Holistic Dental Health: What Is It and How Can It Benefit You?

Understanding Holistic Dental health, the benefits, and what are the different options you can choose from

According to the American Dental Hygienist’s Association, approximately 78% of all Americans will have at least one cavity by the time they reach the age of 17. They also report that about 80% of the U.S. population suffers from some form of gum disease. 

Carry on reading and we will share with you a holistic way in which you can look after your teeth and gums. 

What is Holistic dental health?

According to Healthline, Holistic dentistry is an alternative to traditional dental care. It is a form of complementary and alternative medicine. 

In essence, holistic dentists are general dentists that use a holistic approach to treating their patients. Some dentists might combine holistic techniques with conventional methods, offering you the best of both worlds. 

What Holistic dental health options are there?

Holistic dentists will use traditional treatments to fix any issues that you might be having. They are also going to incorporate other modalities to help treat your body as a whole. Other techniques include but are not limited to:

If you have Gingivitis, a traditional dentist might discuss nutrition with you or they will simply remove the problem. A holistic dentist, will discuss nutrition with you as well but will emphasize how changing your diet can help with the issue at hand. They will also discuss other natural treatment options such as herbal toothpaste to help control the problem. 

What are the benefits and limitations of holistic dental health?

Even though holistic dental health is becoming more popular, more research needs to be done to determine which modalities offer the best benefits for the patient. You might prefer to use the holistic approach because the following ideologies are important to you:

  • Whole-health treatment
  • Alternative therapies
  • Avoiding mercury or the use of fluoride 
  • Natural remedies

Holistic dentists do not use mercury amalgam in any of their treatments. The dangers of mercury toxicity are well-documented and since other materials can be used, holistic dentists prefer to use those. They believe that there is no need to use materials that can poison the body in the long run. 

There are limits to the benefits that holistic dental health has. For example, if you need a root canal, a holistic dentist will not perform it. The procedure has been proven to be safe but from a holistic approach, the dentists say it is not safe due to the procedure and the chemicals that are used. If an issue does not go away with holistic methods, you need to seek medical help to deal with the problem at hand. 

Conclusion 

The difference between traditional dentists and holistic dentists is simple. A traditional dentist will only focus on fixing the problem in your mouth and does not address any problems that might arise in your overall health after. A holistic dentist will fix your problems but they also look at your mouth and the materials in your mouth as an integral part of your whole body health. 

It is not clear if this type of dentistry is safer or more effective than regular dentistry. More research needs to be done. Bottom line is, if you enjoy living life holistically, then holistic dental health is the right path for you. It allows you to not only treat the symptoms but your body as a whole.