Decay

In the late 1960’s, Dr Ralph Steinman published research which demonstrated that decay in teeth is related to the health of the whole body.   His work showed that a healthy body produces a flow of tissue fluid from the inside of a tooth right out through the enamel.  With this healthy fluid flow there was no decay even when people did not brush their teeth. 

As health of the body is compromised however, and this fluid pressure reduces, there is a corresponding increase in the amount of decay.  Note that these papers are all published in the dental literature of the time.

He found that this fluid pressure, and hence the decay rate, was dependent principally on diet and stress.

Sugar and white flour were amongst the worst in negatively influencing the body.  “Circulation of blood in the human tooth is affected by evoked changes in autonomic nerve activity, involving activation of both vasodilator and vasoconstrictor nerves to vessels serving the tooth.”

Para-sympathetic stimulation encourages increased fluid flow throughout the tooth.  Sympathetic stimulation (as found during stress periods) dramatically reduces the fluid flow through the tooth.

“…The logical approach then to caries control is a way of life which includes a sound nutritional program and freedom from stress.  For many individuals this would represent a changed way of life. But there is much evidence that the answer to caries lies in nothing less.”

R Steinman

There are many studies which discuss the flow of fluids within teeth and their clinical significance.

You can read the abstracts of Stienman’s published research Here PDF

This early research is also supported in the latest Australian Dental Association Special Endodontic edition from March 2007.

“The outward flow of the dentinal fluid is important in the pulp’s defense against the entry of harmful substances because it affects the rate at which toxic substances from the mouth diffuse into the dentinal tubules.”

“…the tissue fluid volume in the pulp remains constant. The relatively high pulp tissue pressure results in an outward flow of fluid in the dentinal tubules, which helps to dilute toxins and wash out bacteria.”

Many dental researchers agree as does Dr George Meinig, one of America’s most eminent endodontists.

“The only scientific way to prevent tooth decay is through diet and nutrition. Dr. Ralph Steinman did some outstanding, landmark research at Loma Linda University. He injected a glucose solution into mice – into their bodies, so the glucose didn’t even touch their teeth. Then he observed the teeth for any changes. What he found was truly astonishing. The glucose reversed the normal flow of fluid in the dentin tubules, resulting in all of the test animals developing severe tooth decay!
Dr. Steinman demonstrated dramatically what I said a minute ago: Dental caries reflects systemic illness.” 

Dr George Meinig in an interview with Dr Mercola.

Good Oral Hygiene, Good Diet and
a low-stress lifestyle prevent decay

Why then does dentistry continue to promote the poisoning
of our bodies and environment with Fluoride? 

Fluoride does not stop decay.

Abscess

Once the decay process begins in the tooth a little bit of the tooth is dissolved away.  This usually takes place just below the surface of the enamel.  Gradually this dissolved area enlarges until there is a real cavity in the structure of the tooth.  By the time the decay gets to the dentine on the inside of the tooth, it begins to spread rapidly.  If the decay continues deep enough it will cause a massive infection in the nerve (pulp) of the tooth.  Such an infection may easily cause the pulp (nerve, blood vessels and connective tissue) to die. 

Decay penetrating enamel and dentine, infecting the pulp and causing and abscess at the end of the root

The infection itself can spread through the opening at the end of the root (called the apex) and then into the bone surrounding the tooth.  The ligament around the bone (periodontal ligament) and the bone itself have a massive blood supply.

Thus, it is easy for bacteria and their toxins to be transported throughout the body.  Another very important passage of transport is directly along nerve fibres and back to the brain.  As I mentioned, the tissue inside the tooth is not only infected but also is dead.  Dead tissue breaks down and becomes gangrenous, thus producing gaseous and liquid by-products which are deadly to the rest of your body

Dentistry would usually suggest either an extraction or preferably a root canal therapy.  By the way this is a misnomer. The procedure called root therapy or treatment, is neither a therapy nor a treatment. It is merely a way of separating you from your money and keeping a dead toxin factory, buried under a crown, in your bone. Unfortunately, root canal procedures don’t work, as it is impossible to remove all dead tissue, impossible to sterilize the tooth and impossible to fill the canal and seal it.  The best that a root canal procedure will do, is leave dead, infected and gangrenous tissue in your body to make the rest of you sick.  Believe it or not, the root canal procedure may itself be a cause of an abscess, if the root filling extends beyond the end of the tooth.  This will cause liquification necrosis of the bone. (dissolves the bone)  and looks and behaves just like an abscess.

A dead tooth should always be removed completely.  It is usually easier to fill the gap than to deal with the systemic diseases caused by keeping such a tooth in your head. 

The best solution by far is to eat a good diet, reduce your stress levels and practice very good oral hygiene.  Anything which reduces your immune function should be avoided and that includes mercury-amalgam fillings and fluoride, (either in the drinking water or applied directly to your teeth by the dentist).  It is always better to prevent decay rather than deal with its consequences.  It is always better to fill a small hole rather than let the tooth be destroyed. 

References

R.Steinman J Dent Res St. Louis, Vol 37 #5 1958

R.Steinman J Dent Res St. Louis, Vol 37 #4 1958

R.Steinman  Indiana State Dental Journal Vol 39 1960

R.Steinman J Southern California State Dental Assoc. Vol 28, No11 November 1960

R.Steinman J of Southern California State Dental Association Vol 29 1961

R.Steinman J of Southern California State Dental Association Vol 30 1962

R.Steinman J of Southern California State Dental Association Vol 31 1963

R.Steinman J of Southern California State Dental Association Vol 32 1964

R.Steinman Caries and Cellular Nutrition,  Dental Progress Vol.2; #3 April 1962

R.Steinman J Southern California State Dental Assoc. Vol 35 No 4 April 1967

R. Steinman J. Dent Res.  Vol 47, No5, Sept 1968

R. Steinman J. Dent Res.  Vol 50, No6, Part 2. Nov-Dec 1971

Aars H  Gazelius B  Edwall L  Olgart L    Effects of autonomic reflexes on tooth pulp blood flow in man.   Acta Physiol Scand (1992 Dec) 146(4)

R. Steinman J. Dent Res.  Vol 50, No6, Part 2. Nov-Dec 1971

R Steinman Dental Progress Vol 2  1962 Abstracts of Steinman p42 International Academy of Microendocrinology

Edwall L  Gazelius B Involvement of afferent nerves in pulpal blood-flow reactions in   response to clinical and experimental procedures in the cat. In: Arch Oral Biol (1991) 36(8):575-81 

Aars H  Gazelius B  Edwall L  Olgart L Effects of autonomic reflexes on tooth pulp blood flow in man. In: Acta Physiol Scand (1992 Dec) 146(4):423-9  

Desiderio DM  Kai M  Tanzer FS  Trimble J  Wakelyn C Measurement of enkephalin peptides in canine brain regions, teeth,   and cerebrospinal fluid with high-performance liquid chromatography   and mass spectrometry. In: J Chromatogr (1984 Aug 3) 297:245-60  

Olgart L  Gazelius B Effects of adrenaline and felypressin (octapressin) on blood flow and   sensory nerve activity in the tooth. In: Acta Odontol Scand (1977 May) 35(2):69-75   

interstitial   fluid pressure and substance P and CGRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers   in the low compliant cat dental pulp. In: Microvasc Res (1994 May) 47(3):329-43  

Matthews B, Vongsavan N. Interactions between neural and hydrodynamic mechanisms in dentine and pulp. Arch Oral Biol 1994;39 Suppl:S87-S95.

S. Vongsavan N, Matthews B. Fluid flow through cat dentine in vivo. Arch Oral Biol 1992;37:175-185.