The word “holistic” gets thrown around quite a bit when it comes to health. Holistic health is usually the practice of treating the cause of a problem rather than the symptom.
The root word of “holistic” is “whole.” Holistic health generally means keeping the whole body healthy in order to avoid bigger problems later on. For example, eating healthfully, exercising, and not smoking are holistic health practices. These might seem like common sense, but considering not everyone does them, holistic health is still important to talk about.
When it comes to holistic oral health, specifically, “holistic” refers to how the mouth, teeth, and gums affect and are affected by the rest of the body. It might not seem that important, but what happens in the mouth has huge effects on the rest of the body.
Keep reading to learn how, and to see what holistic dental health can mean for you.
Holistic Dentistry
Traditional dentistry tends to focus on the teeth, jaws, gums, and the areas around the mouth. Holistic dentistry tends to treat oral problems by focusing on the entire person.
Some other names for holistic dentistry include: natural dentistry, alternative dentistry, unconventional dentistry, integrative dentistry, and progressive dentistry.
The treatments involved in holistic dentistry can be quite different as well.
Some traditional dentistry treatments:Some holistic dentistry treatments include:
- Fillings• Nutrition education
- Brushing• Ayurveda (historical Indian medicine)
- Flossing• Homeopathy
- Root canals• Herbology
- Oral surgery• Spiritual healing
- Cleanings• Electroacupuncture
How do these differences work in practice? For example, let’s think of a patient with periodontal disease (gum disease). A traditional dentist would be more likely to offer brushing and flossing to solve the problem. A holistic dentist, on the other hand, will talk to the patient about nutrition, which can help solve the underlying cause of the disease.
One of the main differences you will notice between traditional and holistic dentistry is that traditional dentistry’s methods are all scientifically-proven. Holistic dentistry has a lot of unproven techniques. If you look at the Wikipedia page for Ayurveda, for instance, the first thing it calls holistic dentistry is a “pseudoscience.” That may not be reassuring.
The Science Behind It
Regardless of holistic dentistry’s approaches, parts of it are backed up by plenty of evidence. For example:
The mouth is the main entryway to the body and the beginning of the digestive system
The mouth is how everything gets into our digestive system. It is where 80% of the body’s immune system is. Anything that goes in the mouth will have a massive impact later on in the body.
Thanks to the mouth being the gateway to the body, gum and tooth health is of utmost importance. Scientific data shows that gum disease and tooth decay have been connected to a huge amount of modern diseases that occur elsewhere in the body.
Heart Disease
Gum disease has been shown to exacerbate atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the hardening of the arteries caused by plaque. It can lead to heart attacks, strokes and more.
Cancer
Inflammation and gum disease have been shown to increase the risk of cancer significantly. There is a 24% increased risk of cancer over all if a patient has severe inflammation and gum disease. The highest-risk cancers connected with periodontal disease are lung cancer and colorectal cancer. The lung disease risk was especially prominent even in people who were not smokers.
Various other diseases also have strong connections with oral health
From arthritis to diabetes to multiple sclerosis, many diseases are correlated with bad oral health. However, correlation does not equal causation. Nonetheless, it has been proven that when gums become diseased and inflamed, bacteria make its way into the digestive system and bloodstream.
For example, a study showed that the bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis and the toxins it secretes were found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Where does this kind of bacteria come from? It is typically found in diseased and infected gums.
Holistic Oral Health Basics
What can holistic choices can you make to guarantee your oral health? There are quite a few—some are obvious, and others are not quite so easy to see.
- Brushing. Brush at least twice a day. It’s best to use an electric toothbrush that moves in a circular pattern.
- Flossing. Try flosses made out of nylon, silk, or bamboo. Floss coated in antimicrobial tea tree oil is also a good choice.
- Toothpaste. Look for toothpastes with sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), tea tree oil, Eucalyptol, menthol, and vitamin D.
- Mouthwash. Rather than a mouthwash containing alcohol, you can use green tea or warm salt water.
- Pulling. This ancient Ayurvedic technique involves swishing around coconut oil in the mouth for 10-20 minutes. The lauric acid in the oil has been shown to reduce plaque and fight infections.
Keeping Your Mouth Healthy
If you are looking for more ways to maintain or improve your oral health, feel free to contact Josey Lane Dentistry. We have been in our Carrollton, Texas dental office for years serving our patients with the dental care that’s right for each individual. We would be happy to talk to you about holistic and traditional ways to improve your oral health.
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