Keto, LCHF: Recipes, Rules, Description

Silvering of milk teeth — is a method that was originally conceived as a "conservation" of carious processes in milk teeth, but in essence, the method is ineffective and works more as a cosmetic or temporary measure than as a real treatment or prevention.

Mechanism of action of silvering. Silvering is performed using solutions of silver nitrate or complexes based on it.

Silver has a pronounced antiseptic effect: it kills bacteria in the area of application. However:

• Silver does not restore the structure of enamel and dentin.
• It does not eliminate the cause of demineralization.
• It does not stop further destruction of the tooth, especially if the mineralization of the tissues is already reduced.

Why milk teeth continue to decay. The main factor — is not sweets or local bacterial load, but systemic mineralization.

Milk teeth are formed in utero and in the first years of life from the available mineral reserves in the child's body. If during pregnancy or early childhood the mother and child had a deficiency of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin D, K2, as well as trace elements (zinc, copper, selenium, boron), then the structure of enamel and dentin will be loose and poorly mineralized.

This type of tooth tissue is inherently vulnerable and easily destroyed even with normal care. Nutrition with excess sugars only accelerates the process but is not the root cause.

Why silvering does not solve the problem:

• It does not replenish the deficiency of minerals.
• It does not change metabolism and does not strengthen teeth systemically.
• It only temporarily reduces the activity of the microflora on the surface, but destruction continues from the inside due to the weakly mineralized base.

What is really important:

• Systemic mineralization: sufficient levels of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamins D and K2, trace elements.
• Support for the acid-base balance in the oral cavity (saliva — a key remineralizing factor).
• Regular removal of plaque, but not with aggressive means.
• In some cases — remineralizing applications (Ca/P pastes, fluoride in very controlled doses with normal levels of magnesium and calcium).

The vast majority of infant formulas use mineral components in inorganic form (carbonates, sulfates, chlorides, phosphates, oxides). This is not because manufacturers want to degrade the product, but due to the technology and economics of production.

The difference between organic and inorganic forms of minerals

Organic forms — these are minerals bound to organic acids or amino acids (citrates, glycinates, malates, lactates). They are better absorbed because their chemical structure is closer to the compounds found in living tissues.

Inorganic forms — these are salts of minerals (carbonates, oxides, sulfates). They are cheaper, more stable in dry mixtures, but are less well absorbed and can irritate the gastrointestinal tract.

For an adult, the difference in bioavailability can be compensated by dosage, but for an infant, whose enzymatic and transport systems are still developing, this is much more significant.

Why inorganic forms are used in formulas

Stability: organic mineral salts are often hygroscopic and can interact with the proteins and fats in the formula, causing rancidity or clumping.

Cost: organic forms (e.g., calcium citrate or magnesium glycinate) are several times more expensive compared to carbonates and sulfates.

Regulatory standards: most regulations (EU, USA, Ukraine) only define minimum and maximum amounts of minerals in the formula, not their form. The manufacturer chooses the most economical and stable option to pass certification.

How this affects absorption and the health of the child

Calcium: formulas often contain calcium carbonate or tricalcium phosphate. These forms dissolve poorly at the pH of an infant's stomach, especially in newborns with low acidity.

Iron: sulfate or fumarate of iron is often used. They can oxidize the fats in the formula and irritate the intestinal mucosa.

Zinc, copper, manganese: are used in the form of sulfates or oxides, which are absorbed at 5–20%, with the rest settling in the intestines.

Side effects: inorganic forms can increase the risk of colic, constipation, or diarrhea, as well as enhance oxidative processes (especially iron and copper).

Difference from breast milk

In breast milk, minerals are almost entirely in organic or biocomplex forms:

• Calcium — in the form of lactate and bound to casein.
• Iron — in chelates with lactalbumin and lactoferrin (bioavailability is 10 times higher than in formula).
• Zinc and copper — in the form of amino complexes.

This is one of the reasons why even with lower absolute doses of minerals, breast milk provides better absorption.

