We have always known raw honey is good for us, writes Glasgow dentist Dr Brendan Murphy, but I’ve always been particularly interested in its benefits for oral health and how it can be used in cosmetic dentistry.
It’s not just honey. Bees also make compound called propolis which has long thought to have antibacterial, antiviral and ant-inflammatory properties. At a time when many of our health problems are associated with inflammation in our bodies this is significant.
Have you had a mouth ulcer recently? Possibly aggravated by the stress of the coronavirus lockdown? Propolis can help treat mouth ulcers. It can also be used to sooth denture pain, cold sores and ulcers due to lip piercings.
Salve for Sore Gums
Propolis is a powerful antioxidant and increasingly we are interested in natural paths to reduce inflammation in our bodies. Patients with chronic inflammatory disease are at heightened risk of coronavirus.
Propolis can also be used as a mouthwash, to sooth sore gums and throats and as a breath freshener.
There is much debate as to whether raw honey can add anti-anti-allergenic properties to its list of benefits. I have always been a fan of local honey and many people swear their hay fever has been helped when they have taken honey which the bees have made from local pollen.
Dr Brendan Murphy (BDS Glasgow) 1992 GDC 67679 is clinical director at Crystal Dental Glasgow. He has been a dentist in Glasgow for more than 20 years. He is passionate about patient care and highly experienced in cosmetic dentistry. He shares the case studies on this website as examples of what is possible when faced with often tricky dental issues. It is never too late to seek help even for long term dental problems.