What Is a Holistic Dentist & Should You See One?

You probably already know that it’s important to see a dentist at least once a year. In many cases, people are recommended to see them once every six months. The reason is simple, finding problems early makes it much easier to treat them.

However, have you ever considered the effectiveness of your dentist and whether they are the best solution for your oral health?

Many people are turning to a reputable holistic dentist because they realize there is more to your teeth than opening your mouth for the dentist every 6 months.

This is borne out by science that shows a link between oral health and overall health.

The Holistic Dentist

Holistic dentists adopt a different treatment approach to traditional dentists. The major difference is that a holistic dentist sees your health as a whole. That means before they treat your teeth they’ll consider what other health issues you may have and how the treatment may affect them. They’ll also look at what affects the treatment is likely to have on your body.

This doesn’t mean they will only adopt herbal remedies, there are plenty of treatment options that are shared with traditional dentists.

However, it is worth noting that they won’t use mercury in their fillings. Mercury is generally considered to be safe inside a filling and has been used by dentists for many years. However, holistic dentists consider the fact that mercury is actually a poison and could cause significant damage o your body if it leaked out of a filling.

For that reason, they won’t use it, although they will still undertake fillings with mercury-free materials.

Holistic dentists also try to avoid root canal surgery as they believe it is linked to systemic disease.

Should You Visit One?

The short answer is yes. They are still trained and qualified, they have simply chosen to adopt different treatment methods in a bid to stay in tune with your overall body.

That sounds like a positive thing.

They are certainly the best option if you want to avoid root canal or metal fillings.

However, perhaps more significant is the fact that their approach will not do any harm. That means you’re free and safe to try them. You can always return to your traditional dentist if you’re not happy with the results.

Risk

It is worth noting that avoiding root canal can mean the removal of a tooth, although sometimes the holistic dentist will simply clean the canal and rebuild the affected tooth in stages.

Tooth removal does mean that you’ll have a gap which can make chewing more difficult and allow other teeth to shift position.

Of course, simply having a consultation with a holistic dentist is not an issue, it does allow you to explore all the available options.

As with anything to do with your teeth the best approach is to brush twice a day, floss, and visit your dentists regularly. This will ensure any issues are caught early enough to resolve without invasive procedures.