Allergy Elimination Therapy (AET or NAET) is a non-invasive, long-standing treatment option that may improve the body’s ability to overcome chronic health issues.
Allergy Elimination Therapy, AET for Mercury Filling Removal
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Dental Services
Why Your Child Should Have an Orthodontic Evaluation by Age 7
Early Orthodontic Evaluation You may think that an early orthodontic evaluation is only for teenagers who want to straighten their teeth. However, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that your child’s first early orthodontic evaluation be...
Key Benefits of Dental Implants
As a dentist, I have seen firsthand the impact that tooth loss can have on a person’s quality of life. Edentulous spaces, or areas where teeth are missing, can cause difficulties with speaking, eating, and even self-confidence. Fortunately, dental implants offer a solution that can greatly improve a patient’s oral health and overall well-being.
Biological Dentistry and Oral Surgery
All dentists are taught to extract teeth. Some hone their skills with advanced training in residencies and internships, and others are mentored by experienced practitioners. However, biological dentistry brings different principles to the oral surgery procedure and there is a distinction between what is done conventionally vs. holistically to optimize healing following the removal of teeth.
Do You Have Mask Mouth?
We all have heard the reasons for wearing a mask or not wearing a mask, however are you aware of the oral side effects from wearing a mask for an extended time? When wearing a mask, the dryness in your mouth increases which makes your mouth a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses to grow.
Surprising Signs You May Have Obstructive Sleep Apnea
The main symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, are loud snoring, gasping or choking during sleep. However, there are many other less-familiar signs of sleep apnea, and they might surprise you. Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep condition that causes the muscles in your throat to relax repeatedly during sleep.
4 Key Reasons to Choose a Biological Dentist
The health of your oral cavity extensively affects the overall health of your body. Stated in another way, you cannot have a healthy body without a healthy mouth. Biological dentists promote dental treatments to build health and wellbeing, using non-toxic dental...
How to Avoid Dental Trauma
Dental trauma is very common, especially among children. Dental trauma is defined as injury to the teeth, gums and the other structures that keep your teeth in place, and the accompanying oral soft tissue structures like the tongue and lips. One of the best ways to avoid dental trauma is by using a mouth guard.
How a Healthy Mouth Promotes a Healthy Body
updated Nov. 20, 2024 Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body The health of the mouth is intricately connected to the overall health of the body. Recent studies show that plaque in the mouth from periodontal disease may increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. There is a...
See Your Dentist. It’s Good for Your Heart!
Heart disease has many contributors to its cause, and any of these contributors may indeed be the cause in any one patient. Contributors to heart disease include obesity, smoking, lack of exercise, genetics, periodontal disease, and other factors. No single factor might be the cause in any one case.
What To Do in a Dental Emergency
When should I call the dentist?
What is a dental emergency?
At Holistic Family Dentistry at National Integrated Health Associates, we get this question all the time, so we thought it would be a good idea to tell you what constitutes a “dental emergency.”
What You Should Know About Periodontal (Gum) Disease
Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is the major cause of tooth loss. The foundation of biological dentistry is to promote a healthy mouth. When the mouth is in a healthy state the gums are pink and attached to the roots. The roots are strong and completely surrounded by bone. There is no inflammation and rarely is there bleeding; imagine a sturdy new fence post that has just been placed in the ground. If you are following a daily regimen that involves brushing and plaque removal from the area around and in between the teeth there is a good chance that your mouth is in a healthy state.
Emergency Dental Care from a Holistic Dentist in Washington, D.C.
Sometimes a dental emergency occurs and a you will require emergency dental care in the Washington, D.C. area.
If you have tooth pain, tissue swelling, a cracked or lost tooth, a broken filling – you need emergency dental care. Please act fast and contact us immediately for an emergency dental appointment.
Is YOUR Dentist Checking for Oral Cancer?
A dentist may be the first one to notice symptoms of oral cancer. Your mouth is one of your body’s most important early warning systems. Oral cancer is not just for smokers, although many oral cancers do stem from tobacco use. More than 43,000 Americans will be...
Safe Removal of Mercury Amalgam Fillings
Mercury in amalgam fillings can be a source of toxicity to the body. Safe mercury removal of old amalgams, or fillings, must be done by an experienced biological dentist to protect you, the dentist, and the environment.
