is all of the apple cider vinegar I am using. Either that or it is just taking me way too long to eat my dinners, allowing the vinegar to sit for longer than it should. Let me know what you think! Thanks!