Originally posted in March 2008; moved to new blog on 11-4-09

The dull pain in my jaw which had persisted for months was now more than just a continuing aggravation–it was affecting my livelihood and well-being. I had endured the drilling, filling, multiple crowns and ultimately, a root canal to make the pain go away. Yet, months later something was definitely happening inside my mouth. Traditional treatments were not working.

Fortunately, a friend suggested I seek the services of a biological dentist who embraces a holistic approach to dental health. After more than two decades at a traditional dental practice and with a mouthful of amalgams, crowns and root canals, I sought relief at Whole Health Dental Center in Fairfax, VA. It was here I literally got to the root of my problems, which wasn’t really about just one tooth or a failed root canal. As I learned, good dental health is a complex combination of factors with significant impact upon general health.

From a whole health perspective, symptoms are reactions, not causes, and wellness requires fighting a complex of causes including toxicity, heavy metals, poor nutrition, emotions, postural problems and other factors which take a toll on our bodies. As a speaker and writer on creating quality connections, Dr. Liao surpassed my expectations with his exceptional service, compassion and chair side manner. He provided a thorough diagnostic dental exam and gained my trust and respect immediately. Sure enough, I had some complex dental issues and believed they would resolve with a different treatment program. A few weeks later, through a series of steps to correct my dental issues, my pain had significantly lessened but was still there.

I was scheduled to speak the next day and wanted to be in top form, so I called Dr. Liao, and he gave me a different prescription for pain: “Write in a journal for 20 minutes. Then turn up the music and dance away.” I laughed since it was certainly a different remedy but I was aware of the many influences that contribute to health. As coauthor of Dancing through Life with Guts, Grace & Gusto it certainly was worth busting a few moves.

As a dentist, Dr. Liao sees beyond a patient’s mouth. I did exactly as he suggested, writing about the concerns whirling inside my heart and head. While I was writing, I noticed an almost excruciating pain rising from the top of my foot, but it soon vanished. I then put down the pen, turned up the music and danced with gusto. When I awoke the next morning, the pain was gone! Releasing emotions by bringing them to the surface as well as de-stressing through movement and providing an outlet for release, undoubtedly helped to move out the pain.

I was fortunate to be guided to this dental practice that recognizes multiple factors impacting our wellness. My husband, who was stricken four years ago with a neurodegenerative condition, diagnosed as toxic encephalopathy,  resides in a dementia unit, wasn’t as lucky.

In my journey for answers as to what had caused Rick’s mysterious decline of both his body and brain, I learned how toxicity is ravaging the health of millions today from multiple causes. Dental issues stemming from poor oral hygiene, gingivitis, periodontal disease, failed root canals, amalgams, crowns, and corrosion of dental metals have been linked to serious medical conditions, in addition to other sources of toxicity. In seeking answers from many specialists over the course of several years, not one ever considered or suspected oral health as a contributing cause to Rick’s  health decline.

It wasn’t until years later when my own dental issues surfaced that another piece of the puzzle became apparent to me. Just a few months ago, a doctor noted Rick had several abscessed teeth. They were extracted, yet his long-term exposure to mercury from his many amalgams is suspected to be another contributing factor to his “body burden”, resulting from exposure to multiple toxic agents including lead, mold, Lyme and others. This caused permanent damage to his brain resulting in dementia in his late fifties.

From tests, it was revealed that his body is genetically compromised and unable to process out toxins which caused failings in multiple systems. As Donna Nakazawa, author of The Autoimmune Epidemic—Bodies Gone Haywire in a World Out of Balance (Touchstone, 2008), that many of the scientists she interviewed agreed that our day-to-day exposure to environmental toxins—through the air we breathe and the chemicals we absorb through our skin—is a major trigger of environmental disease.”

With toxicity now linked to causing many health problems from weight gain, fatigue, hormonal imbalances, inflammatory responses throughout the body, nerve disorders and a deterioration of general health, I advocate the importance of regular nutritional cleansing to help remove impurities, as a smart choice in our toxic times. Additionally, consulting with health professionals who understand the multiple factors related to wellness is another important step for improving or maximizing health today.  For more information on biological dentistry visit: http://www.wholehealthdentalcenter.com/carnail-dental.htm