Our health is under assault. Measured by any statistic – there is more cancer, diabetes, brain deterioration (Alzheimer’s etc.), autoimmune disease, chronic pain, joint disease, fatigue, Lyme Disease… than ever before.
Ceramic Dental Implants to Replace Missing Teeth are Critical for Aesthetics and Health
Ceramic dental implants are healthier for the mouth and immune system. Teeth are critical for overall health, not just for aesthetics. Teeth structure and alignment affect the nervous system, digestive system, immune system, structural alignment and so much more.
Same Day Dental Crowns are an Excellent Option
Over a year ago, the Biological Dental Group at NIHA embarked on new dimension in dental services: the same day dental crown/onlay. The technology and advantages to our patients and the quality control has been nothing short of fantastic. For the first time, dentists can have total control over the quality of the lab work for the restoration process. That means precision in the design of the
The Tooth-Sinus Connection
Explaining the Tooth Sinus Connection The tooth sinus connection may be critical to understand at this time of year, as spring rushes into our lives and brings warmer weather and longer daylight. While most of us welcome the beauty of spring, for many it may be the...
Problems With Dry Mouth?
Dry mouth (also called xerostomia) is what happens when saliva flow is reduced or absent. It may be a symptom of your medical condition or medications. It is not a disease and is quite common. While it may seem like a minor condition, moist saliva is critical to the health of the mouth and has protective benefits for oral tissues and to prevent tooth decay. Extreme dry mouth may contribute to permanent mouth or throat disorders. First, let’s talk about why saliva is important. Saliva aids in killing harmful bacteria, and keeps your mouth moist, which in turn helps to prevent cavities and strengthens your teeth by restoring important minerals. Dry mouth is a common condition. Some of the most frequent causes are from certain prescription medications such as antihistamines, diuretics, antihypertensives and sedatives. Malfunctions in the salivary glands, certain autoimmune disorders (such as Sjogren’s syndrome), fear, anxiety, and radiation or chemotherapy can contribute to dry mouth. Diabetes, dehydration, chewing tobacco, hormonal imbalances, mouth breathing and sleep apnea can cause dry mouth.
Holistic Dentistry Interview from Holistic Oral Health Summit
I was recently honored to have been selected to be interviewed by the Holistic Oral Health Summit 2015. The interviews were taken from leading edge medical, dental and other health practitioners. The theme we addressed was why patients may have difficulty getting the treatment they need and how dental issues and oral health may relate to sleep issues and overall health. Even with the best of intentions some dental patients are still getting bit-by-bit treatment instead of integrated treatment.
Why We Use the Microscope in Holistic Dentistry
There are over 500 species of microorganisms in your mouth! Most of them are harmless, but some can cause gum disease and tooth decay, and also increase your potential for systemic infections by entering your bloodstream. At Holistic Family Dentistry we use a microscope because it is a simple, inexpensive, non-invasive, but extremely effective tool to evaluate the health of your mouth and to educate you in good preventive techniques.
Missing Teeth? The Negative Effects on Your Brain
The Brain Detoxes at Night New research has recently revealed that the brain is protected via nightly cleansing. During deep sleep the brain shrinks about 40-50% to flush out toxins which would otherwise accumulate in the brain. Altering this brain shrinkage results...
Symptoms of Oral Cancer
April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. More than 43,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year. Symptoms of oral cancer include sores in the mouth that will not heal, patches, chronic sore throat, voice or hearing changes, and more. See the complete list of Oral Cancer Symptoms below.
Fluoride: 70 Years of Health Misinformation?
The story of fluoride is one of obfuscation and conflicting agendas that ultimately show how detrimental fluoride may be to the consumers of fluoride. In the U.S. and several other countries, fluoride is added to the water, foods, toothpaste, and many other sources. Fluoride is a significant toxin with many unhealthy consequences. The reason 70% of the U.S. population is unfortunately consuming fluoride in their water and food is due to agendas which are in conflict with respectable scientific health studies
Understanding TMJ to Optimize Treatment
TMJ Treatment may be necessary if you have any of these symptoms: Do you suffer from problems with your jaw or have pain when you chew or yawn? Do you hear a clicking or popping sound when you open or close your mouth? Do you grind or clench your teeth? People generally do not understand what TMJ Temporo Mandibular Dysfunction is about
Magnesium, The Miracle Mineral
Every Cell in Our Body Needs Magnesium In the human body, magnesium is a miracle mineral as every cell in our body needs magnesium! It is the eleventh element by mass and about 60-65% of the magnesium is found in the skeleton and teeth. The remaining magnesium can be...
