The state of our soft tissues and teeth often offer a clear reflection of what’s going on in the rest of our body. Many doctors and experts have a theory that our dental health is an essential component of our physical health.
Therefore, we need to pay more attention, to overlook dental issues such as cavities and root canals if we want to prevent future problems.
The food we eat every day helps feed the bacteria that are in the mouth and the teeth. When they come in contact with sugar or starch, an acid that attacks the teeth creates. The food deposits that remain between the teeth also cause toxins that damage the gums.
Keep in mind that certain foods profoundly affect the color of teeth and contribute to faster tooth decay. Products that contain refined carbohydrates are incredibly harmful to our teeth.
“Regular tooth brushing, visiting a dentist are the necessary things that you need to practice if you want to have healthy teeth.”
But today, luckily for us, Chinese researchers recently discovered that water extract of the herb Galla Chinensis has strong anti-caries effects, efficiently inhibiting acid production caused by caries-associated bacteria and increasing teeth’s resistance to acid.
Scientists at the West China Dental School and the academic dentistry center in Amsterdam came to this discovery when they used the technique mass spectrometry to separate the various ingredients from the herb and to test their antibacterial value.
Although fluoride plays a significant role in preventing the formation of cavities in the teeth, additional methods would help even more people.
This discovery may be the first step towards creating a natural anti-corrosion product that people would use to protect the health of teeth.
The herb works because its active ingredient prevents bacteria from producing acid that bites teeth and creates cavities in them. It also strengthens them, so they do not break quickly, and this is achieved by the mineralization of the tooth.
According to the authors:
“Galla Chinensis water extract has been demonstrated to inhibit dental caries by favorably shifting the demineralization/remineralization balance of enamel and inhibiting the biomass and acid formation of dental biofilm.”
As reported by ScienceBlog:
“In the present study, several Galla Chinensis extracts with different main ingredients were obtained and determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. The antibacterial capacity was assessed using the polymicrobial biofilms model, which can generate reproducible plaque-like biofilms that occur in vivo.
The effect of inhibiting tooth demineralization was tested using an in vitro pH-cycling regime, which mimicked the periodic pH change in the mouth. ‘Medium molecular weight gallotannins are the most active constituent regarding caries prevention’ concluded Xuelian Huang, Ph.D., DDS, the lead author.”
“Galla Chinensis, also known as Chinese gall or Wu Bei Zi in Pinyin, is an astringent commonly used in Chinese herbal remedies.”
Rhus Chinensis, also known as the “Chinese sumac” or “Nutgall tree,” is something that has to be mentioned in the first place since it is the primary source of medicinal galls.
This is a plant in the Sumac family, that is cultivated mainly for generating galls in China. Galls of other plant species in the same genus Rhus are also considered with similar or same healing properties. So, other common names of it also include Gallnut of Chinese Sumac and Chinese Sumac gall. Rhus Chinensis is distributed in most parts of China, in particular, Sichuan. The galls are usually picked in fall and dried after the parasite inside is killed by boiling. Medicinally it is normally used raw.
According to the shapes, Galla Chinensis can be classified into two types: Du-ensiform gall & Horned gall.
–Du-ensiform gall is long, rounded or fusiform sac, which is 2.5 to 9cm long and 1.5 to 4cm in diameter. The surface is taupe or gray-brown, and slightly pubescent. It is hard, brittle, easily broken, and with the horn-like shiny section. Wall is from 0.2 to 0.3cm thick, smooth, and with dark brown dead aphid and gray powdery dead aphid excrement. The odor is quite peculiar and the taste is astringent.
–Horned gall is diamond-shaped, with irregular angular branches, visible pubescence, and thin walls.
-stopping dysentery, stopping bleeding, stopping coughing, stopping sweating, and stopping rectal prolapse.
-for the treatment of loose, watery stools, chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, evening coughing, rectal hernias.
-can clear away the lung-heat and stop bleeding by astringency.
-it is ideal for coughing up mucus or blood.
-it is often used for dyspnea caused by lung-kidney deficiency and nocturnal emission caused by kidney deficiency and insecurity of the essence gate.
-Galla Chinensis contains gallic acid, which can interfere with the absorption of food. In other words, it precipitates the proteins.
-A small amount of food and drinks including gallic acid is harmless since in the alkaline environment of the small intestine the protein can be re-released.
-A large amount of consumption, like excessive drinking of tea, may delay the absorption of food.
-Overdose, worse still, may cause irritation, corrosion, pain, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, especially on the situation of an empty stomach.
-Under normal circumstances, the symptoms may disappear on their own after the medication has been stopped.
-In severe symptoms, the patients should be given symptomatic treatment.
Remember: It’s still far too early to start using the herb in dental applications because the researchers have yet to identify the active ingredient responsible for these anti-caries activities. Water extract of the Chinese herb Galla Chinensis has strong anticaries effects, effectively inhibiting acid production caused by caries-associated bacteria and increasing teeth’s resistance to acid. Never use medicines on your own, always consult your doctor.
“Human health is complex and requires constant monitoring and control, but modern lifestyles bring challenges that people successfully overcome.”
Experts and dentists advise us to avoid consuming:
-many sour foods,
-not to overdo it by drinking coffee and tea,
-avoiding too much cold/hot/acidic foods,
-eating solid foods,
-too much-dried fruits, chips, cookies, and snacks,
(Lollipops and caramel should be avoided, and consume chocolate in smaller quantities.)
-avoiding alcohol, water with various flavors, energy, and fizzy drinks,
(They contain a lot of sugar, phosphoric acid, and citric acid. Also, causes cavities, irritate the gums and increase the sensitivity of teeth and mucous membranes of the oral cavity.)
But on the other side, experts and dentists advise us to regularly consuming:
-fruits and vegetables stuffed with dietary fiber,
-cheese, milk, yogurt and other dairy products,
-products containing fluoride,
-the most popular foods that are recommended are eggs, strawberries, meat and meat products, sweet potatoes, avocados, butter, green and black tea, water, natural juices, soups, seafood, cereals.
-fruits, veggies, and products which contain vitamins: B12, C, D, A, K2, as well as minerals like potassium and calcium.
Guidelines for Strong, Healthy Teeth:
-Omega-3 fats may help ward off gum disease.
(People who consumed the highest levels of the animal-based omega-3 fats were 23 % to 30 % less likely to have gum disease.)
-Research shows topical fluoride is unlikely to provide any significant protection against cavities. Other studies show fluoride is a neurotoxic endocrine disruptor that does more harm than good.
-Coconut oil is a natural antibacterial alternative that can significantly improve your oral health. Oil pulling with coconut oil has been shown to reduce plaque formation and gum disease with consistent use significantly.
-Vitamin K2 is crucial for bone mineralization, and unless you consume grass-fed organic animal products and nonpasteurized fermented foods regularly, there is a good chance you might be deficient in this crucial nutrient.
-Poor dental hygiene and poor access to and use of dental health services, usually related to socioeconomic status.
-Mineral deficiencies, like magnesium, which can weaken bones and teeth.
-Avoid fluoridated water and fluoridated toothpaste.
-Minimize your sugar and grain consumption and avoid processed foods. To minimize your risk of cavities, limit dietary sugars to 3 percent of your total energy intake or less.
-Increase consumption of fresh vegetables, fermented foods, and high-quality animal-based omega-3 fats.
-Practice good daily oral hygiene and get regular cleanings from a mercury-free dentist.
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