Gentle toothbrushing for healthier gums

Gentle toothbrushing for healthier gums

Healthier gums need gentle brushing

In this video I demonstrate how to brush your teeth correctly so that you can clean the enamel thoroughly, without hurting your gums in the process.

Incorrect toothbrushing technique can contribute to receding gums, bleeding gums and even gum disease so brushing the right way does more than just clean your teeth, it protects your gums.

Choosing a toothbrush

Electric or manual, the most important quality is the softness of the bristles. Always choose the softest bristles you can find.

An electric toothbrush will exaggerate the risks of poor brushing technique so I recommend practicing correct brushing with a manual toothbrush before you start using an electric.

Electric brushes are especially valuable for people who have trouble keeping their wisdom or back molars clean.  They are also helpful for people who don’t have enough strength or stamina to brush thoroughly for 2-3 minutes at a time.

 

 

No white knuckles

Are you squeezing the toothbrush handle in a death grip? A tight, white knuckled grip at the base of the handle means you are probably brushing too hard!

Practice holding the brush lightly between your finger tips, near the bristles. This way you have more fine motor control. 

Don’t scrub

Gently polish each surface of each tooth individually with a gentle flicking motion, moving the bristles away from the gums.

One of the ways that gums are attached to the teeth is with microscopic fibres that can break really easily, so never push the tips of the bristles into the gum line.

To clean the enamel closest to the gums place the sides of the bristles against the gum line, so the tips of the bristles are touching the enamel. Then just wriggle the bristles in place. It will be easier to understand if you watch the video!

Take your time

If this is a new way of brushing for you, take as long as you need to retrain your muscle memory to the new grip and motions of gentle brushing. Even once you have the hang of it, toothbrushing thoroughly and gently should take you at least 2-3 minutes each time.

Rather than resenting and rushing through your oral hygiene every day, treat it as a mini moving meditation where you have a chance to lavish yourself with loving attention.

Meliors Simms headshot

Hello! I'm Meliors Simms, the Holistic Tooth Fairy.

As a natural oral health coach I have worked with hundreds of clients worldwide to avoid unnecessary dental procedures and have better experiences with the necessary ones. (Find out about my coaching services here).

After a diverse career (from research to counselling to arts) and a lifetime of terrible teeth, I stumbled on an Alt Oral approach which prevented what would have been my 7th root canal.

That inspired years of independent research and experimentation, eventually resulting in my uniquely holistic approach to oral health.

My new book The Secret Lives of Teeth is a comprehensive guide to healing teeth and gums with metaphysical perspective. Read a sample here for free

.

 

Be a DJ for your oral microbiome

Oral microbiome battleground? I term I often see the oral microbiome described as a battleground where you fight a daily battle against invading Bad Bacteria or Thug Bugs (my favourite term, from the lovely folks at Ora Wellness). This military analogy, while...

Why is oral health so confusing?

Do you ever feel confused or overwhelmed about what actions to take, which daily habits you should practice, or even what to believe when it comes to your teeth and gums? There are the mainstream dentists pressuring you with their fluoride treatments and surgical...

Is it safe to go to the dentist yet?

Is dental treatment safe during the pandemic? Covid-19 prompted national and regional dental associations to advise dentists to close their practices and/or postpone elective and non-emergency treatment during lockdown periods. This advice has not been followed...

My 5 Best Websites for Natural Oral Health

My 5 Best Websites for Natural Oral Health

As soon as you start searching for information about oral health on the internet you can quickly become overwhelmed by thousands of choices, most of them fronting small dental practices or large toothpaste manufacturers. Almost all offer the same tired mainstream advice about brushing with fluoride as the best form of prevention.

When you narrow your search down to natural teeth care,  it’s a bit like entering a parallel universe dominated by alt-oral clickbait. You have to navigate through minefields of conspiracy theory and wacky home remedies to find the nuggets of gold.

