Phil Wander looks at common dental ailments

The scope for homeopathy in dental  practice is broad. Help is at hand for a range of different ailments  people commonly experience – pain, discomfort, inflammation, bleeding.  It can have a role in calming dental anxieties, speeding recovery and  making the experience in the dentist’s chair generally a bit more  comfortable. Nobody really likes going to the dentist and some  positively fear it. But the days of gruesome teeth­-pulling are long  gone and we are moving, thankfully, to a much more holistic way of  approaching the patient. Homeopathically ­trained dentists are much more  than drillers, fillers and billers. We can even hope to improve the  overall health of the patient and not just the dental condition  presented to us.

Homeopathic prescribing in dentistry may be either acute or  constitutional, or a combination of these. Acute prescribing is a  treatment specifically for the disease or ailment. Constitutional  prescribing involves analysing a person’s temperament, disposition and  behavioural tendencies. It is possible to prescribe one medicine to suit  the general temperament or psychological state of a patient and another  for the physical problem the patient is experiencing.

Below are the top five complaints I see in my surgery, and some of the homeopathic medicines I frequently use.

Regular check­ups and good oral health will of course help you to  avoid painful dental episodes. You should always go to a dentist if the  pain is severe and preferably one who can also prescribe or recommend  homeopathy. It’s worth checking with a surgery before you register to  see if the dentist has homeopathic training or has an interest in  holistic health.

Toothache

Toothache can be one of the most distracting pains imaginable. It  can occur for a whole host of reasons so it’s hardly surprising it tops  the list of ailments that people come to see me with. The underlying  reasons for the pain should be investigated as soon as possible.  Alongside this there are a number of homeopathic medicines that can be  helpful. Particularly useful if you can’t get access to a dentist  straight away:

• Throbbing pain: Belladonna
• Heat brings on the pain: Pulsatilla
• Cold eases the pain: Coffea
• Major decay, clenching teeth helps: Staphisagria
• Where teeth sensitive and sore to touch, exposed roots, worse with cold air or fluids: Plantago
• Toothache in pregnancy: SepiaOther medicines I’ve found useful are  Aconite (toothache after being out in a cold wind), Arnica (pain with  bruising/soreness), Magnesium phosphate (pain shoots like lightning,  worse with cold and better with warmth) and Silica (swollen face/glands,  patient wants face to be warm). And of course, Chamomilla, which is  particularly indicated for teething babies. Plantago tincture, locally  applied every 15 minutes, is an excellent therapy for sensitivity,  giving immediate and long-lasting relief after just a few applications.   It can be rubbed onto or around a tooth or teeth that are sensitive to  hot or cold, or applied as a “toothache tincture”.As you can see there are numerous medicines that can apply in  toothache, depending on the symptoms, and the above is not an exhaustive  list. If in doubt about the correct one to take, think ABC: Arnica,  Belladonna, Chamomilla.
  

  Abcesses

  If you have ever been unfortunate enough to suffer toothache with a  gum boil which is red, swollen and throbbing, then Belladonna will bring  relief. It is best used for an abscess early on. Try 30c every half an  hour. If the swelling from the abscess runs down into the neck, try  Myristica, which works exceptionally well – I have known it to resolve  the problem in cases where surgical incision seemed essential. Silica is  useful if the abscess has been lingering for a long time and hasn’t  come to a head, and to hasten discharge when the pus is draining. If you  have chronic (recurring) abscesses then Hepar sulph should help, in the  6c potency if the abscesses are pus-filled, although you should always  visit a dentist if the condition is severe.

  Merc sol 6c is useful for bad breath as a result of sores, with  excessive salivation. Pyrogenium can be used when there is pus present  but without drainage. And Bryonia is indicated when there is acute  inflammation or if pricking pain is relieved by firm pressure.  Pulsatilla can help, as with toothache, where the pain is accentuated by  heat and relieved by cold water. Consider using a homeopathic mouthwash
  as well.

  Gum disease

  Gum disease can be very painful and is a major cause of tooth loss.  Infected or bleeding gums are usually caused by a build-up of plaque on  the teeth because of poor dental hygiene or because the saliva is too  acidic. In less common cases vitamin deficiency, blood disorders, or  drugs may be the cause. Treatment can be complex and a visit to a  homeopathic dentist is recommended, so that he or she can find the  correct constitutional medicine for you. In addition to this you may find that using some of the medicines in this article is useful:

  • Unhealthy, bleeding gums: Arsenicum album
  • Gums that bleed after brushing: Ferrum phosphoricum
  • Bleeding gums with bad breath: Merc sol 6c once daily
  • Swollen, painful gums, tongue has whitish coating, patient consumes a lot of stimulants like coffee and tea: Nux vomica
  • Ulcers with a raw appearance that bleed easily: Nitricum acidum
  • Small red ulcers worse for salt or acid: Borax 30c, every fifteen minutes
  • Sticky saliva with a swollen tongue: Hydrastis
  • Swollen gums that bleed easily, over-production of saliva: PhosphorusHypericum can be used for tender gum tissue, to promote healing. China is also useful for bleeding gums.
    