During deep sleep phases (NREM 3–4), a special brain cleansing mechanism is activated – the so-called glymphatic system. It was described relatively recently and serves as a "sanitation network" for the central nervous system.

How it works. In a waking state, the intercellular space of the brain is relatively narrow, and the circulation of interstitial fluid is limited. During deep sleep phases, under the influence of decreased norepinephrine levels and overall relaxation of the body, the intercellular gaps expand almost twice. This allows cerebrospinal fluid to actively wash the brain tissues, flushing out metabolic byproducts: excess ions, toxins, damaged proteins, including β-amyloid and tau proteins.

It has been established that it is during the night that the brain eliminates up to 60% of the metabolites accumulated during the day.

Why this is important. Amyloid proteins are normally constantly formed as a byproduct of neuronal activity.

If the glymphatic system is not functioning well (for example, due to chronic sleep deprivation, sleep apnea, or disruption of deep sleep phases), amyloids begin to accumulate in the brain tissues.

These deposits form amyloid plaques, which are considered a key pathological factor in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Similarly, the accumulation of pathologically altered tau proteins is associated with the development of so-called tauopathies.

Implications for health. Lack of sleep, especially a deficit in phases 3 and 4, sharply increases the risk of cognitive decline.

Studies have shown that even one night of poor sleep leads to a measurable increase in β-amyloid concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid.

Chronic sleep deprivation exacerbates inflammation, reduces neuroplasticity, and accelerates degenerative processes.

Thus, deep sleep is not just "rest," but an active phase of neurodetoxification. It is critically important for the prevention of memory diseases and the maintenance of long-term cognitive health.

Snoring itself — is the vibration of the soft tissues of the throat due to partial narrowing of the airways. It can be either harmless or a manifestation of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

Sleep phases. Phase 3 and 4 (the so-called deep slow sleep, delta sleep) — are critically important stages for the recovery of the body, immune function, hormonal regulation, and memory.

During deep sleep, breathing and heart rate become the most regular, and muscle tone is minimal.

What snoring and apnea do. With severe snoring and breathing pauses (apnea), the brain is periodically forced to awaken to more superficial stages of sleep to restore breathing. This is called micro-awakenings.

As a result, the structure of sleep is fragmented: a person seems to sleep all night, but their brain never truly "falls" into full-length episodes of phases 3–4.

Polysomnography shows that people with severe apnea have significantly reduced or absent slow sleep.

Why this is important. The absence of deep sleep leads to chronic fatigue, decreased cognitive functions, hormonal imbalance (cortisol, testosterone, growth hormone), and increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Even if snoring is "simple" (without apnea), its constant vibrations and episodes of partial awakening can also shorten the phases of deep sleep, but not completely exclude them.

Bile is produced in the liver and enters the intestine when food is consumed, especially fatty food. Its main function is to emulsify fats, that is, to break them down into tiny droplets so that the enzymes of the pancreas (lipases) can digest them.

If there is not enough bile, or it is delivered irregularly, fats remain poorly digested. In this case:

• they can color the stool light or grayish,
• the stool becomes softer, greasy, "fatty," and sticks to the toilet bowl,
• characteristic floating fecal masses appear, as fat is lighter than water.

Why this is important

Fats carry vitamins A, D, E, K (fat-soluble). If they are not digested, the vitamins are not absorbed → a deficiency develops.

Minerals and trace elements (such as calcium, magnesium, zinc) are also less effectively incorporated into metabolism without normal bile function.

A lack of bile may indicate stagnation in the gallbladder, dyskinesia of the bile ducts, or a deficiency of cholesterol or amino acids involved in its synthesis.

Possible consequences:

• constant deficiencies of fat-soluble vitamins,
• dry skin, hair loss, brittle nails,
• predisposition to inflammation and weak immunity (vitamin D and omega-3 deficiency),
• worsening night vision (vitamin A deficiency),
• problems with blood clotting (vitamin K deficiency).