Any treatment for pyorrhoea, to be effective, should be constitutional.
1. It should aim at cleansing the blood and tissues of the acid impurities which are at the root of the trouble.
2. The extraction of the teeth affected with the disease will not help clear the systemic toxaemia.
3. The patient should begin the treatment with a short juice fast for three to five days.
4. The juice of a fresh orange diluted with water on 50: 50 basis, should be taken at two-hourly intervals from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during this period. If the orange juice does not agree, carrot juice may be taken.
5. The bowels should be cleansed daily during this period with a warm water enema. If constipation is habitual, all steps should be taken for its eradication.
6. After the juice fast, the patient should spend a further three to five days on an exclusive fresh fruit diet. In this regimen, he should have three meals a day, at five-hourly intervals of fresh juicy fruits such as apples, pears, grapes, grape-fruit, oranges, pineapple and melon. If losing much weight on the all-fruit diet, those already under weight may add a glass of milk to each fruit meal.
7. Thereafter the patient may gradually embark upon a balanced diet, with emphasis on fresh fruits, green salads, whole meal bread, properly cooked vegetables, cheese, nuts, and milk. White bread, white sugar and all refined and tinned foods must be completely given up.
8. Condiments, sauces, alcohol, coffee and strong tea as well as meat and other flesh foods should also be avoided. The patient should also keep away from starchy and sticky foods.
9. The teeth and gum, like other parts of the body require exercise. This can be achieved by eating hard and fibrous foods. Wheat is especially valuable in the prevention and treatment of pyorrhoea. It takes time to eat wheat chapattis and as it is generally taken with other foods, it compels the chewing of other foods also.
This not only provides the needed exercise for the teeth and gums but is also a great aid to digestion.