Oral Health...

[patdart]

I wasn't sure where to post this, so it can be moved since I think it may apply to all of us...

One thing I've never heard discussed on this or any other site is how better your dental health (teeth and gums) is!  I had lots of cavities, and gum disease all of my life and my dentist was the first to comment after I began to eat this way...was shocked at my first checkup and asked me what was different now.  I had almost no tartar and my gum disease was asleep at the switch.  I had to have some pretty radical surgery just prior and it was painful and very expensive!  Am I alone in this finding?

[Timewise]

Yep.....sugar especially feeds the bacteria on the teeth!  Carb also cause some problems (e.g. starches turn to sugar in the mouth when mixed with saliva...which then feeds the bacteria)....

[skb]

Am I alone in this finding?

I think it is a widespread experience. I've not visited my dentist in more than 3 years. Sometimes she calls me up just to ask if everything is alright. The day I eat anything high carb, I have bouts of sensitivity for the next couple of days.

[Shanny]

I haven't been to a dentist since 1998 and have no reason to go any time soon. Still have all 32 teeth in my head and they're all still going strong.

[Sweety]

Very impressive Shanny. I hate going to the dentist. That really gives me a scare, God knows why. The whirring sound of that drill really scares the daylights out of me. 

[Shanny]

When I was in my 30s, I once had a dentist inform me that if I ever developed a cavity in a wisdom tooth, he would pull it rather than fill it. My wisdom teeth had never caused me any trouble and he was just being ornery - I'm sure he could charge more for a extraction than a filling. My answer was: 'oh yeah? We'll see about that'. I did subsequently develop a cavity in one of my wisdom teeth, and he * well filled it. I can be just as ornery as the next fella. 

[Rhiannon]

I haven't given much thought to my dental health now as compared to my pre-diagnosis days.  However, I have had some long-standing dental issues that would occasionally flare up - an old, big cavity on one of my back teeth that I have chosen  not to replace with a crown, and another tooth that I was advised would need a root canal.  I don't have the money and I figured as long as it wasn't too painful, I'd live with it. 

So, now that you mention it -- my problem teeth have not been very problematic for awhile. I have not noticed them aching in awhile.  I don't know for sure that this is because of the change in my diet.  I just know that (knock on wood!), my teeth don't hurt

[ami]

hello , i have the worst set of teeth , 2 bridges............and 2 implants , spent a fortune on them , but since the lifestyle change to LCHF..............i am surely in the safe zone. has anyone tried oil pulling ?

[bigskygal]

I have terrible teeth.  As a child we had no coverage so dentist visits were very infrequent.  Every tooth I have has had  filling at one time or another.  I have gone from periods of  having coverage to  long ones of not.  I haven't seen a dentist in around 10 years, I am kind of afraid to go...

[Silver Tiger]

My work insurance pays for a cleaning every 6 months.  No recent cavities and the cleaning process is way more comfortable, not nearly as much tartar buildup.

I tried oil pulling for a bit but it kind of grossed me out so I stopped. Totally a personal thing.

[bigskygal]

I agree ST, I tried oil pulling and it grossed me out too!