I try to make sure that the Holistic Tooth Fairy is one of the best websites for natural oral health. If you like this site, you might also like this personal selection of my five favorites:

Healing Teeth Naturally is comprehensive in covering natural, holistic and conventional approaches to oral health in a well-organised manner. The site is all text, few images (except of crystals) and no videos. It’s published in English but translations of some pages are available in German, French, Greek,  Spanish, Slovene and Italian. Ulla Schmid describes her site as ‘humanitarian’  and she isn’t selling anything.

Hippy friendly. 

Ora Wellness offers tons of excellent information about natural oral health, and lots of useful but low-fi videos. Will and Susan Revak have developed their own range of natural products for teeth and gums, which I haven’t tried because shipping from Hawai’i to New Zealand is stupidly expensive.

Family friendly.

Wellness Mama is a natural living website with a smattering of very good blog posts about oral health, including home made toothpaste and toothpowder recipes. Katie Wells is a solid researcher backed by a team, and she has built a substantial business with her natural living blog, books and podcast (while home schooling six children). There’s plenty of valuable free content grounded in her genuine passion for natural teeth healing, just sometimes it’s buried in a mountain of affiliate promotions and advertising.

DIY friendly.

 

Cure Tooth Decay is the website of the book of the same name (which I reviewed here). The site covers a lot of the same material as the book and is easier to search, though still heavy reading. This website was my first experience of alt-oral, and even before I read the book I was able to prevent a root canal by following the dietary advice I found on the site. The book’s author, Ramiel Nagel, sadly passed away last year, yet I find it slightly creepy that his online bio hasn’t changed since he was alive. 

Carnivore friendly.

 

Any dentist can call themselves ‘holistic’ even if their practice is entirely conventional. Because it’s a coveted search term with no regulation, finding a holistic dentist you can trust can be tricky. When you are searching for a local dentist who is truly holistic, try comparing their website to Evolve Dental.  Not many dentists have a blog as good as Evolve’s but if their services and philosophy are similar (e.g. safe amalgam removal and a dietary approach to prevention), then they are probably genuinely holistic. 

‘Looking for a holistic dentist’ friendly

 

Meliors Simms headshot

Hello! I'm Meliors Simms, the Holistic Tooth Fairy.

As a natural oral health coach I have worked with hundreds of clients worldwide to avoid unnecessary dental procedures and have better experiences with the necessary ones. (Find out about my coaching services here).

After a diverse career (from research to counselling to arts) and a lifetime of terrible teeth, I stumbled on an Alt Oral approach which prevented what would have been my 7th root canal.

That inspired years of independent research and experimentation, eventually resulting in my uniquely holistic approach to oral health.

My new book The Secret Lives of Teeth is a comprehensive guide to healing teeth and gums with metaphysical perspective. Read a sample here for free

.

 

Be a DJ for your oral microbiome

Oral microbiome battleground? I term I often see the oral microbiome described as a battleground where you fight a daily battle against invading Bad Bacteria or Thug Bugs (my favourite term, from the lovely folks at Ora Wellness). This military analogy, while...

Why is oral health so confusing?

Do you ever feel confused or overwhelmed about what actions to take, which daily habits you should practice, or even what to believe when it comes to your teeth and gums? There are the mainstream dentists pressuring you with their fluoride treatments and surgical...

Is it safe to go to the dentist yet?

Is dental treatment safe during the pandemic? Covid-19 prompted national and regional dental associations to advise dentists to close their practices and/or postpone elective and non-emergency treatment during lockdown periods. This advice has not been followed...

A simple guide to online coaching

A simple guide to online coaching

Any timezone, any place

A consultation with the Holistic Tooth Fairy is nothing like going to the dentist! It’s easy, empowering and even fun!

All our consultations are done in online video calls which means that you can work with us no matter what country or what time zone you are in.

You can do it in your pajamas!

You can do it in your car!

You can do it lying down or breastfeeding or with a drink in your hand!

You don’t need a babysitter!

 

online coaching

Don’t open wide

Our recommendations are made in response to the information you tell us about your history, lifestyle and current symptoms so we don’t need to see your teeth (though photos and/or a copy of your most recent x-ray can be helpful).

online coaching

How to book your video call

First you select your timezone on the booking calendar, then find a session time that suits you.  If there’s nothing on the first page that fits your schedule, you might need to check availability a couple of weeks into the future.  Meliors has an alternate calendar available with some extra sessions to suit European time zones. Larnie’s regular calendar is already compatible with most time zones. 

