Holistic Dentistry

Dr. Kelly and a patient from Victorville, CA

When most people think about taking care of their mouth, they assume they are just taking care of their teeth and gums by preventing issues such as cavities and gum disease. However, the state of your oral health affects more than just the structures found in your mouth. Your oral health is connected to the health of the rest of your body. Taking care of your mouth not only prevents oral health issues, but it also helps to protect your whole-body health and your quality of life. At Kelly Smile Dentistry, we practice holistic dentistry, which helps to prevent not only oral health conditions but conditions that can impact the health of the rest of your body as well.

The Link Between Oral Health and Whole-Body Health

Believe it or not, maintaining your oral health is crucial to maintaining your overall health. Your mouth serves as the entryway into your body. Your gums can provide access for bacteria to get into your bloodstream. Gum disease, which causes your gums to swell and pull away from the surfaces of your teeth, allows bacteria in below the gum line. Damaged teeth can allow bacteria in through the interiors of your teeth. Once the bacteria get into your bloodstream, they are then free to travel throughout your body, wreaking all kinds of havoc. Poor oral health is commonly associated with:

•	Heart disease. Bacteria triggers an inflammatory response. In your bloodstream, this causes the blood vessels to swell, which then restricts the flow of blood. This can lead to hypertension, heart attack, and stroke.
•	Diabetes. When your blood vessels are swollen, it can affect your blood sugar, as well as affect the ability of your body to use insulin.
•	Respiratory issues. Inhaled bacteria can multiply in your lungs, causing serious respiratory problems.
•	Complications during pregnancy. Pregnant women with untreated gum disease are at much greater risk for preterm birth as well as having an infant with low birth weight.
•	Depression. When you have gum disease, it can affect how you feel about yourself. Your confidence may plummet. It can also impact your social life and your intimate life.

Holistic Dentistry

Holistic, or biological, dentistry is an approach to dental care that is concerned with more than just the condition of your mouth. It also takes your physical and mental health into account as well. With holistic dentistry, we use a combination of natural and conventional treatments to prevent, diagnose, and treat some different issues that affect your mouth.

What Makes Holistic Dentistry Different?

Holistic dentistry looks at more than just your teeth and gums. In addition to the condition of your mouth, we also take your overall health into account. We also consider how the condition of your mouth affects the rest of your body. We go above and beyond just recommending a better oral hygiene routine to keep prevent cavities and gum disease. Depending on your needs, we may also recommend lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking and drinking or recommend nutritional changes. One of the biggest focuses of holistic dentistry is the avoidance of toxic materials. For instance, rather than using amalgam fillings, which consist of 50% mercury, we use composite resin fillings. We also do not use conventional X-rays. Instead, we use digital X-ray technology, which uses electronics to capture your images instead of radiation. If you are interested in learning more about holistic dentistry, and how we can help you to optimize your oral and overall health, contact Kelly Smile Dentistry today at (442) 229-0766.