© Melanie Creedy 2014 www.elementsofhealth.com.au Page 1

Homeopathy for Teeth and Gums March 2014

I’m surprised at how many people suffer from mouth abscesses or need major dental work done at

some stage in their lives. More and more children are also producing teeth with insufficient enamel

which we are told is due to a variety of factors including too much breast milk!

From a homeopathic perspective, insufficient enamel, early decay and similar issues all come from

the constitutional and inherited levels and most can be treated successfully over time. It’s worth

consulting your homeopath about these issues as it may be only one of a number of problems that

may have presented over time and of course homeopathy is about looking at the whole person, not

just the presenting symptoms.

I’ve also treated a lot of periodontal disease in recent years and have seen good success with a

combination of homeopathics, good dental hygiene and in some cases deep cleaning by the

periodontist to get things started. It is often said that once the gums start receding they won’t regrow

or reattach. I have however found this not to always be the case and some patients have surprised

their perio’s with good gum recovery. Again, concurrent constitutional treatment is important to

boost the immune system to allow this level of healing to take place.

Just a word on removal of dental amalgams. It is vitally important to have amalgams removed by a

dentist who has the correct tools for the job. Incorrect removal can allow mercury to float out into the

system and cause health problems and if you have a lot of amalgams which are not yet causing a

problem, it can be better to just leave them alone. If you are considering amalgam removal consult

your homeopath for support remedies and advice.

Here are some of the remedies in the 28 remedy Home Kit which you may find useful at times of

mild and uncomplicated tooth pain, inflammation or similar. Remember, if your home prescribing

doesn’t work, consult your healthcare practitioner and your dentist.

During acute toothache, give the remedy as often as is required to keep the pain at bay. If the

remedy hasn’t made a difference after 5 doses given 10 minutes apart, choose another remedy.

I have found Propolis plus Myrrh essential oil as a mouth wash is excellent for bleeding gums,

and Clove Oil on a piece of cotton wool applied to the tooth is very good for pain (do not use during

pregnancy or in small children).

Arnica – Injuries to the teeth – use as soon as possible, giving frequently to begin with. Use before

and after extractions, fillings or other dental procedures to help with pain, swelling and bruising.

Hypericum can be helpful for pain at the injection site and for nerve pain. A 200c potency is usually

best for this application.

Bryonia – Injured teeth, blows to teeth, loose teeth. Pain is worse for moving even a distant part of

the body and the patient is usually quite irritable with the pain. Better for pressure, lying on the

painful side. Useful while you wait for dental treatment.

Calc Carb – Difficult and/or slow teething in plump babies and children (see Silica). Teething seems

to go on and on, often with cold symptoms.

Chamomilla – Difficult teething with irritability and unbearable, throbbing pain. Pain may wake the

patient at night. May also be used for adults with strong pain of any kind accompanied by irritability.

Worse at night, cold air, warm food and drinks.

Hepar Sulph – Infections and/or abscesses with sharp intense pains. Worse for cold air/drafts,

touching the tooth with the tongue. Better for warm applications. Consult both your dentist and your

homeopath for ongoing or recurrent problems with abscesses.

Hypericum – First aid remedy for painful tooth injuries or fractures, for nerve pain and root canals.

Shooting pains after drilling or injection. Use a 200c potency for these situations.

© Melanie Creedy 2014 www.elementsofhealth.com.au Page 2

Merc Sol – Infections (often of the root) with offensive breath, salivation, dirty tongue. Deteriorated

fillings with offensive or metallic taste. Throbbing pains in the tooth extending to the whole face. This

is a good remedy to use while you are having amalgams removed to enable any mercury overflow

to chelate (see my comments above). Check with your homeopath for the protocol. Worse at night,

for heat and cold, biting teeth together. Better for rubbing the area.

Phosphorus – Loose teeth, bleeding gums.

Pulsatilla – Sore or throbbing teeth, children cry with the pain. Pains wander. Worse evening, for

warm drinks, food or applications. Better for cold or open air, cold food or drinks.

Silica – Abscesses, loose teeth, slow or difficult teething in slightly built children. Worse night, cold

air. Better warm applications.

The following remedies are not in the 28 remedy Home Kit but are available from the online store.

Calc Fluor 6x (tissue salt) - Fractures or crumbling teeth. Abscess with hard swelling. Exostosis of

jaw. Seek constitutional care for symptoms of this nature.

Calc Phos 6x (tissue salt) or 30c (as above) Delayed or difficult teething with whining and

moaning. Decay and easy caries.

Fluoric Acid – Defective enamel, crumbling teeth, caries. Teeth too sensitive to tolerate dental

procedures. Available by request only.

Phytolacca – Difficult teething. Painful gums with rigid clenching of the gums in babies. Constant

desire to clench or bite teeth/gums together.

Finally, after having my own issues with periodontal disease and treating many other people with

the same problem, I put together a Gum Health Combination to address the issue on a physical

level. Used along with some of the measures mentioned above, this is a good support remedy. This

is also available in the online store.

Homeopathy is a traditional medicine. It may be used in conjunction with other medicines. For any ongoing

chronic condition, it is important to be assessed or examined by your healthcare professional or specialist.

Always seek medical advice in emergencies. The information in this article does not constitute medical

advice. It is referenced from the texts approved by Therapeutic Goods Administration and is for information

only. If in doubt as to the appropriateness of a treatment seek advice from your homeopath.