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A Breathtaking Tale – Spring 2010 Catalog

Posted on June 14, 2010 by stevetallent

A Breathtaking Tale

Abolish Bad Breath, Not Your Smile

Sharon Tallent

As I was working one day, I noticed my customers backing away as I talked about a product in which they appeared interested. As I would move forward a bit to make a point, they would move further away. It was an odd situation. After a while, I started noticing “backing up” behavior with other people in other places as well.

I commented on this to a close friend who apparently knew exactly what was causing the problem: my bad breath! Ouch! I was so embarrassed I wanted to hide. After that, I didn’t want to smile or open my mouth, much less talk to anyone and expose my “dragon breath.” What’s worse, I didn’t know what to do about it because I was already brushing my teeth at least twice daily in addition to using mouth rinse.

Bad Breath from the Inside Out

I started looking into causes of, and solutions for, my quandary. I discovered that digestive problems, as well as allergies that cause sinus drainage, can produce halitosis (i.e. bad breath). Also, bacteria in the mouth and small particles of food stuck between teeth contribute to this embarrassing problem. This prompted me to try to improve my digestion by eating healthier, avoiding pasteurized milk and cheeses (to help avoid milk allergies) and using digestive aids like Tummy Tuneup. Plus, I began using more products like breath mints, sprays, toothpastes and mouth rinses to help kill bacteria. All of this helped but the battle for pleasant breath seemed unending for me.

Throughout my several years of studying what to do for fresh breath and a healthy mouth, I found out that most major store brands of toothpaste include one or more ingredients which are not good for your teeth or your health-like fluoride. Many clinical studies link fluoride to cancer, fluorosis (which weakens bones and teeth), damage to kidneys and liver, weakening of the immune system, thyroid problems and even lower IQ levels.

This motivated me to check into natural toothpastes. I’ve used several brands over the last few years and have been particularly pleased with Tom’s of Maine, Kiss My Face, and TheraNeem because they contain xylitol. Xylitol provides benefits such as helping to keep teeth strong, reduce plaque and prevent cavities. Recent studies have even shown a 70% to 80% reduction of cavities in children whose mothers consume xylitol while nursing.

I have primarily used TheraNeem toothpaste this past year because it has been the most effective in eliminating bad breath, mouth sores and sensitive gums. And I get even better results when I use TheraNeem mouth rinse every day.

The History of Neem

Indian manuscripts dating back several hundred years tell of many medicinal and agricultural benefits of the neem tree-including healing of skin diseases, some internal remedies and acting as an effective insecticide. The US Department of Agriculture began studying neem in the early 1970s for its insect repellent and pesticide qualities. More recent studies in the United States document the effectiveness of neem as an anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial agent for fighting acne, head lice, scabies, rashes, cold sores and mouth infections.

The evergreen neem tree (adazirachta indica) is native to southern India and can also be found in other areas of the tropics. Neem oil is pressed from seeds of the neem tree and has a rather strong odor, something like a combination of garlic and peanuts. The seeds, leaves and bark of the neem tree are now widely used medicinally, agriculturally and in personal care products like shampoos, skin creams and toothpaste. To learn more about neem, you might want to check out http://www.discoverneem.com.

Smiling Freely Again

I usually feel comfortable smiling and getting up close to people these days. Besides xylitol and neem, TheraNeem products feature essential oils of peppermint and spearmint for even more breath-freshening. The mouth rinse includes aloe vera to aid in healing. Most of the ingredients in the toothpastes and mouth rinse are certified organic and all are natural. TheraNeem toothpastes are sweetened with sorbitol, xylitol and stevia and licorice, which help with flavor. Because of the bitter flavor of neem oil, it may take a little time to get used to the taste. Knowing how beneficial these products are, coupled with my need to eliminate bad breath, I was encouraged to stick with them long enough so that now I have come to truly enjoy the flavors.

Everyone wants to have good-smelling breath, feel free to smile and get close to people when having conversations. I know I do. When I smile, I feel happy. When I smile at someone else, they smile back and seem to feel better. Smiles brighten up everyone’s countenance.

