Twenty years ago one of my mentors told me, "You can't be healthy if you don't have a healthy mouth."  At that time I was making the transition from traditional, mechanical dentistry to biologic dentistry - http://www.nhwellnesscenters.com/biologic-dentistry.html. I did not quite understand how profound, insightful and true that concept would become for me.  Now, as a leader and teacher in the field of biologic dentistry, that concept is a central theme for my work in biologic dentistry and integrative medicine.

Today many practitioners in the fields of dentistry and medicine treat the condition of the oral cavity as a separate entity with no connection to the body.  How can your mouth have such a profound effect on your health?  Because it is intimately connected to all your body systems.  I will clarify how the oral cavity affects your entire body.

If one does not have a full complement of teeth (32 adult teeth or 28 if wisdom teeth are missing), chewing and digestion are compromised.  Poor digestion is the foundation for many chronic illnesses.  Poor digestion starts with inadequate chewing, especially if a person has less than the optimal number of teeth or saliva production is not optimal.  In addition, the nerves within teeth stimulate the brain to produce neurotransmitters, the chemical signals that nerves use to communicate with each other.  Poor nerve communication leads to many other health issues including several neurodegenerative illnesses.

Restorations in teeth (fillings, inlays, crowns or dentures) are composed of many different materials.  Some of these materials are healthy (biologically compatible), some are unhealthy and some can present health challenges depending on the overall health and function of your immune system.  If toxic restorations are used (ie. amalgam fillings containing mercury or crowns containing nickel) your health will be compromised. 

Biologic dentistry uses several tests (blood tests or testing a person's nervous system) to determine which restorations are healthy and which are not.  Unhealthy restorations that are in the mouth 24/7 are health challenges waiting to happen.  It is critical to avoid toxic restorations and attempt to avoid restorations that have materials that could contribute to an immune system challenge or potential health problem.  Fluoride, commonly thought of as a substance that saves many mouths from endless decay is toxic and presents many health challenges to several organs and tissues including the brain and the thyroid.  The beneficial effects of fluoride are negligible.

In the last decade, research has shown a distinct connection between infections in the mouth and other health problems, including heart disease, strokes and diabetes.  These oral infections include periodontal or gum disease (prevalent in most humans) and infections in root canals (abcesses around the ends of root canal teeth or within the walls of a root canal tooth).  The infections not only affect the teeth and gums but can also spread to the rest of the body via the blood stream.  Other sources of infections include the tonsils and infections in the jaw bone where teeth were removed and special extraction techniques are not followed.  Biologic dentistry has many unique solutions to these infection issues that keep the entire immune system strong and healthy while minimizing microbes spreading via the blood stream.

Tooth alignment plays a large role in the overall health of our body.  The way the teeth come together- known as the bite or occlusion- is critical.  A great amount of the nervous system is involved in keeping the lower half of the face and the jaws in balance.  If all the teeth do not contact simultaneously or if tooth contact throws off the alignment of the skull (which it can easily do) that misalignment will adversely affect a person's overall health.  Tooth, jaw or skull misalignment may also be the genesis of several pain issues.

Orthodontics involves not only straightening the teeth but also aligning the teeth, jaws and head so that they function as one healthy unit.  The alignment of the head profoundly affects the jaws and teeth and contributes to many health issues.  In addition, improper growth patterns (growth of head, jaws and teeth) can compromise this alignment.  It is the responsibility of a true biologic dentist to understand how all these "pieces" fit together and bring a person's mouth back into balance with the rest of the body.

Snoring is an indication that the body has an oxygen deficit due to restricted air passages.  Low tissue oxygen creates fatigue, heart and brain illness, more infections and accelerated aging.  A simple dental device keeps airways open during sleep. The anti-snoring device is a dental appliance that has huge health implications and is typical of the focus of biologic dentistry.

The finishing touch of biologic dentistry is the appearance of a person's smile.  When a person feels good about their smile, they feel better about themselves and their immune system will actually become stronger

In my opinion there is nothing more important to a person than their health, and a large part of overall health revolves around maintaining a healthy oral cavity. Biologic dentistry can play an integral role in helping you keep your mouth and your body strong and healthy.

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Robert B. Johnson, DMD, ND
Biologic Dentist
Naturopath

Dr. Robert Johnson is a Biologic Dentist who is certified in Naturopathy. He also has a Doctorate in Integrative Medicine from Capital University, a post doctorate program designed to further integrative healing skills of dentists as well as physicians. Dr. Johnson's extensive training encompasses a full spectrum of dentistry - http://www.nhwellnesscenters.com/dental.html, including orthodontics.

As the Director at Natural Horizons Wellness Center, his passion is understanding and treating the extensive connections between the oral cavity and the overall health of the body.