Holistic Dentists for Good Health

For too long we have lived by the adage of "Better living through chemicals." We bleach and tone and tan and spray all sorts of things on ourselves. If a child gets distracted frequently, there are pills to fix that. If a person can't sleep, sleeping pills can cure that problem. If they can't wake up, caffeine pills can solve that, but perhaps there is an alternative to all of these that doesn't throw our internal chemistry out of whack. There is no need to continually change our bodies through the use of all sorts of chemicals foreign to our body's environment. An excellent place to begin reducing our dependence on chemicals is to go to holistic dentists. Instead of using someone who puts toxins in your body but also into the world consider looking into one of these specialists.

Instead of advocating fluoride treatment for enamel, these dentists approach the topic through increased nutrition and supplements. They opt to use bonding agents and fillers that not only will not leech into your body and cause harm but also materials that will not detrimentally effect the environment when they are disposed of. This means no heavy metals in cavity fillings, which have been shown to cause serious health problems. The mercury amalgam used to fill cavities for decades is dangerous and can cause cancer and a host of other problems. 

These dentists do not shun traditional western dental practices but rather opt to approach oral health through a whole body approach. They see general health and oral health interconnected. They therefore work within a variety of fields to promote health and well being as well as good hygiene. They also use things like nitrous oxide and pneumatic drills for treating patients. They see that there is opportunity for dentists to reduce their ecological footprint and to “first do no harm” as their Hippocratic Oath says. 

Sometimes this means that instead of the quick high tech solution they may suggest a slower more natural approach. As an example, instead of fluoride treatments, they may recommend a change in diet to help prevent cavities. It is not just fluoride either. In fact, the most dangerous chemical in toothpaste is called sodium lauryl sulfate and it was originally developed as an engine degreaser. That is why holistic dentists recommend an examination of the ingredients in any oral care product you buy. 

These doctors are fully certified and licensed, but they have simply chosen to be more conscientious of the medical advice they are giving people. They see the amount of toxins and chemicals their patients are exposed to and see an opportunity to help reduce this in one area. They are worth a second thought and may help you feel cleaner and healthier than you have in years.