Hi Ted, Like many others, I stumbled onto this site during an internet search for some health concern and am thankful for the helpful, inexpensive and safe recommendations. My reason in writing concerns how to prevent tooth loss due to cracking. I have just cracked my forth tooth in 12 years (I am 52). None of these teeth had cavities, in fact I have never had a cavity in my life. But I do have periodontal disease, with most of the pockets in the 4 - 6 mm range. I do not brush daily, but use salt/baking soda combo when I do, followed by a hydrogen peroxide rinse.
My questions are:
1. Can unchecked bacteria growth cause teeth to crack vertically, especially if the bacteria is anaerobic?
2. Can teeth, which have never had cavities and have never been injured, crack vertically only as a result of grinding your teeth in your sleep? Though I considered that possibility, I have never awakened with a headache (nor do I get any headaches) and there is no evidence of wear on my teeth.
3. Should I consider having dental implants to replace the lost teeth or would that lead to further complications down the road as I had with infected root canals? Would getting a bridge or noninvasive option be better?
Of the first two teeth that cracked, both had a root canal and crown put on in order to save the tooth. Unfortunately, in time that led to an infection and huge abscess, so I had both of these root canal treated teeth removed. Consequently, I would appreciate any comments by you or by your readers as to their experiences.
Thank you so much."
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06/17/2008: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand writes, "Usually in a periodontal disease, the bacteria may grow in vertical column, causing vertical breaks. Given the fact that regular brushing was not done in the morning and before sleep, it gives ample time for this disease to develop and the thinning of teeth, especially the enamel, which causes the teeth to be brittle. Once that sets in a break occurs along the vertical column. The thinning of enamel can be further worsens by acid saliva where the saliva pH is below 7, while a urinary pH is much more allowable to be as low as 6, but a much stricter allowances of the mouth pH not to be below even 6.8 before a bacteria sets in. However acceptable allowance of urinary pH to be as low as 6.5 and 7.0 for salivary pH are allowed.
The major alkalizing remedy for the mouth has always been the potassium, unfortunately certain diets may influence excess potassium and lacking sodium in case of vegetarian diets, Hallelujah diets here are not applicable. The mouth gets alkalized with a potassium bicarbonate, or a potassium citrate. One effective remedy that I have tested so far in the prevention of bad breath and some periodontal disease was the use of potassium citrate. The reason why potassium bicarbonate was not tested, at least here in Thailand is that the chemical suppliers here don't sell it, so I ended up testing just the potassium citrate. The remedy is often 1/4 teaspoon of potassium citrate plus 1/4 teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate in 1 glass of water, only once a day for healthier people. But for people who are sicker it may be taken twice a day.
It should be noted that I actually have a two tiered remedy depending on the condition of the people, either they are sick or they are well. A people who are well generally either don't need the alkalizing remedy or used it once a day, depending on condition, rather than perfection of achieving a close pH values, where allowable pH is much wider in healthier people, but within limits.
For example, for me the positive effects of potassium citrate lasts for days in alkalizing my mouth, while some may need just once a day, a more unhealthier people may need up to twice a day. The potassium added remedy is often a bit more difficult to handle, because excessive potassium use has a stronger effect and longer lasting effect than a sodium bicarbonate one and needs more complete description.
Besides the alkalizing effects to alkalize the mouth to prevent erosion of enamel when mouth pH is acid, is the issue of dietary preferences. Frequently people with enamel erosion has high strontium, fluoride, and other metals which causes erosion of enamel. Fluoride by mottled of the teeth. Sweets play in a large role in enamel erosion, which is the gives the teeth its strength as sugar increases calcium solubility by 35 times over ordinary water causing enamel erosion, which thins the teeth.
A couple of things not mentioned is that enamel erosion causes teeth sensitivity. Two possible supplements might help, one that I knew very well is the magnesium supplements and the other that came from nowhere is the silicon supplements, chemically in the form of silicic acid (which is neutral form) and sodium silicate (a very alkaline form), that is sometimes added in supplements. I make my own since it's not available anywhere. The matrix of enamel are complicated, but magnesium, silicon, phosphate, are some that is needed. The dentin inner part which is soft is high in collagen, so some sodium ascorbate vitamin C supplements may help, especially in cases of gum disease, such as receding gums.
