Holistic dentistry – treating the whole patient – Part 1

What is holistic dentistry?

You may have heard the phrase, “the mouth is the gateway to the body.” This is true in an obvious sense – our mouths allow us to intake food, water, and sometimes air. But it is also true in a deeper sense. Many problems that affect the entire body can be detected first in a patient’s mouth. However, they can only be detected if someone is looking for them. Enter holistic dentistry. When you choose a holistic dentist, you’re choosing a professional with the training and expertise to detect early warning signs and symptoms of problems that run far deeper than your pearly whites. In this article, we’ll discuss sleep apnea and other airway issues, TMD, and OMDs.

Airway issues

In survival school, they teach the rule of 3s. You can go 3 weeks without food and 3 days without water, but only about 3 minutes without air. For something so crucial, most people don’t spend much time thinking about breathing. Fortunately for her patients, Dr. Abeyta does. She is an expert in craniosacral airway issues, and knows what signs and symptoms to look for in her patients. Two of the most common airway issues in America are sleep apnea and mouth breathing.

Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a very common condition, with tens of millions of Americans suffering from it every year. Unfortunately, a vast number of these cases go undiagnosed. Sleep apnea starves the patient’s sleeping brain of oxygen, both causing and contributing to a myriad of health issues. To learn more about it, check out our sleep apnea page.

Mouth Breathing

Humans breathe in two ways – through our nose and through our mouths. So, what’s wrong with breathing through your mouth? Nothing, as long as you’re doing it at the right time. It’s natural to breathe through your mouth during exercise, or other times when your body is running short on oxygen. However, some people get into the habit of breathing through their mouths at inappropriate times, most notably during sleep.

Check back soon for Holistic dentistry – treating the whole patient Part 2