Holistic Dentistry: 5 Tips to Avoid Acid Erosion of Your Teeth
Having a diet that is highly acidic can be detrimental to your teeth and consuming acidic foods and drinks throughout the day makes the problem worse. Erosion of the teeth is a type of decay that occurs when the tooth structure is lost due to chemical dissolution by acids. Erosion will start in the enamel, which is the outer layer of the tooth, but can spread to the dentin underneath if left unchecked.
Why Choose a Biological Dentist?
The factors in the mouth which affect overall health are:
Infections of the teeth, gums, jaw bone and tonsils
Toxicity or incompatibility of dental materials placed in the mouth
The physical orientation and contact of the jaws and teeth.
The effects of these three factors affect the brain, heart, liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal system, the blood, lymphatics, immune system, our sensory organs and more.
A New Dental Weapon to Help Prevent Cavities
Plaque Causes Tooth Decay Dentists are asked nearly every day how to prevent cavities and what can be done to prevent future dental decay. The inability to remove the plaque (90% bacteria) from teeth is the cause of decay on your teeth. The bacteria in the...
Fluoride: Emerging Research may Conflict with Traditional Dentistry
In recent studies, fluoride research has increasingly been shown to be toxic and not as effective at reducing decay as once thought. Traditional dentistry touts the benefits of fluoride to prevent caries/cavities in your teeth. This has been the conventional wisdom...
Understanding pH and Why Alkalinity is Important to Health
The alkalinity level of your body will affect your overall health. What is the ideal level?
To understand alkalinity it is important to have an understanding of pH. pH is an acronym for “potential of hydrogen,” a value that indicates the acidity or alkalinity of a liquid. The measurement of the hydrogen ion concentration in a liquid determines the pH value. Every liquid has a pH value, which falls on a scale between 0 and 14, with 7 being neutral. A pH value less than 7 is acidic: values greater than 7 indicate alkalinity. Your body also has a pH value. Ideally, your blood’s pH should be between 7.3 and 7.5.
Oral Cancer: Not Just a Problem for Smokers
Oral cancer is common, and not just for smokers. April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, so now is a good time to learn the signs and get screened as part of your holistic dental check up. More than 43,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year. ...
Holistic Dentistry’s Top 5 Tips for Kids Dental Health
Starting your child out with good habits and dental care will help to ensure that they have the best chance for a healthy mouth that will last a lifetime. Baby teeth have an important role and beginning to care for your child’s teeth before they erupt should not be overlooked. The first tooth may appear at around 6 months and as soon as it starts to erupt it is at risk for decay.
What You Need to Know About a Root Canal and Your Health
As a dentist in the Holistic Family Dental Practice of National Integrated Health Associates I meet several patients every day with root canal or potential root canal issues. Most patients presenting with potential root canal issues have great misunderstandings of the issues surrounding root canals, or how a root canal can impact health.
Herbals & Techniques for Promoting Dental Health
As part of the holistic and biological dentistry approach to dental care, there are herbals which are useful to promote good dental health. Most of us have experienced the cleansing of a salt water rinse after a dental appointment or during times of mouth pain. The gentle swishing of the water and the abrasiveness of the salt cleanse and promote healing.
Sleep Issue and Fatigue Solved with a Dental Sleep Appliance
A Patient’s Story
This patient explains how her fatigue was finally solved with a sleep appliance that was created and customized for her at National Integrated Health Associates. After years of testing and trying so many things, she never thought something like this could help her fatigue and sleep issues. But it worked.
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Subscribe to National Integrated Health Associates' (NIHA) newsletter and see the latest from the Integrative Health Blog. Receive great content delivered weekly straight to you. Stay on top of the latest health news in Integrative Medicine and Holistic Dentistry, and...
Should You Be Concerned About BPA in Plastics?
