A Model For Health

One model of optimal health includes

• N (nutrition)
• E (exercise)
• A (avoid toxins and microbes)
• T (tranquillity/peace of mind)

The avoidance of toxins (restorative materials) and microbes (gum disease, tooth decay, jawbone infections) is central to our practice of dentistry.

Another model of health recognises the influence of stress on our lives but defines stress in a particular way.

We recognise that stress affects our health and we define stress as a combination of:

• Emotional - the pressures of everyday life
• Environmental - things we are exposed to which can compromise our health
• Postural - work, exercise and sleep positions
• Nutritional - what we eat and drink helps build, maintain and repair our body
• Dental - there are several aspects to consider
  • Biomechanical - the way the teeth fit together affects muscles in the back of the neck and may contribute to headaches and neckaches.
  • Infections - in the gums, teeth and jawbone have been shown to affect cardiovascular disease, non-insulin dependent diabetes and many other conditions.
  • Materials - we ensure that the material we use in your mouth are strong enough, look good, will last and contain no toxins.

The avoidance of toxins (restorative materials) and microbes (gum disease, tooth decay, jawbone infections) is central to our practice of dentistry.

Another model for health identifies six defects that predispose us to health problems and lead to disease.

The aim of each of us, practitioner and patient alike, is to achieve optimal health.

Just because we are not sick or do not have an identifiable illness does not mean we are as well as we can be; enjoying optimal health.

We would like to promote the concept of the Health Model. This Model is markedly different from the Disease Model that is currently the basis of traditional health practice.

The Health Model addresses health from a broader framework than the conventional approach. Six defects have been identified that are common to every degenerative disease. Each of these defects has symptoms, which appear in the mouth to varying degrees. For someone to be completely well, these six must first be identified, and then addressed in a particular order.

The Six Defects - Signs & Symptoms in the Mouth

pH(Acid/Base)Imbalance-Acid or Alkaline Imbalance

This is a condition in which the pH of body fluids are out of balance, leaning generally to the acidic side. In health, the body makes every effort to remain alkaline, but this is made difficult by the volume of acid produced by normal metabolism. Rarely does the body experience 'alkaline stress'. Acid stress occurs far more often ... when alkalinity is lost due to the acid challenge. Acid stress sets the stage for infection and underlies 80% of all diseases.

Oral symptoms include bone resorption, tooth decay, yeast infections (candida), bacterial infections (gum and bone infections).

Anaerobic Metabolism

In health, the body derives energy from a mix of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, but favors high-energy aerobic metabolism over low energy anaerobic metabolism. As the energy pendulum swings towards the anaerobic state (which generally coincides with acidity), fatigue, disease and infection begins to set in. A near total switch to anaerobic metabolism accompanied by severe acid stress results in cell death and disease. This is typical of heart attack and stroke.

Oral symptoms include bone resorption, tooth decay, yeast infections (candida), bacterial infections (gum and bone infections).

Free Calcium Excess

In health, 55% of serum calcium is bound to protein or alkaline buffers, while 45% is left unbound in the "free" state (55% bound: 45% free). As the ratio narrows, resulting in an excess of free calcium, the body experiences calcification, bone resorption, and alterations in cell signaling, resulting in a wide range of diseases. The list especially includes heart disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, and cancer.

Oral symptoms include calculus on the teeth and calcium deposits

Chronic Inflammation

Inflammation, when acute helps the body to repair itself, fights infections, deal with cancer and handle toxic exposures. Chronic or prolonged inflammation begins to fail its intended purposes, thereby raising the risk of infection, toxicity, and all disease conditions, especially heart disease, arthritis and cancer.

Oral symptoms include periodontitis tissue destruction

Connective Tissue Breakdown

Connective tissue makes up the body's superstructure and guy-wires that literally hold the body together. Enzymes produced by chronic inflammation, combined with damaging free radicals and alterations in the other sub-clinical markers assessed, cause a breakdown in connective tissues. Failure to use proteins, or a deficiency of proteins, is often fundamental to this problem, which is characteristic of aging and all chronic diseases.

Oral symptoms include bleeding gum loosen teeth, periodontal diseases

Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress occurs when protective anti-oxidant status falls short of what's needed to handle the output of damaging free radicals. Free radicals are extremely reactive chemical entities that arise normally from metabolism, and also from toxic exposure. An excess amount of free radicals relative to anti-oxidant capacity leads to uncontrolled oxidation that destroys cell components and destabilises healthy cell function, laying the groundwork for disease, infection, and disability from aging and toxicity.

Oral symptoms include aging, fissuring of the lips, dry skin, cheilosis (corners of the mouth inflamed)

Download

"Holistic Dentistry- an overview of the issues" by Dr Ron Ehrlich (published in May 2003 for the 9th International Holistic Health Conference presented by the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association).