we've got mail - letters

Your health note in the January 2001 issue of Better Nutrition, "Keep That Dentist Appointment," brought some questions to mind -- it mentions dental care is linked to a healthy heart. I am very conscientious about dental care but noticed "that many herbal toothpastes do not contain fluoride. Is fluoride necessary for clean teeth? Is it harmful?

SARA LOPEZ, AZ

Editor's reply

Fluoride has its ups and downs -- some say it is essential in preventing tooth decay, whereas studies also indicate that it can actually damage teeth, while doing nothing to improve dental health. Natural fluoride is found in fresh water (depending on your geographical location) and a small dose of that (no more than one mg per liter) may help ward off gum disease and strengthen bones. Because of the amount used, it is actually harmful to ingest the fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash. For growing children, an overdose of fluoride can result in dental fluorosis, a defect in the formation of tooth enamel. Too much fluoride can also cause immune deficiencies, and lead to skeletal complications. While there is still evidence supporting the benefits of fluoride, it is not necessary for clean teeth, so many herbal toothpastes do not contain it.

HRT OR NOT TO HRT?

Thank you so much for including a feature about managing menopause in your January issue! I am confronted with the decision whether or not to go on hormone replacement therapy and your article definitely shed some light on the issue for me. Although my sister has decided to use HRT, I have had experiences with conventional doctors similar to those stated in your article -- they asked very little about my needs and symptoms of menopause, and they didn't ask many questions about my medical history or my overall health.

Thanks to your article, I have visited conventional and "alternative" physicians and feel like I can make a more educated decision - and hopefully a safer one at that!

TJ CHICAGO, IL

SILENT NIGHT

In Dr. Duke's Herb A Day column in Better Nutrition (August 2000) Dr. Duke wrote extensively about the benefits of ginger. Under the "tired, weak, and run down" section he mentioned ginger milk with honey. He said if you add cinnamon it becomes Rosita Arvigo's snoring remedy. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I made some of Rosita's tea last night and drank it before bed. It was delicious! My husband said I was so quiet, that he had to check to make sure I was still breathing. I also used a Breathe Right strip (which had never been 100 percent effective before), maybe a combination of the two ...

Thanks again. I'll recommend it to anyone.