BPA or Bisphenol A is a chemical that has been used since 1960’s in certain resins and plastics. It is a common ingredient in many plastics, including water bottles, cups, children’s toys, plastic containers, cash receipts and paper currency. BPA is found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are a common ingredient in containers that store food and beverages
You Need This for a Healthy Mouth
In order for us to have a healthy mouth we need to have healthy saliva. Saliva helps us to chew, taste and swallow. It keeps our mouths moist, fights bacteria and helps to prevent bad breath, gum disease and decay. If your salivary glands are healthy, your body could make up to two to four pints of saliva per day. Most of your saliva is made during the day. At night our mouths tend to be more dry.
Anxiety Free Dentistry Without Drugs or Without Going to Sleep
When it comes to sitting in the dental chair anxiety takes many forms- sweating, a queezy stomach or worse. Yet most people have some form of dental anxiety when it comes to dental appointments. Unfortunately, many people take the easy way out by avoiding the dentist altogether. Severe dental infections, great pain, severe tooth, gum or jaw bone damage can result from avoiding your dental health problems.
Headaches and Sleep Apnea
Do you ever wake up with a headache, or get one by the end of the day? Are they associated with neck pain or do you have a separate neck pain? A new study from the University of Kansas Medical Center has shown that these symptoms are strongly associate with sleep apnea. This is a new association. Non supine sleep provoked by sleep disordered breathing (as with sleep apnea) may play a previously unrecognized role in headache and cervical radiculopathy, or neck problems of the upper spine.
7 Ways to Improve Your Dental Care
Oral Disease Affects Most Everyone NIHA dentists are often asked for the best ways to improve dental care. Dental diseases are very common and the most prevalent chronic infectious diseases in the world, affecting up to 90% of school children and the vast majority of adults.But, dental disease may be prevented by using products to […]
Replace Those Missing Teeth with Ceramic Dental Implants
Your teeth serve many functions. Obviously they are critical for chewing and esthetics but more importantly if teeth are not replaced especially posterior or back teeth, that empty space will allow neighboring teeth to drift into the space formerly occupied by the extracted tooth. Without replacing that missing tooth the neighboring teeth above and to the sides will move into that space altering the way your teeth come together. That altered bite changes jaw alignment, blood flow to and from the brain as well as alters the nervous system function throughout the head and neck. Bite changes will eventually disrupt the TMJ or jaw joint.
What Your Dentist May See: Symptoms of Oral or Throat Cancer
What do you know about oral cancer? One person dies every hour from oral cancer in the United States and the mortality rate has remained unchanged for more than 40 years. The death rate associated with oral cancer is high not because it is hard to discover or diagnose, but because the cancer is discovered late in its development. Often oral cancer is only discovered when the cancer has
Root Canals and Your Overall Health
Did you catch this posting on Mercola.com “97% of terminal cancer patients previously had this dental procedure”?
The answer is root canals.
Biological dentists have been concerned about root canals and patient’s health ever since Dr. Weston Price, performed his now famous root canal experiment. Dr. Weston Price implanted root canalled teeth from patients into rabbits
Can Your Bad Dental Bite Really Affect Your Whole Body?
Yes, a Bad Dental Bite Can Actually Affect Health A bad dental bite has been shown to affect children, teenagers and adults, and be related to other health issues. Studies have been conducted in grade school kids and it has been shown that in kids with below-average...
How Does the Oral Cavity Affect the Entire Body?
Oral Health and Overall Health As a holistic or natural dentist, I am always describing to my patients how their oral cavity affects their entire body. Their immediate question is always how the oral cavity affects the rest of the body when anatomically it is relatively small. Although the oral cavity is relatively small it […]
Why Are My Teeth So Sensitive?
In order to understand why your teeth are sensitive it helps to understand the parts of a tooth. The outside layer of a tooth is the enamel. The layer underneath the enamel is the dentin and it is this layer that covers the nerve. The tooth is surrounded by the gums. What happens with tooth sensitivity is that over time the enamel wears down or thins out and the gums recede, thus exposing
Natural Dental Products for Healthy Teeth and Gums
Natural dental products can enhance daily home care for our teeth and gums. This is important and not just for the obvious reasons of keeping our teeth for a lifetime and not having bad breath, but a healthy mouth contributes to overall good health. Believe it or not, when we are taking care of our teeth and mouth we are taking steps to a healthy body.
