I'm very intrigued by this new and innovative practice of Integrative Dentistry. It focuses on the whole person, not just their mouth, teeth, and gums. It's also eco-friendly, in that the dentists use more sustainable materials such as composite materials (instead of mercury for fillings), use digital imaging as opposed to x-rays, which reduce radiation exposure.
During my Holistic Health Program, I remember the teacher mentioning Integrative Dentistry and sharing her experience with it. For some reason , I put it aside because my story was that going to the dentist is expensive (unless you have decent dental insurance), whether you have insurance or not. But then my boss went through a number of dental procedures to remove the mercury fillings she had in her mouth for years. My boss is very sensitive to certain substances such as certain foods, supplements, and other products. She's also a type-1 diabetic and, recently, got over a long, big bout of candida. She's overall a very healthy person, especially with her diet. But there was a period of time, whenever she would get her teeth cleaned, a day or two after, she would experience heavy-duty detoxing symptoms. Even a metallic taste in her mouth. She decided to go to a dentist, who was more aware of these new dental practices, and have the mercury-filled fillings replaced. After the two separate procedures, again her body went through another detox and she supported herself during this time with the help from her nutritionist and new dentist. Once her body detoxed, the next time she had a teeth cleaning, no more symptoms of nausea, fatigue and sluggishness. Also, no metallic taste in her mouth!
The article I read below, it got me interested and aware of Integrative Dentistry. Aware that if we have a healthy mouth, we'll have a healthy body, mind and spirit. As a yoga practitioner, I'm always honoring my whole body wherever it's at with compassion and love. I never really think of teeth, even though it seems obvious that they're included. But we clean our teeth differently than we wash our hair.
A little summary of the article is below with the link to the full article. I invite you to read it, if you've had different issues with your teeth and gums.
Integrative dentistry is a new phenomenon. Instead of focusing only on your plaque or toothache or gums, an integrative dentist pays attention to the big picture: What other health issues might relate to the state of your mouth? What chemicals are you absorbing while your teeth are being repaired? How's your mental state while you're sitting in the dental chair?
To ease patients' pain and fear, these dentists use complementary techniques such as meditation and massage. And they prefer using materials and procedures that do as little harm as possible to the earth and their patients; using composite fillings instead of mercury amalgam is one example. Integrative dentists also offer alternative remedies such as arnica for pain and inflammation of the mouth. By replacing X rays with more costly digital imaging, they expose the patient to 75 to 90 percent less radiation, get clearer views of the tooth, and eliminate the need for the chemicals used to process X rays.
If you wait awhile, integrative dentistry is likely to come to you. Until then, try taking dental health into your own hands by cultivating self-awareness: Approach your mouth with the same consciousness as your yoga practice. Floss regularly, use a soft toothbrush, and be attentive to your diet—avoid sticky, chewy, carb-rich foods.
Read the full articles:
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