For a free 15 minute assessment call with Meliors or a one hour paid session with Larnie, you’ll start with the booking calendar and complete a short questionnaire, about your oral health history and current priorities etc. For coaching package you’ll set up payment first by Paypal or credit card then click into Meliors’ calendar to book  your sessions.

Logging in

After booking a session, you’ll receive a confirmation email straight away and three reminder emails (48, 24 hours and 1 hour before your session start time). Make sure you save the time to your own calendar or diary so you don’t forget!

Each of the emails includes the link to login to our online video chat room. If you haven’t used Zoom before, follow the instructions in the first confirmation email to download and install Zoom to your phone or computer in advance.

We both log into our Zoom Room at the agreed time. Make sure your microphone and camera are working. 

 

 

My coaching style

Free assessments and coaching packages

In a free 15 minute assessment call, we’ll figure out if a coaching package or a single session is a good fit for what you need right now. We can tailor coaching to suit:

  • couples or families
  • chronic oral health problems
  • complex general health challenges
  • plant-based diets
  • chronic illness
  • recovery or detox
  • pregnancy and breastfeeding 
  • significant dental procedures such as amalgam or root canal removal

Coaching prices start from $100 AUD.

Meliors Simms headshot

Hello! I'm Meliors Simms, the Holistic Tooth Fairy.

As a natural oral health coach I have worked with hundreds of clients worldwide to avoid unnecessary dental procedures and have better experiences with the necessary ones. (Find out about my coaching services here).

After a diverse career (from research to counselling to arts) and a lifetime of terrible teeth, I stumbled on an Alt Oral approach which prevented what would have been my 7th root canal.

That inspired years of independent research and experimentation, eventually resulting in my uniquely holistic approach to oral health.

My new book The Secret Lives of Teeth is a comprehensive guide to healing teeth and gums with metaphysical perspective. Read a sample here for free

.

 

Be a DJ for your oral microbiome

Oral microbiome battleground? I term I often see the oral microbiome described as a battleground where you fight a daily battle against invading Bad Bacteria or Thug Bugs (my favourite term, from the lovely folks at Ora Wellness). This military analogy, while...

Why is oral health so confusing?

Do you ever feel confused or overwhelmed about what actions to take, which daily habits you should practice, or even what to believe when it comes to your teeth and gums? There are the mainstream dentists pressuring you with their fluoride treatments and surgical...

Is it safe to go to the dentist yet?

Is dental treatment safe during the pandemic? Covid-19 prompted national and regional dental associations to advise dentists to close their practices and/or postpone elective and non-emergency treatment during lockdown periods. This advice has not been followed...

How to heal decaying baby teeth

How to heal decaying baby teeth

As a parent you want to do whatever is right to keep your baby healthy.

You can feel so guilty to see brown spots or cavities developing on your baby’s teeth.

Yet, discoloration and dental decay can start very young, sometimes within hours of a new tooth erupting!

Breastfeeding does not cause tooth decay

It doesn’t help when some dentists perpetuate the myth that breastfeeding, particularly night feeding, causes cavities.

This is simply not true. Breastmilk actually protects tooth enamel from decay becasue it stops acid and bacterial development in the mouth. It is actually the best thing you can do to keep your baby’s teeth strong and healthy. Even babies born with a genetic predisposition to weak teeth (such as dentinogenesis imperfecti (DI)) can keep their teeth intact with extended breastfeeding. 

As long as there is no food stuck on baby’s teeth, breastmilk is a remineralizing substance (especially if the mother is eating a teeth nourishing diet). Make sure all solid food has been cleaned off baby’s teeth to ensure that breastmilk does only good, and no harm. 

Baby teeth care starts before birth

So if it’s not breastmilk causing cavities, what is?

Toothbuds start to form in the womb, and epi-genetics is a major influence, where the genes that grow healthy teeth are switched on or off by environmental factors such as diet.