The remineralization of teeth is vital, and molybdenum supplements are needed or can be added to a toothpowder formulation such as sodium molybdate 1% in a tooth formulation. Sodium molybdate is relatively benign and helps in remineralization of teeth and protects against cavities. But molybdenum is not the only one, and xylitol or mannitol are also helpful and deserves special mention. Already xylitol works better than fluoride by twice the value, while the addition of molybdenum will work a lot better in cavity prevention than traditional methods and are safer bas molybdenum are an essential mineral also. Mannitol is more natural version, than xylitol and they both work equally well when I tested it. Xylitol might work a bit better. If zinc chloride 0.1%-0.5% is added in a tooth formulation it will be fine. The reason why I discussed some of these chemical aspect is that I used to moonlight as an industrial chemist, so it's not something you see in consumer products since they don't add these because effectiveness of formulation in cavity prevention is not their priority. Cost is. That's where more conscious consumers comes in and have to formulate himself.
While I am fairly positive that sea salt used in tooth powders may help remineralization and even better approach is to add a tiny amount of rich mineral, bentonite a tiny pinch in the entire formulation often below 1% to help increase mineralization of the teeth.
As to why I used mannitol or even xylitol in a tooth formulation I find this is the future of antibiotics, the addition of these prevent colonies of bacteria and virus from replication. It is what I call a glue remover, that prevents the virus and bacteria from attaching to healthy cells forming colonies. Some people may not xylitol and there are more natural alternatives such as mannose, extracted from cranberry, or even mannitol which is derive from mannose. I prefer both or sometimes I used xylitol because it's cheaper and easier to find in my area. The reason why I know mannitol and xylitol may help periodontal disease is I purposes eat sweets (ouch!) to cause cavities and toothache, where I added mannitol or xylitol to find out how long it takes to stop it. The amount is about 1 gram applied in the area and it kills it. The mechanism of killing by polyol sugars is it prevents bacteria from attaching to the surface of the enamel and prevents enamel erosion that way. Hence between 10% to 50% of the formulation used contains this element in a toothpowder.
Therefore, I would avoid sour, sweet and very hot foods, smoking (causes strontium and excessive wear of the enamel) and should be avoided. Sour foods digests the enamel by acid. Getting an alkaline saliva is also important but they are more tricky to use than the old baking soda remedy. However, much of these I used only when it is needed, and not as a supplements. Some people mistakenly assume I used this as a supplement. If that were true, I would have to use a Ringer's solution, along with vitamin C sodium ascorbate with a twice a week vitamin B complex and required a lot of more description. However, a saliva's pH should be around 7-7.3, and potassium is added in addition to baking soda. But since most of my postings deal with Home Remedies, I frequently opted simpler supplies than a more complicated Ringer's solution, and other nuances since most will not have it anyway.
As to your questions:
1. Unchecked bacteria growth cause vertical cracks.
2. A periodontal disease, eating sour and sweet foods and acid saliva can cause rapid enamel erosion. Cavities is just one element of enamel damage!
3. Grinding of teeth will cause crown erosion. But theres more than one way to grind it! The teeth during sleeping can be grinding up and down the crown, but there is another which happens when we go left and right, which does not wear the crown, but put undue pressure to the side to cause a break. A grinding of teeth can only be noticed by two ways: someone tells you were grinding in your sleep, or you webcam recorded yourself while you sleep. Grinding of teeth is in my opinion a very weak from of epileptic seizures and I have seen cures with granulated lecithin, alkalizing, and magnesium supplements, as well as occasional cilanto (Chinese parsley) to remove heavy metals. One newer remedy added to arsenal of reduced grinding is fish oil omega 3 containing DHA and EPA.
As to the issue of dental implants for lost teeth and noninvasive option. The dental implants is more invasive and risk potential infection.
Ted
