EVERY year, tens of thousands of Guyanese needlessly suffer from a broad range of preventable illnesses. Less serious conditions such as excessive fatigue and headaches may go unnoticed, or will be incorrectly attributed to ageing or stress. Hundreds of individuals develop more serious symptoms such as arthritis, colitis, heart disease, infections, hypertension, thyroid imbalances, migraines, kidney damage and other diseases. These people will become ill for no apparent reason.

But more often than not, there is a reason for these diseases: their mouth. The renowned German physician, Dr. Reinhard Voll, based on more than 40 years of research and observation, estimated that nearly 80 percent of all illness is related entirely or partially to problems in the mouth. This important statistic would surprise almost all health care practitioners. Most physicians and dentists, despite knowing better, soon overlook almost entirely the fact that attached to every tooth is a person.

Traditional dental practices can often cause physical illness and trauma, and can actually do more harm than good. The truth is that every dental procedure is an invasion of the human system and many generate an adverse response somewhere in the body. The milder symptoms are often confused with what we have been led to believe are the normal side effects of stress-filled lives or the natural ageing process.

By now you are probably wondering why then go to the dentist if there is the distinct possibility of acquiring something negative? Well, that may explain why a new breed of dental practitioners is emerging. These dentists are offering important alternative solutions to traditional dental practices. While for obvious reasons the profession’s name cannot be officially changed, many refer to the new concept as Whole-Body Dentistry.

Consider for a moment that the human body entirely comprises billions of tiny particles of energy. Within this energetic system, there are pathways called meridians. Every organ and every part of your body is directly linked to a specific tooth or area of the mouth via these meridians, or energy highways.

This connection is so strong that any dentist embracing the concept of Whole-Body Dentistry can often accurately “guess” your dental history simply by reviewing your physical symptoms.
For example, a patient came to me with chronic sinus problems which seem to have no cause or cure. Without even examining him, I immediately asked if he had any root canal work done on his upper molar, which relates to the maxillary sinuses. He was amazed that I “guessed” correctly and further conversation revealed that the sinus problem started after the root canal therapy. The offending tooth was removed and within a week, the sinusitis disappeared. Needless to say, this is by no means a common occurrence.

It can often be that simple. The new concept makes the dentist look like a detective, sorting through a series of clues and signals and putting the information together in a different way to discover the real source of problems. Often extracting a misaligned or offending tooth will alleviate a whole host of seemingly unrelated physical symptoms in a matter of days. Some problems will actually correct in the chair. You cannot underestimate the impact of your teeth on your entire body’s health.

It is critical that patients appreciate the relationship between their mouths and the rest of their bodies, so they can participate in their own treatment decisions.