Teeth and Gums and TCM – Who Knew?
By Dr. Louis Jin - The Woodlands Acupuncture & Herbal Clinic According to the American Academy of Periodontology, “Periodontal (gum) diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis, are serious infections that, left untreated, can lead to tooth loss. The word periodontal literally means “around the tooth. Periodontal disease can affect one tooth or many teeth. It begins when the bacteria in plaque (the sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth) causes the gums to become inflamed.”
The website of AaoP, www.perio.org, offers the basics:
“In the mildest form of the disease, gingivitis, the gums redden, swell and bleed easily. There is usually little or no discomfort. Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care.
Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response in which the body in essence turns on itself, and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Often, this destructive process has very mild symptoms. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.”
Many patients are at the stage when they have heard from their hygienist that their teeth are forming small pockets and that they should pay closer attention to flossing, are given proper brushing habits and recommendations to have more regular teeth cleanings. These patients can take the benefits of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) to prevent further pocketing of their gums and the gradual healing of the gums can take place.
Patients who have gone further done the road to periodontitis, may have gone through teeth scalings or minor oral surgery and may be further motivated to pursue the deeper benefits that can come from pursuing a more indepth commitment to acupuncture and chinese herbs.
The holistic viewpoint of TCM looks at gum problems as originating from underlying imbalances of the organs, particularly those related to the digestive system. It seems to make a basic type of sense that the ecology of bacteria in your digestive system would effect the ecology of the bacteria in your mouth. Chinese medicine’s classical viewpoint is that periodontitis originates from Heat accumulation in Yang Ming stomach viscera. The Chinese medicine ecological metaphor of “Heat” is fairly similar to the Western concept of inflammation. Traditionally, this would be treated with dietary changes, herbal protocols and acupuncture to stabilize the organ physiology. Each patient is treated differently as their underlying constitution shifts how the accumulation of heat effects the overall system. There is one acupuncture point that is commonly used in most cases of Heat accumulation in the Stomach, Stomach 44, Inner Neiting. It is located between the junction of the 2nd and third toes on the web of both feet and is often quite tender on patients who have gum disorders. As a home therapy, pressing this point daily can help the body come back to balance. The amount of clinical research coming out of the East on integrative medicine is growing daily as more sophisticated Chinese medicine practitioners in the west pressure the amount of translation work being done on Chinese medicine. The Malaysian government which uses an enormous amount of integrated Eastern and Western medicine in its health care has an enormous database on clinical medicine which can be accessed at http://content.nhiondemand.com/moh/media/TCMHC1.asp?objID=100975&ctype=tcmhcI have listed in the Appendix, clinical trials and references for health care practitioners who want to further research the formulas.
Did you know a chief ingredient of a TCM herbal formula has been shown to regulate genes responsible for tissue growth and differentiation in the periodontal ligament. Researchers recently discovered that a single herbal ingredient baicalin, found in Huang Qin, shows promise in periodontal ligament cell based therapy. The results were published in the Journal of Periodontology, the official publication of the American Academy of Periodontology.
As you may know, periodontitis is a major cause of tooth loss and is characterized by infection and inflammation of the ligaments and bone that support the teeth. Severity of this disorder is partially determined by the quantity of periodontal ligament fibers that have been lost. “Baicalin showed multifaceted regulation of genes with important roles in tissue growth and differentiation, and thus it has the potential to be a promising candidate for HPLC-based periodontal regeneration therapy
With the nutritional understanding of treating gum diseases especially has the Eastern understanding of relating digestive health to gum health is incorporated, methods such as “Reduce inflammation by reducing plaque. Plaque, the sticky mix of bacteria, mucus and food matter, is more abundant in a highly acidic body. Bring the ph balance back into alignment by reducing refined carbohydrates, sugar, corn syrup, etc. Increase the variety of mineral rich, green leafy vegetables such as kale, collard and mustard greens, bok choy, and mineral rich foods such as wheat grass juice, barley grass juice, dulse, kombu and other culinary sea vegetables.” are often suggested. Moreover, in the acute phase of inflammation, painful swelling and bone loss, encourage the elimination of processed foods, refined carbohydrates and all concentrated sweeteners. Use a ‘green’ drink such “Pure Synergy,” “Pro-Greens,” or other top quality product to immediately re-mineralize the body and bring balance to the overly acidic environment. Include anti-oxidant supplementation with Vit. A ( as mixed carotenoids), Vit. C ( with bioflavonoids), Vit. E (as mixed tocopherols and tocotrienols),. Include Co-Q10 and MSM for rapid cell repair and healing.”
In combination with proper dental care, at The Woodlands Acupuncture & Herbal Clinic, our doctors have seen remarkable regeneration of the gums of patients with Chinese medicine. The regeneration of gums while taking herbs has often astounded their dental health care providers. Chinese medicine does take time and it is an overall commitment to a bigger view of what constitutes health that provides such amazing results. The combination of both Western and Eastern approaches to dental care provides a path to a higher level of health for not only the gums but for the whole body.
For inflammation, the research recommends “cold” (yin energy) food that dispels pathogenic heat. This includes chrysanthemum tea, cucumber and celery, and did you know besides antibiotic mouthwash, rinsing the mouth with warm salt water and soaking the sore gum in the salt water can also help relieve inflammation and pain, sometimes even chewing a thin slice of American ginseng can also help.
There is an ancient Chinese saying that goes: “A toothache isn’t a disease but it’s a killer when it attacks.” When you’re in sharp acute dental pain, obviously, go see a dentist immediately. But, before you are in pain, or after seeing the dentist, and you still have that aching residual numbness or tingling, there are some things you can do to insure that perhaps you may not visiting be visiting your dental office so often, including a visit to the Chinese herbalist/acupuncturist near you!