As we grow older, we may face oral health issues such as loose teeth and periodontal disease—some to the extent of requiring dentures, which can have a great impact on life.
People who have no teeth or wear dentures often prefer soft, easily chewable foods to harder foods such as nuts, fresh fruits, and vegetables, which may affect having a balanced nutrient intake. Having a good mouthful of teeth is always a blessing that enables full chewing ability, making food easier to digest and absorb.
Biting Dried Nuts for ‘Teeth Retraining’
Hu said that due to the increasingly refined diet in modern-day society, people’s teeth lack the chance to exercise to their full potential. He suggested that people with “soft” teeth can “retrain their teeth” by “biting” dried nuts every day. There are many nut choices for this purpose such as almonds, walnuts, pine nuts, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, and cashews. By repeatedly chewing dried fruits, you can strengthen your teeth and make your chewing muscles stronger.In addition, chewing also promotes salivation, which improves the entire digestive process. Hu suggested that it is best to start practices such as proper chewing from a young age for a lifetime of healthy dental maintenance.
Diet Therapy Nourishes Kidneys and Strengthens Teeth
Hu said that TCM believes that the kidneys govern the bones, and the teeth are equivalent to the external manifestations of the bones. Therefore, the health of the kidneys and teeth are closely related. Kidney deficiency is the cause of a number of problems including loose teeth, so tonifying the kidneys can reinforce the teeth and make them stronger.The results of the study showed that the Bu Shen Gu Chi Wan group exhibited many anti-inflammatory effects on the periodontal tissues of the rats, with “significant” changes to the alveolar bone volume and density.
Hu pointed out that not only the elderly will suffer from kidney deficiency when they age—kidney deficiency in children can also cause the teeth to lose the shiny enamel on the surface. He suggested that patients with dental disease eat more black dietary ingredients to nourish the kidneys, such as black beans, black sesame, black fungus, and silky chicken.
This is in accordance with TCM’s Five Elements Theory assigning the five colors “green, red, yellow, white, and black” to the five internal organs “liver, heart, spleen, lungs, and kidneys.”
Hu mentioned that he would also use Huan Shao Dan (Lycium formula) to treat dental problems of the elderly and children with kidney deficiency but reminded patients to consult a doctor and obtain a proper prescription before using it.
Gargle With Atractylodes Solution to Treat Receding Gums
Periodontal disease is a chronic oral complication characterized by bleeding and loose teeth. Hu pointed out that such oral annoyance is not only caused by a bacterial infection or improper cleaning but is also closely related to physical fitness, so it needs to be treated according to individual conditions.Hu quoted the ancient Chinese medicine classic “Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Internal Medicine)” as mentioning that when kidney deficiency becomes extremely serious, it will manifest in the mouth and face as “black face, long teeth with dirt,” which refers to conditions such as darkening of the face, receding gums, and tartar.
Centuries-Old ‘Teeth Fixing Formula’ Saves Loose Teeth
Hu reminds us that every tooth is precious, so never let it retire early. While your teeth are still healthy, you should brush them well to help strengthen them and see your dentist regularly. Hu especially recommends the centuries-old TCM “Gu Chi Shen Fang (teeth fixing magic formula)” to save loose teeth (see recipe below).“Gu Chi Shen Fang” comes from “ Chen Xiuyuan’s 72 Kinds of Medical Literatures” written by the eminent TCM physician in the Qing Dynasty. Chen wrote at that time, “There are lots of different prescriptions for treating teeth, but most of them are not very effective. There was once a person whose teeth started to decay after the age of 40, and three of his front teeth had already been lost.”
Preparation and Application of ‘Gu Chi Shen Fang’
Ingredients:
“Gu Chi Shen Fang” contains a total of 9 kinds of herbs mixed in the respective weights indicated in parenthesis for one portion:- Green salt (about 0.7 ounces)
- Gypsum (about 0.7 ounces)
- Psoralen (about 0.6 ounces)
- Zanthoxylum bungeanum (remove the core, about 0.2 ounces)
- Angelica dahurica (about 0.2 ounces)
- Mint (about 0.4 ounces)
- Eclipta (about 0.4 ounces)
- Saposhnikoviae radix (about 0.4 ounces)
- Asarum (about 0.2 ounces)
Preparation and Application
First, grind the nine medicinal herbs into a fine powder, and pack in a sealed bottle as a tooth powder for later use. Take an appropriate amount (enough to cover the bristles) of this powder every time you brush your teeth. If you can, leave the tooth powder in your mouth for a while after brushing, and then rinse your mouth with water later. In this way, you can extract the best from it and greatly improve the condition of your teeth. Additionally, you can also dip your fingers into the tooth powder and apply it to the gum to provide further protection.Since ancient times, salt has been considered a fantastic substance for medicinal use in TCM practice, and external application of salt can relieve pain. It is mentioned in the Chinese medicine classic “Qianjin Yaofang (Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold for Emergencies)” that gargling with warm salt water, wiping teeth, and gargling with salt water every day can help prevent teeth from decaying or becoming loose.
“Asarum” (the ninth item in the above prescription) was one commonly used medicine for treating dental diseases in ancient China. It is recorded in another TCM classic “Shenghui Fang (Holy Benevolent Prescriptions)” that to treat foul breath and swollen gums, boil “Asarum” in water, extract the thick juice, and hold it in your mouth while it is still hot, then discard it once it turns cold.
*Some herbs mentioned in this article may be unfamiliar, but they are generally available in Asian supermarkets.
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