Dental X Rays
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I've been avoiding dental X-rays for the past 5 years, in spite of dental hygienist being very pushy every time I go in to get teeth cleaned.
Recently have had weird amount of gum recession on the back right corner of my mouth, and the back molars aching. At what point/if at all would you break down and have an X-ray to make sure there's nothing crazy going on in there?
Any other thoughts/approaches to avoiding dental X-rays?
Also, wondering if I'm grinding teeth in my sleep and that's causing it. What would be a tool to address that? I remember reading it could come from a deficiency of something?
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Gum recession is a pretty alarming sign. You can try the following for about a month and see if it helps.
Mix baking powder/soda in water and put a small amount of turmeric and swish it around your mouth for at least 5 minutes and then do an oilpulling motion with it for 3 minutes after. Then you can spit it out (Careful you don't get it on your lips as turmeric can stain) and use coconut oil for oilpulling for about 3-5 minutes. Then after about 20-30 minutes, clean your mouth thoroughly with water. This should kill a vast amount of bacterias in your mouth and teeth.
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While x-rays are bad, it's tough to completely avoid them your entire life. You must also weigh the potential consequences of total denial. I decline "routine" x-rays but willing to make an exception for an acute problem if I think it isn't diagnosable without one. I would rather take an x-ray than lose a tooth, for example. Haidut had made a write up about minimizing x-ray damage, though I can't find it off-hand. I believe it was aspirin, niacinamide, and then using red light on the area the x-ray was used.
Are you confident in the competency of your dentist? Might also be worthwhile to attempt to find one that aligns more with your view of minimizing x-rays and willing to try to treat without any.
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Try to find a holistic dentist in your area. I found one, they use no fluoride and only xray at the lowest possible level. Great experience so far.
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X-rays may not be necessary in this instance. For the receding gums, try rinsing with sodium bicarbonate after eating, and especially after drinking anything acidic. Improving diet, getting enough calcium and other alkalising minerals, vitamin K. Not brushing too hard, or with commercial tooth paste, should also help receding gums.
For teeth grinding, Dr. Peat said it was related to high gut serotonin.
Extract from Kmud-141017-longevity interview
RP: There are several publications showing that high serotonin is probably the major thing in tooth grinding and probably also in restless leg syndrome where the legs turn during the night.
KMUD: And to lower high serotonin, what would be the most straightforward way of lowering serotonin in someone?
RP: Reducing intestinal inflammation is the quickest way. Low thyroid is probably a factor in high serotonin, but simply avoiding slowly digested foods like resistant starches, under cooked vegetables, salads are very bad for irritating the intestine and producing…
KMUD: So, cascara would be pretty beneficial for improving bowel motility and excretion?
RP:Yeah, and some of the so-called soluble fibers, even pectin, for example, fruit, can greatly increase the production of serotonin and disturb the sleep.
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Thanks for the great responses
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@max What happened, did you end up caving in or fixed your issues?
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@Evolutionarily Hey hey! I didn't cave on the x-rays, but faced a stern reprimand from my dentist and dental hygienist, who told me I "must have it done" next time I come in.
I actually found out recently that I have an h. pylori infection, which explains a lot of odd digestive symptoms I was having. Like @Peatly's post said, I'm willing to bet that my teeth grinding, and gum symptoms are downstream of the digestive issues. Thanks, Peatly. Going to start antibiotics this week so can keep you posted.
I also found that the days I was diligent to keep my calcium to phosphate ratio at or above 1:1, I didn't have any discomfort in the spots on my gums. Not sure if that was coincidence or if it actually helped.
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I’ve walked out of 4 dentist offices because they wouldn’t proceed to give me a cleaning without x-rays. And yet, I got a chest x-ray twice in the past 5 years, because it is needed to diagnose pneumonia. I don’t get x-rays routinely but I don’t hesitate to get some if I need them.
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@Ecstatic_Hamster Did those x-rays show you had pneumonia?
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@Peatly yes they did. There is no other way to really diagnose pneumonia.
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and let me point out, that Dr. Peat seemed sick to me, hearing his voice altered and his thinking slowed, for a good 4 or 5 months before his death. I think if he had gotten medical attention he might have lived. He didn't want to live that way, I get that, but for me, I would go to the doctor and get x-rays if there was a need.
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@Ecstatic_Hamster said in Dental X Rays:
@Peatly yes they did. There is no other way to really diagnose pneumonia.
There is always a safer way. Living with radiation poisoning is no small thing
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@Ecstatic_Hamster said in Dental X Rays:
and let me point out, that Dr. Peat seemed sick to me, hearing his voice altered and his thinking slowed, for a good 4 or 5 months before his death. I think if he had gotten medical attention he might have lived. He didn't want to live that way, I get that, but for me, I would go to the doctor and get x-rays if there was a need.
Can you imagine what they would have done to Dr Peat if he presented at a hospital in 2022?
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@Peatly said in Dental X Rays:
@Ecstatic_Hamster said in Dental X Rays:
@Peatly yes they did. There is no other way to really diagnose pneumonia.
There is always a safer way. Living with radiation poisoning is no small thing
well you can say that, but in the real world, you can't find these people and you need help. Lots of people here are very idealistic. When you get very sick enough to think you have pneumonia, you are in trouble.
Nobody is radiation poisoned by a few x-rays. That's overly extreme.
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@Ecstatic_Hamster I am not going to go into detail but I have been there, in an emergency situation. Like I said radiation poisoning is serious - it can take up 10 - 20yrs for the damage to show up. When it does most people will not remember being roasted by x-rays and CT scans let alone all the other exposures we are subject today.
Disclaimer: This is not medical advice - please listen to your doctor and live happily ever after in perfect health.
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@Ecstatic_Hamster said in Dental X Rays:
@Peatly said in Dental X Rays:
@Ecstatic_Hamster said in Dental X Rays:
@Peatly yes they did. There is no other way to really diagnose pneumonia.
There is always a safer way. Living with radiation poisoning is no small thing
well you can say that, but in the real world, you can't find these people and you need help. Lots of people here are very idealistic. When you get very sick enough to think you have pneumonia, you are in trouble.
Nobody is radiation poisoned by a few x-rays. That's overly extreme.
This is incorrect!
Radiation-Induced Cancer from Low-Dose Exposure; An Independent Analysis" by John W. Gofman, M.D., Ph.D
X-Rays: Health Effects of Common Exams
His Life, and Research on the Health Effects of Exposure to Ionizing Radiation
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@Peatly said in Dental X Rays:
@Ecstatic_Hamster said in Dental X Rays:
@Peatly said in Dental X Rays:
@Ecstatic_Hamster said in Dental X Rays:
@Peatly yes they did. There is no other way to really diagnose pneumonia.
There is always a safer way. Living with radiation poisoning is no small thing
well you can say that, but in the real world, you can't find these people and you need help. Lots of people here are very idealistic. When you get very sick enough to think you have pneumonia, you are in trouble.
Nobody is radiation poisoned by a few x-rays. That's overly extreme.
This is incorrect!
Radiation-Induced Cancer from Low-Dose Exposure; An Independent Analysis" by John W. Gofman, M.D., Ph.D
X-Rays: Health Effects of Common Exams
His Life, and Research on the Health Effects of Exposure to Ionizing Radiation
well this isn't the real world. I am not thrilled with x-rays. But they are needed if you are injured or sick and if you need them, they are a blessing. It is very extreme to talk about poisoning from a few x-rays. Sorry.
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Those who won't hear must feel or so the saying goes