The best way to ensure the health of your baby’s teeth and your own, is for you to eat a teeth nourishing diet from conception, through pregnancy and breastfeeding.

A tooth nourishing diet includes a lot more minerals than almost any other way of eating, as well as fat-soluable vitamins that are most easily accessed from high quality animal products.

Younger siblings can be more vulnerable when the mother’s own mineral store has been drawn down during the pregnancy and breastfeeding of older children.

It’s not unusual for women who thrived on a plant-based diet before motherhood, to find that their prefered diet is unable to meet the phsyical demands of growing new humans.

The hard truth is that some (not all) babies simply aren’t able to grow healthy teeth without the specific nutrients only available from animal products.

Starting with teeth nourishing foods

As your baby starts to eat solid food, be sure that they are not eating processed foods. Crackers, rusks, fruit juice and fruit leather and sweetened yoghurt are some of the popular ‘healthy’ processed foods that actually can contribute to tooth decay in babies.

Teeth nourishing foods for babies and toddlers include hard cheese, plain unsweetened yogurt, cooked or raw fruit and vegetables. Learn more about the teeth healing foods in my free e-guide Feed Your Teeth.

Why do baby teeth rot on a good diet?

It’s not all about diet though.  Many babies and children who are conceived, gestated, breastfed and weaned on impeccably healthy diets, with vigilant oral hygiene, nonetheless have bad decay and other problems.

What’s going on when food is not the problem?

In these cases, where poor nutrition can’t be blamed, it’s worth looking at other possible influences such as:

  • Exposure to drugs such as antibiotics in utero or infancy
  • Gut problems and other illnesses that prevent baby or mother from utilizing teeth healing nutrients in a healthy diet
  • Tongue or lip ties
  • Environmental exposure to toxins that block teeth-nourishing nutrients
  • Emotional stress experienced by baby or mother in utero or infancy that inhibit the body’s natural teeth building processes
  • Genetic predisposition to weak teeth, where it runs in the family and may be related to ancestral experiences of famine or other trauma, possibly many generations ago
  • Past life trauma embodied in the baby teeth may be the missing link to make sense of your baby’s teeth problems when nothing else does.

Baby teeth trauma may not be their own

The current generation of children born since 2010 seem to be particularly vulnerable to embodying ancestral or past life traumas in their baby teeth. This may be partly because of the cumulative effect of multiple generations that have been malnourished and traumatised.

Many people believe that children today are more likely to be very sensitive to energy and spirit, than was usual in previous generations.  It seems as if these sensitive children (aka Indigo, Crystal or New Earth children) are embodying cummulative, collective, traumas of past generations in their teeth so that these hurts can be recognised, cleared and released. 

Parents who are open to this perspective can support their children to clear and release the trauma while still very young. Addressing these inherited traumas may help adult teeth to come through without problems and the child can manifest her soul purpose with her full potential for emotional and spiritual intelligence.

If this interpretation resonates for you there are a number of ways you can support your baby to clear and release teeth traumas that are not their own. Methods range from kinesiology to imaginative play and are most effective when teeth healing nutrients are central to your baby’s diet.

Learn more about how holistic oral health coaching can help halt baby teeth decaying and support the development of healthy adult teeth.

Meliors Simms headshot

Hello! I'm Meliors Simms, the Holistic Tooth Fairy.

As a natural oral health coach I have worked with hundreds of clients worldwide to avoid unnecessary dental procedures and have better experiences with the necessary ones. (Find out about my coaching services here).

After a diverse career (from research to counselling to arts) and a lifetime of terrible teeth, I stumbled on an Alt Oral approach which prevented what would have been my 7th root canal.

That inspired years of independent research and experimentation, eventually resulting in my uniquely holistic approach to oral health.

My new book The Secret Lives of Teeth is a comprehensive guide to healing teeth and gums with metaphysical perspective. Read a sample here for free

.

 

Be a DJ for your oral microbiome

Oral microbiome battleground? I term I often see the oral microbiome described as a battleground where you fight a daily battle against invading Bad Bacteria or Thug Bugs (my favourite term, from the lovely folks at Ora Wellness). This military analogy, while...

