Oral Health
Jump ahead to the topics I cover below:
If you’re just looking what products I recommend, scroll to the bottom to see my top picks or click the button to go directly to the section that you’re interested in:
The Mouth Seeds The Gut!
Many people focus on cleaning or “detoxing” their gut, but the reality is that what grows in the mouth will end up growing in the gut. There are 700+ species of bacteria in the mouth and we swallow ~1 liter of saliva each day!
The mouth is where our exposure happens- through food, touching our hands to mouth, kissing, drinking dirty water, etc. Think of the mouth like your gateway to health– if its internal environment isn’t healthy, the rest of your body is then likely to suffer.
What’s more, many issues with candida, bacteria, parasites and other infections often will reseed after an eradication protocol because the mouth was not addressed at the same time. You don’t want to waste your time or money on any eradication without also looking at your mouth. Even if you don’t have any infection, the following suggestions on oral care will be preventative and help you avoid any possible issues later in life.
Further, each tooth is connected to different parts of the body through something called Dental Meridians. Click here to see an interactive guide for each tooth + its connections.
Are You A Mouth Breather?
Mouth breathing can put you at greater risk for oral microbiome issues as it alters the pH of your mouth resulting in dysbiosis (aka not normal) bacterial balance of the mouth.
The nose is designed to be our “filter” for things like pathogens, dust, mold, etc. and thus mouth breathing means we don’t have a filter, putting us at greater risk. It also greatly impacts the quality of your sleep and has been linked to behavioral issues like ADHD in children.
If you notice that you snore and/or sleep often with your mouth open, I would suggest mouth taping overnight to see if you can retrain yourself to keep your lips sealed and breathe through your nose!
If you see a Biological Dentist (more info on that below) they may also offer a Sleep Study to determine this even more as far as airway restriction goes.
The Problem With Plaque
We’ve probably been told since we were kids about the dangers of plaque in our mouths by our dentist, but do most of us really know what it is?
Plaque is a form of biofilm, which is a living community of microbial organisms (bacteria, fungi, viral species) that stick to each other and attach to surfaces. Teeth are an excellent surface for them to bind on and they can form in less than an hour and allow microorganisms a “home” to survive in and not be touched.
Biofilms are actually responsible for 80% of all infections, including most chronic ones and are incredibly resistant to antibiotics. Some added risk factors for this development include diets high in processed foods, smoking, mouth breathing, pregnancy and immune suppression via medication.
It’s All About The Airway
This is becoming a topic that more and more people are talking about as tongue/lip ties, enlarged tonsils and crowded mouths are becoming more and more common in children these days.
There is A LOT that is contributing to this- mom’s diet, mom’s oral health, mom’s posture, mom’s breathing, mom’s stress levels/nervous system but also all the toxic exposures we get on a daily basis- mold in the home, personal care + cleaning products, dirty water…you name it.
This is not a topic I am well-versed in but if you or your child are experiencing issues with feeding, bed-wetting, sleeping with their mouth open, hyperactivity, tongue/lip ties, I encourage you to find an air way specialist.
Finding an Airway Specialist
Because this is a growing field, there are more and more dentists being trained in this approach- see links below for a search.
However, you may also find Myofacial Practitioners beneficial/helpful in this regard as well, and I have linked several Instagram accounts below to learn more about this approach and even do virtual consultations.
Myofunctional/Airway Virtual Practitioners
Offers virtual consultation + myofunctional therapy for tongue tie support, airway health + facial developlment.
Offers virtual consultation + myofunctional therapy for tongue tie support, airway health, mouth or disordered breathing, + facial developlment.
Offers virtual consultation + myofunctional therapy for tongue tie support, airway health + facial developlment.
At-Home Airway/Oral Supports
“The REMplenish Myo-Nozzle provides targeted resistance to the muscles in your mouth and throat while you drink water, helping to exercise your airway and make it stronger. A healthy airway can lead to better breathing, reducing snoring, better sleep, and more energy during the day.”
“There’s an epidemic of mouth breathing in our children, leading to underdeveloped jaws and airways along with severe health problems for generations to come.”
Additional Airway/Myofunctional Resources
Podcast specializing in addressing myofunctional questions, oral ties, airway + pediatric feeding.
