by Dr. Nicholas Meyer —
You might be surprised to hear that there is nothing natural about dentistry. In fact, I believe it is one of the most unnaturally executed disciplines in health care. That said, healthy dentistry as I see it, is for everyone. So what is it?
Healthy dentistry is a philosophy of care that encompasses wholeness and wellness of the entire body and is achieved by performing specific dental procedures that have minimal negative impacts on the body. For example, gum disease affects your gums, but it can also present itself elsewhere in the body. It is a chronic, debilitating disease that if left untreated can cause death.
It is a biofilm disease (a bacterial slime) that weakens your supporting tissues. Once weakened, the bacteria travel on a superhighway from your gums into your bloodstream.
Nutritional support bolsters the tissue health, but the cause is often not addressed. A genetic weakness can exist, but most causes seem to stem from the cumulative effect of multiple factors.
In future articles, I will touch on other aspects of dentistry that are not natural but are healthful.
Nicholas Meyer, D.D.S., D.N.M., is a general dentist in Scottsdale, Ariz., who has a special interest in developmental disturbances of the facial complex that contribute to such maladies as TMJ, snoring and sleep apnea. www.milldental.com, [email protected] or 480-948-0560.
Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 30, Number 4, Aug/Sept 2011.
February 23, 2012
Dental, Health