ARTICLE

Homeopathy has a broad range of uses and there are some areas in particular where the results from its use can be spectacular. In the area of dentistry and oral health in general, the judicious use of the appropriate homeopathic medicine can provide rapid relief from a number of conditions for which there is little that conventional medicine can offer, or where the cure may at times be worse than the disease. Following are some of the more common conditions that may be seen here and some solutions that have been found in routine practice to alleviate them. Unless specified, the medicines mentioned should not be repeated any more than 3 times without the advice of a competent and qualified practitioner.

Abrasions:
From instrumentation or manipulation- apply Hypericum and Calendula tinctures to the area 3 times daily.

Abscesses:
Initially, with throbbing, and mild, Belladonna 30C, every 30 mins. With halitosis and excessive salivation use Merc sol 6C every hour. With obvious pus, to hasten it’s expulsion, use Hepar sulph 6C every 2 hours. Where the abscess is swollen and accompanied by numbness in the area, use Myristica 6X every hour. Once pus has started to drain, to hasten it’s removal use Silica 6C twice daily.

Apthous ulcers:
In nervous patients use Borax 30C every 4 hours. Where they occur with foul breath, and the tongue is large and retains the imprints of the teeth, use Merc sol 30C every 4 hours. Ulcers with yellow or yellow-green bases, with a swollen uvula, use Kali bich 30C every 4 hours. Ulcers with bleeding bases, use Nit ac 30C every 4 hours.

Anaesthetic, general, to detoxify:
Use a mixture of Leptandra 6C, Nux vomica 6C, Lycopodium 6C and Urtica urens 6C, three times daily.

Apprehension (about surgery):
Trepidation with lethargy – use Gelsemium 30C on the morning and evening prior to the procedure and then one hour prior. Trepidation with hyperactivity – use Arg nit 30C on the morning and evening prior to the procedure and then one hour prior.

Bleeding:
Initially, Arnica 200C every 15 minutes. For persistent bleeding of bright red blood use Phosphorus 30C every 15 minutes. For persistent bleeding of dark blood use Lachesis 30C every hour.

Bruxism:
While sleeping, use Cina 30C, one hour before sleep. While awake, use Nux vomica 30C twice daily.

Dental Trauma:
Injuries resulting in bruising or fractures- use Arnica 30C three times daily for chronic problems, or every hour for acute injury for up to 6 doses. Injuries resulting in nerve damage should be treated with Hypericum 30C every hour for acute injury. Injuries resulting from puncture wounds, such as injections, use Ledum 30C every hour. Injuries resulting from incisional wounds, use Staphysagria 15C every hour. For tired sore jaws following prolonged surgical procedures that are improved by warmth, use Mag phos 30C every hour. For tired sore jaws following surgical procedures that are not improved by warmth, use Arnica 30C every hour.

Dry socket:
With throbbing pain use Belladonna 30C every hour. With unbearable pain, use Coffea 30C, every 15 minutes. To promote healing use Hepar sulph 6C every 4 hours.

Eruption of teeth, delayed:
Use Calc carb 30C, twice a week.

Gingivitis (acute):
With heavily coated tongue, use Merc sol 30C three times daily. With clean tongue, use Nit ac 30C three times daily. With excessive destruction of tissue, use Kali chlor 30C three times daily.

Halitosis:
Use a mixture of Carbo veg 30C and Merc sol 30C twice daily.

Pain:
Chamomilla 200C, one hour prior to surgery, and repeated very 15 minutes as necessary for no more than 6 doses.

Periodontitis (Chronic pyorrhoea):
With bleeding gums, foul breath and a large tongue the retains the imprint of the teeth use Merc sol 6C once daily. For bleeding gums with substantial loss of periodontal bone, use Phosphorus 15C once daily.

Scar tissue, to reduce formation of:
Use a mixture of Thiosinaminum 6C, Silica 6C, Arnica 6C, Anagalis 6C and Benzoic acid 6C, three times daily for 5 days after surgery.

Scaling, for sore gums following:
Use Arnica 30C every 2 hours.

Thrush (oral):
Borax 30C three times daily.