In addition, my mouth and teeth are healthier now than they have been for a long time. This is especially important to me since my mother had to have dentures by the time she was 50, and another close family member lost his teeth by the time he was 35. Lack of sufficient care played a major role in both cases, but I want to keep my teeth for the rest of my life. It’s part of my plan to live happily ever after.

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Health

Xylitol- Summer 2007 Catalog

Posted on February 3, 2009 by stevetallent

by Nancy Brillaut

From the time we are young children, we are taught to brush our teeth, planting the seeds for good dental hygiene. Good brushing and flossing and restricted sugar consumption can reduce the occurrence of cavities, yet they still remain common. A National Institute of Health survey shows nearly 20% of children, ages 2-4, have already experienced cavities; more than 67% of adults aged 35-44 have lost at least one permanent tooth due to dental cavities, and 25% of people 65-74 have lost all of their natural teeth! Here’s what is going on.

Tooth decay is a bacterial disease. The bacterium, streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), is one of many millions of bacteria living in our mouths. Most of these bacteria are harmless, some even beneficial. However, S. mutans is the culprit causing tooth decay by feeding on sugars in our mouth. Simple carbohydrates are fermented by S. mutans into lactic acid. Lactic acid increases acidity in the mouth, initiating the process of dissolving tooth enamel, also referred to as de-mineralization. This is a simplistic explanation of tooth decay; however, this article is not meant to be a chemistry lesson, but rather an introduction to a wonderful sugar substitute called Xylitol.

What is Xylitol you ask? Xylitol is a natural sugar, sometimes called wood sugar or birch sugar. It can be extracted from birch wood, raspberries, plums and other fruits, corn, seed hulls, and nutshells. Xylitol is a 5-carbon structure and, unlike the 6-carbon structure of sucrose, is not a substance on which bacteria can grow. In fact, Xylitol may inhibit S. mutans and other bacterial enzymes and actually interfere with the metabolism of other sugars found in the mouth.

So, what does all this chemistry babble mean to us in terms of our dental hygiene and general health? Xylitol is actually a “tooth-friendly” sugar substitute. Xylitol not only discourages tooth decay, but may actively help repair small cavities. Recent research suggests Xylitol attracts and then starves harmful bacteria, allowing remineralization of damaged teeth. Xylitol is not a sugar, so there is no sugar rush, or crash. Twenty-five years of scientific research, mostly on children, has shown that regular use of Xylitol over a period of time reduces the incidence of cavities. There are many studies, the majority conducted in “developing” countries like Belize, Hungary, and Costa Rica, where routine dental care is limited at best, and the results are consistent; the incidence of dental cavities is reduced by large percentages, in some cases as much as 75%. Most research tested gums and candies (mints) containing Xylitol, since the delivery systems that produced the best anti-cavity results were those permitting direct contact with the teeth for the longest time.

Xylitol is also available in toothpastes, mouthwashes, chewable supplements and breath sprays. How much should we use? Studies show using 4-12 grams per day is most effective. If a piece of gum contains 1 gram, chew a minimum of four pieces per day. Given the safety of this product, this is one case where “more is better.” Remarkably, it appears that regular use of Xylitol for a period of time (2 years in the study of children in Belize), provides lasting protection against cavities. These children were examined five years later and the Xylitol group had an average of only 1.5 new cavities, compared to 4 new cavities in the control group.

Another study indicated that regular intake of Xylitol by mom while baby is in the womb, provides lifelong protection for baby. New clinical evidence appears regularly about this safe sugar substitute. Other benefits include prevention of childhood ear infections, lower risk of Type II Diabetes due to the slower absorption of this sugar into the blood, and reduction of subsequent insulin response. A Finnish study has shown improved bone density.

Apparently Xylitol is here to stay. Children who begin chewing Xylitol gum about a year before their permanent teeth erupt may avoid a lifetime of painful visits to the dentist. In fact, one dentist was reported as saying that regular use of Xylitol in the American diet, could put dentists out of business. Time to change our diets people!

Nancy Brillault is a clinically certified herbalist, certified aromatherapist and practicing wellness consultant in Santa Fe, New Mexico.