Why is oral health so confusing?

Do you ever feel confused or overwhelmed about what actions to take, which daily habits you should practice, or even what to believe when it comes to your teeth and gums? There are the mainstream dentists pressuring you with their fluoride treatments and surgical...

Is it safe to go to the dentist yet?

Is dental treatment safe during the pandemic? Covid-19 prompted national and regional dental associations to advise dentists to close their practices and/or postpone elective and non-emergency treatment during lockdown periods. This advice has not been followed...

How to protect your teeth from sugar damage

How to protect your teeth from sugar damage

Protect teeth from holiday sweets

What can you do to protect your teeth from sugar when you succumb to sweet temptation?

We all know that sugar is bad for your teeth, but it can be hard to resist, especially at certain times of the year when sweet treats are everywhere: at parties, as gifts, even as decorations!

Protect teeth from hidden sugars

As well as the obvious sugars in desserts, candy, cookies and cakes, there are also sugars lurking in:

  • fruit: fresh, dried and juiced
  • alcohol which is basically fermented sugars
  • processed foods
  • savory foods (eg salad dressing, sauce, bread)
  • breakfast cereals and snack bars

Sugar is hard to avoid, even when you are trying. Most people have a sweet tooth to some degree, and some of us are definitely addicts!

I gave up eating sugar a few years ago, but I had already healed my chronic tooth decay by then, so it is possible to eat sugar and take good care of your teeth. 

In fact, the teeth healing diet that cured my cavities actually made it easier to (eventually) become sugar free!

IIn this short video I share six simple tips that will help protect your teeth from sugar when you just can’t resist it!  (2.5 minute watch time)

Six tips to protect teeth from sugar damage

1. Try to limit sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes, not inbetween.

2. If you are going to snack on sweets, eat some healthy fats at the same time (eg cream, yoghurt or coconut oil).

3. If you are going to eat lollies, chocolate (preferably dark) is less harmful than candy canes or chewy toffees.

4, Avoid snacking or sucking on sweets over an extended period of time. The less time your teeth spend bathed in sugar, the better.

5. Rinse your mouth with water straight after eating anything sweet.

6. Wait 30-60 minutes before brushing your teeth, because tooth enamel is soft and vulnerable to scratching for up to an hour after you eat.

Meliors Simms headshot

Hello! I'm Meliors Simms, the Holistic Tooth Fairy.

As a natural oral health coach I have worked with hundreds of clients worldwide to avoid unnecessary dental procedures and have better experiences with the necessary ones. (Find out about my coaching services here).

After a diverse career (from research to counselling to arts) and a lifetime of terrible teeth, I stumbled on an Alt Oral approach which prevented what would have been my 7th root canal.

That inspired years of independent research and experimentation, eventually resulting in my uniquely holistic approach to oral health.

My new book The Secret Lives of Teeth is a comprehensive guide to healing teeth and gums with metaphysical perspective. Read a sample here for free

.

 

Be a DJ for your oral microbiome

Oral microbiome battleground? I term I often see the oral microbiome described as a battleground where you fight a daily battle against invading Bad Bacteria or Thug Bugs (my favourite term, from the lovely folks at Ora Wellness). This military analogy, while...

Why is oral health so confusing?

Do you ever feel confused or overwhelmed about what actions to take, which daily habits you should practice, or even what to believe when it comes to your teeth and gums? There are the mainstream dentists pressuring you with their fluoride treatments and surgical...

Is it safe to go to the dentist yet?

Is dental treatment safe during the pandemic? Covid-19 prompted national and regional dental associations to advise dentists to close their practices and/or postpone elective and non-emergency treatment during lockdown periods. This advice has not been followed...

Alternatives to Dentists Course Review

Alternatives to Dentists Course Review

Why I recommend Alternatives to Dentists

The Alternatives to Dentists course is a comprehensive introduction to herbal and self-help approaches to cure cavities and prevent tooth decay

I’m the kind of person who likes to make a thing myself, especially if it is a practical thing. I’m a DIYer around the house, a dressmaker, a life-long crafter and a cook-from-scratch food-growing gardener.

