Though I consider my diet and lifestyle very natural, my teeth and gums are not "happy campers." I believe my challenges likely began during years of braces in my youth and then the situation was aggravated by my fondness for dried fruit and all things sweet (though organic and dairy free, such treats are not tooth friendly....). And then my avoiding x-rays during pregnancy and nursing likely made it more challenging for the dentists I visited over a period of 7 years to see what was going on within.... Our frequent moves likely just complicated matters, as I rarely saw the same dentist more than twice
One and a half years ago, the matter became critical. I went to a new dentist (of course) in my area and finally allowed x-rays. My youngest was now 2 and I decided the risks of not knowing might outweigh the risks to my littlest one (not yet weaned). I promised myself I would eat some seaweed and miso (my memory told me this might assist with "pulling radiation from the body" as at one point I read or heard that those who survived Hiroshima and Nagasaki had diets high in naturally fermented food and seaweed, but we will save looking into that for a future post....). So I allowed the x-rays and was horrified by the results. I was told that one tooth had a cavity so large, my only option at their practice was a root canal or having the tooth removed. Neither option felt comfortable. There are so many "unnatural" aspects of root canals, including the use of a bleach solution to "irrigate" the area and the use of "gutta percha" to fill the space (ironically, though gutta percha is named for the plant from which part of it is derived, there are other less natural ingredients included in the mix.... http://endodonticsjournal.com/articles/140/1/Biocompatibility-of-dental-materials-used-in-contemporary-endodontic-therapy-a-review-Part-2-Root-canal-filling-materials/Page1.html). So suffice it to say that I was driven to look further.
So I went on a campaign to find a dentist willing to fill this cavity rather than insist on extraction or root canal. After much fruitless searching, I found a wonderful dentist, on the recommendation of a friend. Located in Newton, Massachusetts, Dr. Michaela Neagu DeSantis, was (and is) worth the trip. She offered me a free consultation and after examining my x-rays and teeth, told me she would do her best to fill the cavity. And so she did! The cavity that no one else would touch is now, nearly two years later, still filled thanks to my favorite dentist. But my gums are quite receded still, and as I still dip into the treats occasionally and likely have not been as diligent with my oral care, the cavities still come, as my teeth are much more exposed due to the recession. Though I still visit my local dentist for regular visits (free under my current insurance), I happily travel the extra mile for all my fillings (unfortunately not covered my insurance....). I know Dr. DeSantis does her best, in all respects and incorporates holistic practices wherever possible. And if not covered by your insurance plan, her prices are quite fair and reasonable. I highly recommend her to all in the Boston, Massachusetts area. Learn more about Dr. DeSantis and her practice at http://www.newtondw.com/about.html
Well this blog post is getting long, so tune back tomorrow, when I will be researching natural options for remineralizing teeth. Apparently mine are crying out for such!
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