Offers an at-home course on how to naturally approach lip + tongue ties, breastfeeding support + other lifestyle changes.
The Reality of Root Canals
Root canals are a chronic source of infection + inflammation (I have personally seen this with clients!). Working with a biological dentist, you may want to have any that you have removed OR if you are told you need one- seek another option.
Root Canal Resources:
Finding A Biological Dentist
A biological dentist (also called a “holistic,” “natural,” or “functional” dentist) is a type of dentist who looks for the root causes of why something is going wrong in your mouth. They study far beyond what was taught in dental school.
I really recommend finding a biological dentist if you have fillings, root canals or other dental issues that may need to be addressed. Most people by now know that removing mercury from your mouth may be beneficial, but if you don’t have the right type of practitioner to do so, it can be very damaging and even excrete more toxicity into your body during removal.
Nothing Fun about Fluoride
Most toothpastes are made with fluoride, a toxic halogen chemical that will displace iodine in the body (crucial for thyroid health) and increase our toxic load. Fluoride has also been found to make the aluminum we ingest more bioavailable (increases chance of developing Alzheimers) and displaces magnesium and depletes our cells of it.
Fluoride has been added to our public water systems since the 1940s and even though the CDC claimed that fluoride was “one of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th century” there is no discernible difference in tooth decay rates between countries that fluoridate their water and those that don’t.
What’s better (sarcastic), fluoride ingestion has been linked to: Hypothyroidism, Weakening of the teeth and bones, Neurotoxicity to the brain + ADHD, Kidney damage, Arthritis, and lower IQs in children.
Here’s the bad news: If you don’t drink filtered water, you get a ton of fluoride in your body simply through drinking water, brushing your teeth, opening your mouth in the shower, drinking water when out to eat, etc. You also get fluoride if you say yes to those treatments at the dentist.
Say NO to Fluoride at the Dentist!
Most of us don’t realize that we have a choice when it comes to fluoride treatment at the dentist.
Next time you go, simply ask your hygienist to make note on your chart that you do not wish to receive any fluoride in the future (including the toothpaste samples they give out).
Filter Your Water
Water is our #1 toxic exposure each day (even more so than food) but many of us are lost when it comes to knowing how best to filter our water.
See my Upcoming Water Guide page for more info on how to effectively filter your water (and no, a Brita won’t cut it!!
The Dangers of Silver Fillings
Dental amalgams in some form have been used since as early as 659 AD in China and generally contained a mix of tin, silver, lead, copper, zinc, mercury, and even gold. Today, amalgams are filled with not only mercury but now contain high amounts of copper and are the best-selling options on the market today. This shift happened in the late 1970s.
Most people have heard that mercury is toxic, but many don’t know that copper is almost as toxic (only a 4% difference in toxicity). Together, though, they react even more- the release of mercury from high copper amalgams is 50 times FASTER than the release of non-copper mercury amalgams. For context, one high copper filling now has the equivalent of putting in FIFTY pre-1970s amalgams.
I see these as one of the main sources of heavy metal toxicity in my clients– and note, even if they didn’t have silver fillings themselves, I’ve seen sky high mercury in clients who’s MOTHER had them in her mouth while pregnant!
What's The Harm?
Anytime that you chew, brush your teeth, clench your jaw, consume acidic foods, get your teeth cleaned, use a cell phone or drink/eat anything hot there is a measurable release of mercury from the fillings, no matter how long you have had them.
Once this is stimulated, mercury will continue to be released for 1-2 hours and will be inhaled or swallowed with saliva.
Watch this video to see mercury literally vaporize off a filling
Where Do The Metals Go?
After its release, mercury gets deposited in the jaw, kidneys, liver, gut, brain and unborn fetus (if pregnant) with the highest levels are found in the brain’s pituitary gland and the thyroid gland (pituitary signals your thyroid- so you may not have a “thyroid” issue- you may have a mercury issue!).
It can cause high blood pressure, high white blood cell counts and is very associated with development of autoimmune diseases.