    Broken teeth/extractions

    Some people only end up at the dentist when their teeth cause them a  major problem, either by falling out, breaking off or by being knocked  in an accident. Symptoms associated with the potential loss of a tooth  or teeth can, understandably, include anxiety and shock. Probably the  most well-known of all homeopathic medicines, Arnica, is as effective in  dentistry as it is in other fields of healthcare. I use it routinely in  my surgery, giving it to patients before and after treatment. As well  as its affinity for the psychological state of the patient, it is  brilliant for treating soreness, swelling and bleeding. Luckily I rarely  see patients who have had serious accidents, and spend much more of my  time using Arnica before and after extractions and more extensive dental  procedures, to ameliorate the associated symptoms. Hypericum is also  very useful if there has been associated nerve damage and Phosphorus  should be considered to control bleeding. If you have had a tooth  extracted and later in the day the socket starts to bleed, take  Phosphorus 30c or use Phosphorus tincture on a cotton wool ball or  hankie and apply pressure to the socket to stem the flow. Ruta  graveolens is indicated where the bone is injured in a dental procedure  and for “dry socket”. Symphytum is also a medicine to think of, as it  encourages the growth of tissue following dental trauma.

    Mouth ulcers

    These can be very irritating and painful but can be alleviated with  homeopathic Feverfew, which is also known to help migraine sufferers. A  homeopathic mouthwash is advised. Other homeopathic medicines which  might help are:

  • Ulcers with a raw appearance that bleed easily: Nitricum acidum
  • Small red ulcers worse for salt or acid: Borax 30c, every fifteen minutes
  • Sticky saliva with a swollen tongue: HydrastisPropolis tincture is also beneficial,  applied neat or taken as a mouth wash to relieve symptoms while healing  occurs. It seems to reduce the amount of time ulcers take to heal from  seven to ten days to two or three days.
    

    Oral health the homeopathic way

    Mouthwashes

    A range of homeopathic mouthwashes are available. The most important  of these is Calendula. Hypericum and Calendula (Hypercal) mouthwash  will leave the mouth feeling comfortable and fresh after treatment. It  is particularly indicated after surgery, as Calendula has excellent  healing properties and Hypericum has an affinity with the nerves. Take  one or two drops of the tincture in a glass of warm water.

    There are also other gargles available from natural health shops,  with combinations of ingredients including tinctures of myrrh, propolis  and krameria (also known as rhatany, a perennial shrub found in North  and South America) and essential oils of cloves, eucalyptus and  peppermint.

    Toothpastes

    Some people believe the peppermint in conventional toothpastes  antidotes homeopathic medicines. There are a number of companies  providing “alternative” toothpastes, which also do not contain  ingredients like fluoride, sweeteners, colourings or sodium lauryl  sulphate. Salt toothpaste is a favourite. Herbal toothpaste is available  for those who dislike the taste of salt. Kramaria is very beneficial  for gums and many prefer its taste. Sanguinaria (bloodroot) is another  favourite botanic ingredient. Other useful toothpastes contain aloe vera  and propolis.

    Medicines for dental anxiety

    Anxiety associated with a visit to the dentist is not uncommon!  Thankfully there are some homeopathic medicines which can help here. I  use Aconite where a state of fear and anxiety is present (there is  mental and physical restlessness but fright is the predominating  feature); Gelsemium is indicated when the patient is feeling weak in the  knees, fearful and lacking in energy. Both Aconite and Gelsemium can be  used the night before and the day of the surgery for a relaxing effect.  Argenticum nitricum is also useful if there is a sense of trepidation,  hurried actions, incessant speech and diarrhoea as a result of the  anxiety.

    Propolis

    Propolis is not homeopathic but can be used very effectively in a  range of situations. Made up of a 50 to 70 per cent mixture of resins  and balsams, 30 to 50 per cent wax, 5 to 10 per cent pollen and 10  percent essential oils, it is a sticky filler substance used by bees to  seal the hive and provide them with an immune system. Propolis tincture  is excellent in treating oral ulcers, sores, abcesses and inflammation.  It can be applied to areas where other preparations are not so effective  at staying in place. A residue or film of resin appears over the ulcer,  almost immediately relieving pain and providing a healing barrier to  further irritation. I apply propolis liquid immediately after  extractions, to aid healing.

    It can also be used as a mouthwash, gargle and breath freshener.  Recent research shows it may have a role in preventing tooth decay, due  to its antibacterial qualities. Allergy and sensitivity to propolis is  uncommon but you should avoid it if you have ever experienced adverse  reactions to bee stings, bee products, honey or have an extreme  sensitivity to pollen.

    An innovation in dentistry

    There are homeopathic medicines for every facet of dental  prescribing, and some are specific to certain oral conditions.  Homeopathy is not a replacement for the skills used in everyday dental  procedures, but it is a useful complement, particularly in helping  apprehensive patients to get through dental treatment. Patients can  approach the visit to the dentist with a little more confidence and a  bit less trepidation perhaps! Even more than that, the use of homeopathy  in dentistry is an innovation that opens up new vistas for the dental  profession. Systemic illness can often be observed first in the mouth,  so we have the opportunity to do more than just filling the hole in a  tooth. Dentists with knowledge of homeopathy and its application can  benefit the whole patient, not just treat the presenting problems in  isolation.

    Finding a homeopathic dentist

    There are a number of dentists who incorporate homeopathy into their  practices in the UK. The Faculty of Homeopathy accredits introductory  and advanced training for dentists and other dental professionals.  Successful completion of the introductory training enables dentists and  hygienists to become Licensed Associates of the Faculty of Homeopathy  and use the qualification LFHom(Dent).
    Dentists who go on to complete the advanced training achieve the  qualification MFHom(Dent). To find a homeopathic dentist near you with  Faculty of Homeopathy qualifications, use our Find A Homeopath search tool.

    Philip Wander BDS MGDS RCS FFHom(Dent) runs private and NHS dental  practices in Manchester and Salford. He has 30years experience in holistic dentistry.