I would rather invest in learning a new skill than buying a new product. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that though I don’t have very much personal experience with different kinds of toothpaste or teeth cleaning gadgets  I can speak from personal experience about books and courses in alternative oral health, like this one that I recommend

Alternatives to Dentists is a video course from The Grow Network who offer a range of educational resources for home gardeners, homesteaders, preppers and folks interested in becoming more self-reliant with food and health in particular.

I’ve watched the video right through at least twice, transcribing extensive notes the second time. I refer back to my notes, and the the accompanying booklet frequently as I work with clients.

I consider it to be one of the more valuable resources in the limited pool of information for natural and self-help approaches to oral health.

That’s why I’m partnering with The Grow Network with their current course promotion. If you choose to purchase the course through a link on this page I may recieve a small payment. 

alternatives to dentists

What’s in Alternatives to Dentists?

The video demonstrates several strategies to help prevent tooth decay including how to assess the health of your own teeth, how to clean your teeth with a stick, and how to make a herbal toothpowder.  It also demonstrates a couple of different ways to heal an abscess in your mouth.

The teacher, Doug Simons, is a holistic healer who spent 20 years living with, and learning from indigenous  Tarahumara, the Tohono O’Odham, and Navajo in the Sonoran Desert and other wilderness areas in North America.  

The video quality is professional without being slick or glossy. It is filmed outside and the camera work is very steady and well lit. The sound quality is good (I especially enjoyed the ambient rooster crowing in the background). There are no flashy graphics or gimmicks and you won’t miss them. I felt like I was sitting in a clearing in the woods with Doug, learning in a very direct and accessible way. 

 

alternatives to dentists

Who is Alternatives to Dentists for?

If you are committed to plant-based diet and serious about your teeth health, this course is for you. You will learn about herbal supplements that can help your body to maintain teeth health without animal-sourced foods.

If you practice wild-crafting, foraging, camping or prepping for disaster survival in anywhere in North America, this is an excellent course for you. You will learn about where to find and how to identify a number of American plants with teeth healing properties.

If you are interested in herbal healing for yourself, your family or your clients, no matter where you live in the world, this is a great course for you. You will learn about herbs (which you can buy online as tinctures or dried herbs from anywhere) and techniques for using herbal remedies both for preventing tooth decay and dealing with dental problems.

If you are serious avoiding the dentist, this course is essential. You will learn practical strategies to manage dental problems ranging from small cavities to dental abscesses.

However, if you like your alternative remedies to be branded and packaged, this is probably not the course for you.

It’s ideal for folks who enjoy sometimes-messy DIY approaches to self care.

 

To find out more about Alternatives to Dentists click here.

 

Meliors Simms headshot

Hello! I'm Meliors Simms, the Holistic Tooth Fairy.

As a natural oral health coach I have worked with hundreds of clients worldwide to avoid unnecessary dental procedures and have better experiences with the necessary ones. (Find out about my coaching services here).

After a diverse career (from research to counselling to arts) and a lifetime of terrible teeth, I stumbled on an Alt Oral approach which prevented what would have been my 7th root canal.

That inspired years of independent research and experimentation, eventually resulting in my uniquely holistic approach to oral health.

My new book The Secret Lives of Teeth is a comprehensive guide to healing teeth and gums with metaphysical perspective. Read a sample here for free

.

 

Be a DJ for your oral microbiome

Oral microbiome battleground? I term I often see the oral microbiome described as a battleground where you fight a daily battle against invading Bad Bacteria or Thug Bugs (my favourite term, from the lovely folks at Ora Wellness). This military analogy, while...

Why is oral health so confusing?

Do you ever feel confused or overwhelmed about what actions to take, which daily habits you should practice, or even what to believe when it comes to your teeth and gums? There are the mainstream dentists pressuring you with their fluoride treatments and surgical...

Is it safe to go to the dentist yet?

Is dental treatment safe during the pandemic? Covid-19 prompted national and regional dental associations to advise dentists to close their practices and/or postpone elective and non-emergency treatment during lockdown periods. This advice has not been followed...