Dentistry Archives

Please Dr. Stoll: gum disease - acerola cherry, soy??

Hi,
My dentist is sending me to a gum disease specialist. I haven't had x-rays in many years (against them), go twice a year for cleaning, use Sonicare, floss, eat right. I also take acerola cherry as my vit. C. Must I switch to ester-c? what is wrong with acerola cherry, the most natural vit c? Is the soy I have been eating causing my bone loss? I will have to get the entire set of x-rays (I will take my antioxidents prior). I used to take ester-c but wanted to opt for natural vitamins, so switched to acerola cherry and wheat germ oil (instead of vit e). How long does it take to reverse the receding? Can I do harm by not listening to the periodontist? thanks a million. maryann

Follow Ups:

• Re: Please Dr. Stoll: gum disease - acerola cherry, soy?? Happygal 08:45:55 11/12/02 (0)
• Re: Please Dr. Stoll: gum disease - acerola cherry, soy?? (Archive in dentist.) Walt Stoll 07:54:44 11/12/02 (1)
  • Re: Please Dr. Stoll: gum disease - acerola cherry, soy?? (Archive in dentist.) R. 20:44:43 11/13/02 (0)
• Forgot to add... maryann 10:39:24 11/11/02 (0)

In Reply to: Please Dr. Stoll: gum disease - acerola cherry, soy?? posted by maryann on November 11, 2002 at 09:26:01:

that I am 57. Dad lost teeth in fifties - he was born with "soft pliable gums." Question: Is gum surgery as dangerous as root canal? I am taking calcium hyrox...and do not eat dairy products. thanks again. maryann

In Reply to: Please Dr. Stoll: gum disease - acerola cherry, soy?? posted by maryann on November 11, 2002 at 09:26:01:

Hi, Maryann.

Meticulous dental hygeine is the most important thing to save your gums. That includes twice a day work at home and at least every 6 months professional removal of traces of plaque. In MY experience one cannot get enough "natural" C into the gums without using ester C.

Gum surgery is not the problem that root canals are. Before I learned these lessons, my genetic diabetes problem nearly destroyed my gums. Seven years ago my periodontist insisted I needed extensive gum surgery. I went for a second opinion and the periodontist agreed with me that my dental hygeine should prevent the need for surgery. It is now 7 years later and my gums have been better every year.

Let us know how you do.

Walt

Follow Ups:

• Re: Please Dr. Stoll: gum disease - acerola cherry, soy?? (Archive in dentist.) R. 20:44:43 11/13/02 (0)

In Reply to: Please Dr. Stoll: gum disease - acerola cherry, soy?? posted by maryann on November 11, 2002 at 09:26:01:

Hi maryann,

I agree with the second opinion idea, and the meticulous cleaning suggestion. Do you eat any sugar at all? Cut out all sweets if you do.

I used to work for a dentist and I know a little about this but not a lot. Find out how deep the pockets are. If they are mostly 6's it's pretty advanced. If most of them are less, and only a few of them are 6's, you can probably take care of the problem as Walt suggested. The number relates to the depth of the pocket -- the higher the number, the more the bone loss.

Learn as much as you can about this situation so you can make your own choices. Gum surgery is a real drag but on the other hand, so is loosing teeth.

I managed to get a dental supply house to sell me a scaler, and I clean the tartar off my own teeth at home as soon as it builds up.

Best wishes,
Happygal

In Reply to: Re: Please Dr. Stoll: gum disease - acerola cherry, soy?? (Archive in dentist.) posted by Walt Stoll on November 12, 2002 at 07:54:44:

I wonder how the healthy natives that Weston Price observed managed to have good dental health without taking Ester C or good dental hygeine.