The philosophy of holism is about considering the entire person and acknowledging that all parts of the person correlate to each other, including physical, mental, emotional, and social factors. When we apply holism to dentistry, all factors affecting the patient are significant, not just disease, pain, and infection. Other terms for holistic dentistry might be biocompatible or biological dentistry.
A holistic dentist like Dr. Steven Haywood doesn’t only treat the disease; he is concerned with the patient’s overall health and wellness too. He understands the ways in which oral health can affect the entire body, and he addresses patients’ needs using safe, scientific solutions. This is part of what sets Dr. Haywood apart from other dental practitioners in the Shrewsbury and York, PA areas.
If the eyes are the window to the soul, then the mouth is definitely the gateway to the body. What we eat affects our health, as well as other mouth-related habits like smoking or nail-biting, and problems in overall health may show their first obvious symptoms in the teeth and especially the gums. It’s easier to maintain good overall health by maintaining good oral health, and vice versa.
According to the CDC, as many as half of American adults have some form of gum disease. In its early stage, gingivitis, it’s the result of plaque building up and irritating the gums, causing swelling, tenderness, and infection. Over time, gingivitis can worsen into periodontitis, which weakens the support structures around the teeth. Studies have suggested a link between gum disease and a number of chronic conditions.
Nearly a quarter of diabetics also have gum disease. Diabetes makes it more difficult for the body to fight off harmful bacteria, which makes it easier to develop gum disease and harder to keep it under control. Gum disease, in turn, can make it harder to control blood sugar levels and manage the diabetes.
Researchers have found that men with gum disease are 30% more likely to develop blood cancers, 49% more likely to develop kidney cancer, and 54% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer. Cancer treatments themselves can have an impact on oral health as well. Chemotherapy and radiation treatment can have side effects like dry mouth, sensitive gums, sores in the mouth, and jaw and facial pain.
The reasons for this are not yet clear, but heart disease and gum disease have a tendency to go hand in hand. As many as nine in every ten people with heart disease also have gum disease. One theory is that inflammation is the link between these two conditions.
Beyond these types of conditions, gum disease is also linked to osteoporosis, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, certain lung conditions, and even stroke. Gum disease in pregnant women is also linked to preterm births and low birth weights.
Two examples of the expanded focus of holistic dentistry are proper nutrition and elimination of toxins. Toxins and potentially dangerous materials can enter the body through the mouth. Dr. Haywood will help to eliminate harmful bacteria and chemicals. At Southern York Smile Care, we are specifically concerned with mercury in older fillings, nickel, fluoride, bisphenol plastics, periodontal bacteria, and fungi that cause or drive at least 14 diseases and 4 known cancers.
Dr. Haywood’s process begins with a thorough evaluation of your specific needs and concerns. The last thing anyone wants with medical or dental care is cookie-cutter service. No two people have the same physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual makeup, so no two people have the exact same oral health.
One of the major benefits of a holistic dentistry approach for patients in Shrewsbury and York, PA is a fully customized diagnosis and treatment plan for each individual patient. Within this flexible discipline, we look for innovative solutions to get you the best possible outcome, both short and long-term.
Holistic dentistry is becoming more and more popular in many parts of North America as it focuses on natural interventions first. Even to the layman, some of the theories make perfect sense. For example, root canals can trap oral bacteria inside the body, so shouldn’t there be another solution?
The team at Southern York Smile Care pride ourselves on our scientific approach to holistic therapies. We offer safe amalgam removal, Clifford materials testing, cone beam CT scanning of problematic root canals, bacterial DNA testing, laser and ozone periodontal disinfection, non-fluoride enamel rebuilding, safer white filling materials, and more. We are fundamentally opposed to uncontrolled oral infections and mercury amalgam.
Dr. Haywood is the premier holistic dentist in the Shrewsbury area. Southern York Smile Care is located in the south of York County, near York, PA and extremely convenient to Glen Rock and New Freedom. If you are interested in how you can benefit from holistic dentistry, call us for an evaluation and consultation. You’ll notice the difference and enjoy the benefits when you contact the best holistic dentist.