#1 Source of Mercury Exposure Today
To date, mercury amalgams are our HIGHEST exposure of mercury in our environment– we mostly hear “don’t break a thermometer and eat it, but the reality is many other things contribute more than something small like that. The second highest exposure is vaccines and the third being fatty fish/seafood like tuna.
Silver Filling Removal- Don't Go to Anyone!
The good news is many have been getting them taken out and repalaced over the past several years, BUT the bad news is many are going to traditional doctors to do so.
SMART-certified dentists have gone through extensive training to understand how to remove them so that more mercury is not released and absorbed into your body during the procedure. Thus, if you had them removed traditionally, there is a good chance you still have high levels of mercury in your body and likely need to do some heavy metal work to ensure its removal.
If you are a current client, reach out as I have an Amalgam Removal Protocol.
Tongue Scraping + Oil Pulling
Tongue Scraping
Many ancient traditions of healing have been lost in our modern society, but tongue scraping + oil pulling used to be a daily occurrence for removing bad bacteria and balancing the oral microbiome. It also promotes whiter teeth and fresher breath! I recommend trying to oil pull daily, but even if you can just a few times a week is great.
How to Tongue Scrape:
- Set the rounded end of the tongue scraper at the back of your tongue.
- Slowly pull it forward, toward the tip of your tongue. You should never push the scraper from the tip of your tongue back. Always go from the back of the tongue to the tip.
- After each scrape, use a washcloth or rinse under water to remove debris from the scraper.
- Repeat until you’ve scraped the entire surface of your tongue. One to two scrapes across the same area is usually enough.
- Wash the tongue scraper with warm water and soap, dry, and store in a clean, dry area.
How To Oil Pull:
- Preferably right after you wake up (or after tongue scraping), drink a little water and then take 1 TBSP oil unrefined coconut oil or organic castor oil into your mouth.
- Spit the oil into the trash (not the sink- it will clog pipes) to dispose of oil filled with bacteria, toxins, and fungus from your mouth.
- Brush and/or rinse your teeth to get out any lingering oil and bacteria.
Coconut oil (organic): Swish it around actively for 5 minutes, working your way up to 15-20 minutes.
OR Castor oil (organic): Only need to swish for 2-5 minutes (aka my go-to in a hurry!)
Oil Pulling
How To Oil Pull:
- Preferably right after you wake up (or after tongue scraping), drink a little water and then take 1 TBSP oil unrefined coconut oil or organic castor oil into your mouth.
- Spit the oil into the trash (not the sink- it will clog pipes) to dispose of oil filled with bacteria, toxins, and fungus from your mouth.
- Brush and/or rinse your teeth to get out any lingering oil and bacteria.
Coconut oil (organic): Swish it around actively for 5 minutes, working your way up to 15-20 minutes OR Castor oil (organic): Only need to swish for 2-5 minutes (aka my go-to in a hurry!).
My Top Picks for Oral Care
This is an easy first step to take to reduce fluoride exposure. The good news is many companies are making cleaner toothpastes these days, but many contain artificial sweeteners and other fillers/additives that we don’t want in our bodies.
See below for the brands I recommend for cleaner tooth + oral health products!
What I use at home. Made from hydroxyapatite it is a natural alternative to fluoride.
We have their original toothpaste, floss + mouthwash. They also have a kid version too!
MWFITWELL10 for 10% off
Option for those dealing with gut infections or suspect they might have one to help rebalance the oral microbiome and whiten teeth at the same time. Can also be used on children ages 2 or older.
Another clean, hydroxyapatite based product. Can get on Amazon + Walmart (may other local stores).
Another clean option that also offers electric toothbrushes.
I’ve heard great things about their toothpaste, putty, and remineralizer. Often out of stock.
What I use instead of mouthwash. Great way to support the oral cavity and many report oral symptoms going away with use.
Books I Recommend: Oral Health
"Biological Dentistry and the Suprising impact of oral health on whole body wellness"
"The Story of a Hidden Epidemic in western civilization, and it is right under our noses."
"Airway Health: The Hidden Pathway to Wellness"
"Holistic mouth solutions for sleep apnea, deficient jaws, and related complications"
"The suprising link between your teeth, real food and life-changing natural health"
"How a tiny string under the tongue impacts nursing, speech, feeding and more"