A Key Test for Periodontal Disease
Updated Nov. 20, 2024 Periodontal Disease is an Infection Periodontal Disease is an infection, but because it occurs in the mouth, many people do not think of gum disease as an infection. And as an infection, the extent can be shown by both looking at a microscopic...
Is There a Good Sugar?
Yes! XYLITOL is a natural ingredient that can help to reduce bacteria and fight tooth decay. Xylitol first became popular in Europe as an alternative for people with diabetes. It is found in natural resources such as birch trees, corn, vegetables and fruits.
Are Bad Breath and Bleeding Gums Related to Heart Disease?
If you have bad breath and/or your gums bleed when you brush or eat, you may be at increased risk for heart disease. In fact, you may be at increased risk for many other medical problems such as premature babies or stroke, just because your gums are not healthy!
Periodontal or Gum Disease, a Chronic Disease of Mankind
According to the World Health Organization and the United States Surgeon General, one of the top chronic diseases of mankind is periodontal disease, or gum disease. This disease is important for several reasons. It is the number one cause of loss of teeth, and the main function of teeth is to allow us to eat a good diet with lots of fiber.
What’s In Your Mouth that Affects Your Health?
Biofilms, or plaque in the mouth, are bacterial cells that team up and under your gum forming clusters of unhealthy bacteria. If left alone, these bacteria will become toxic and harm the teeth and gums.
Are You Concerned About Mercury Fillings in Your Mouth?
Recently the Dr. Oz show featured Dr. Joseph Mercola D.O., discussing concern over "silver" mercury amalgam fillings, which contain 50% mercury. Concern for mercury fillings is reasonable because mercury is a toxin, and may affect overall health. Concern for...
Biofilm, Plaque and Your Dental Health
The plaque that forms on our teeth is a type of biofilm. Biofilm is a collection of many types of bacteria surrounded by a slimy substance that can stick to most everything. Biofilms can be found in our bathrooms, on our kitchen countertops, cutting boards and yes, the kitchen sink.
Root Canal Teeth and Cavitations
I have often been asked, "How can a tooth that has a root canal cause so many varied and distinct problems in the body?" After all, it’s only one tooth, or one extraction site that according to any dentist may only be a little bit infected. Root Canal and Jaw Bone...
Biological Dentistry Considers the Whole Person
Biological dentists, sometimes called holistic dentists, have advanced skills and knowledge in intervening to regain and maintain a patient’s oral health, knowing that good oral health affects overall health. The whole – person dentist must wear multiple hats – first he/she is conventionally trained, incorporating the best developing dental technologies and aesthetics that modern dentistry offers but there is much more to a holistic dental approach.
Invisalign Clear Braces to Straighten Your Teeth
State-of-the-art three-dimensional technology with Invisalign clear retainers can treat malaligned or crooked teeth. Advanced 3D computer imaging technology depicts the complete treatment plan from the initial position of the teeth to the final desired position incrementally using a number of esthetic and removable aligners.
A Holistic Dentist’s Approach to Dry Mouth
Dry mouth, or xerostomia, is a condition usually associated with reduced salivary gland flow. It affects at least one in 10 adults. In adults older than 65 the prevalence is about 25%, while in institutionalized elders it can be as high as 50%. Many oral and systemic...
A Holistic Dental Approach to Sensitive Teeth
Sensitive Teeth is a Common Problem Teeth sensitivity or "dentinal hypersensitivity" is one of the most painful and chronic dental conditions. The prevalence of dental sensitivity is 4%-57% in the general populations and an even higher prevalence in periodontal...
The Holistic Dentist says: Consider Invisalign for Straighter Teeth
According to an epidemiological study done by the National Center for Health Statistics, NCHS, 75% of people in the United States need their teeth straightened. Strait teeth are not just for good photos and cosmetic reasons! Strait teeth contribute to good oral health, the ability to chew, speak, clean teeth properly, jaw alignment, the palate, and even sleep quality.
What is Biological Dentistry?
Biological dentistry is the integration of dentistry and medicine. Biological dentists, along with a growing number of eminent clinicians, believe that the mouth is an integral part of the entire body, and should be treated accordingly. Your oral and dental health...