Dental health, fibromyalgia, and inflammation? I’ve written dozens of articles on the topic of inflammation. It is, after all, a root problem for anyone dealing with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, diabetes, autoimmune dysfunction, and other chronic health challenges.
The symptoms of whole-body inflammation are widespread and numerous. If any of the following basic symptoms or conditions are present, inflammation is a likely culprit.
How many of the following relate to you?
- Chronic pain
- Digestive dysfunction (including diagnoses of leaky gut, IBS, SIBO, colitis, diverticulitis, etc.)
- Cognitive dysfunction (memory loss, inability to focus, fibrofog, etc.)
- Hormonal/thyroid/adrenal dysregulation
- Presence of chronic illnesses including those listed above as well as cancer, heart disease, stroke, migraines, obesity, ADHD, depression, and more
A simple explanation
Now that you know how far-reaching inflammation can be, it’s important to understand how it takes root. Because I repeatedly share this topic with clients and in workshops, I’ve found the following explanation to be very effective, simple, and easy to understand.
Imagine a great stone wall.
The stones are large, heavy, and well-fitted together by master craftsmen. Their meticulous efforts have paid off in the creation of a fortress that’s meant to last for centuries.
But, time marches on. The effects of wind, weather, soil erosion, and plant life eventually cause the wall’s stability to be compromised. The stones become loose and begin to crumble.
This same scenario happens in our bodies every single day.
The lining of our intestinal system is made up of an amazingly-designed system of cells. These cells line up like a wall keeping toxins and foreign invaders out, and our food (as it is digested) in.
That’s how it should be.
Sadly, that’s not what most of us experience today.
Houston … we have a problem.
How this relates to fibromyalgia
I once read about an interesting discovery made from an autopsy done on a woman with fibromyalgia. (She suffered fatal injuries from a motor vehicle accident, so her death was unrelated to fibromyalgia.) However, what they found was astonishing. In fact, it perplexed the doctors.
The condition of this woman’s internal organs and digestive system revealed health challenges typically found in patients who were significantly older. This woman who was chronologically in her 40s appeared – from the state of her internal health – to be near twice that age. Her intestines, in particular, were highly inflamed, bloated, and nearly porous.
I was fascinated by this discovery.
At the time, my fibromyalgia symptoms were running rampant, so I felt like I was 80. Maybe you know what that’s like? Knowing that my insides might reflect that feeling was somehow validating to me. It made perfect sense.
I wanted to know more, so I went on to study the primary causes of rapid aging. I wanted to know, what causes leaky gut, non-alcohol-related fatty liver disease, etc. and the general deterioration of the body inside and out?
The problem was inflammation, but what was the cause?
The simple truth
It didn’t take long for me to discover research linking the overconsumption of sugar and grains in the Standard American Diet (SAD) and chronic inflammation.[2]
Our modern lifestyles have caused our internal health (not to mention some external factors) to corrode. Decades ago, the ravages of time created health challenges that appeared in our geriatric years. Frighteningly, we’re now seeing the same effects in a much, much younger population.
Besides the enormous amounts of sugars and grains consumed today, other factors play a role as well. Unaddressed food sensitivities, chronic stress, and the repeated use of antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, steroids, and more all contribute to compromises in our intestinal health.
And, then there’s our teeth….
What?
You may not have ever put this connection together, but there’s a growing body of evidence linking the state of our dental health and our levels of whole-body inflammation.[3]
In the past decade or more, there have been many studies regarding oral health and cardiovascular disease. Currently, research has taken a broader approach linking the presence of gum disease and overall health risk factors.[4]
Keeping your teeth in good shape is more than just a cosmetic enterprise. Gum health is extremely important. Weak, loose, or even wobbling teeth can result from poor gum health which relates back to our stone wall analogy at the beginning of this article.
Are your teeth loose?
Yes, brushing and flossing can help to keep gums in good shape. But poor intestinal health can also translate to poor gum health. The integrity and strength of the gums may reflect poor overall health and vice versa. Poor dental health, gut dysbiosis, and whole-body inflammation are common for those dealing with fibromyalgia.
What can we do?
First, it should go without saying, that basic, preventative oral care is important. Regular brushing, flossing, and dental cleanings are a must.
Do you have any of these risk factors for poor dental health?
- Puffy, swollen, or gums that are red in tender places
- Gums that bleed easily after or during brushing or flossing
- Gaps or recesses between the teeth and gumline
- Tenderness or painful teeth or gums
- Bad breath/halitosis
- Pockets that form between teeth and gums
- Pale-colored gums except for localized redness in tender spots
- White or pale coating on the tongue
If a number of the above symptoms are present, a dental checkup can help to determine if a condition called gingivitis is present. If so, it’s time to see a periodontist or oral health specialist. This is a serious condition that needs to be addressed in a professional and thorough manner.
Deep dental cleanings can be very traumatic to the body, so discuss your plans with an oral health practitioner, and if you don’t feel completely comfortable with the process, seek additional opinions and/or other help.
If you have cracked teeth, missing fillings, or are in need of crowns or root canals, consider your options very, very carefully. Seek the advice of a holistic biologic dentist if possible and analyze what’s best for you.
Removing, repairing, or restoring teeth that have amalgam (mercury) fillings is to be done with the greatest of care.
You may wish to contact or consult with the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology for information and/or practitioner referrals.
More dental health remedies:
Have you ever tried oil pulling? If you’re unfamiliar, it may sound like a strange practice, but it’s actually quite common. In fact, it’s a healthy ancient Ayurvedic medicine daily practice that’s followed for centuries in India as well as many European countries.
Oil pulling is the simple maintenance routine of swishing around a spoonful or two of oil in your mouth before spitting it out. Generally, coconut, sunflower, or sesame oil is used. The length of time this is done varies, so find a source of instruction that makes sense to you and follow directions.
Here are a few to try:
Oil Pulling guide from the WellnessMama.com
Oil Pulling guide from MamaNatural.com
Oil Pulling guide from DrAxe.com
Additionally, you may wish to add Essential Oils to your oil-pulling routine. Essential oils can help with breath freshness as well as to keep bacteria and infection at bay. For freshness, try citrus oils such as Orange or Lemon as well as minty oils such as Peppermint or Spearmint. For antimicrobial benefits, try Clove, Cinnamon, or Melaleuca (Tea Tree) oils.[5]
Don’t forget your tongue!
When brushing your teeth, don’t forget to take an additional minute or two to pay special attention to cleaning your tongue. You can give your tongue a once-over with your toothbrush, but have you also used a tongue scraper?[6] This simple tool is actually quite affordable and can be found on Amazon, local health food stores, or at a basic pharmacy, drugstore, or chemist’s shop.
Say cheese!
You’re now armed with more information about the relationship between digestive health, oral health, and your levels of wellness in general.
A regular oral health routine can facilitate improvements in your entire body. And, of course, taking care of your teeth is a healthy habit that will keep your smile bright for years to come.
[2] http://scdlifestyle.com/2012/10/chronic-inflammation-signs-symptoms-and-testing/
[3] http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/739341_2
[4] http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/dental/art-20047475
[5] https://www.orawellness.com/Brushing-Blend-Ingredients/
[6] https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/tongue-scraping
