As a dental health advocate, I've seen firsthand how our modern diet has shifted dramatically from the diets of our hunter-gatherer ancestors, leading to widespread dental issues. Because of this well-established connection, which is not taught in dental schools, I always educate my new patients and colleagues about it. I get a more receptive audience from my patients, not my colleagues, whose livelihood depends on their ignorance. In this post, we'll explore how our oral health has deteriorated since the adoption of agriculture and what we can do about it. Here's a look at six critical areas where our dietary changes have had significant impacts.
Read MoreDr. Weston A. Price's research on the human diet has stood the test of time, offering insight into the role that traditional diets play in overall health. Price correctly identified the detrimental effects of "displacing foods of modern commerce," such as refined sugar, white flour, and processed oils, on dental health and physical development. He also highlighted the importance of fat-soluble vitamins, such as A, D, and what he termed "Activator X" (now known as vitamin K2), found abundantly in animal-based foods. However, modern research adds another layer to Price's conclusions: the importance of chewing harder, unprocessed foods to develop a healthy jaw and straight teeth. This blog explores how these two factors—diet and chewing—work together to ensure optimal health.
Read MoreWhen I started out as a dentist, I believed that if people would simply avoid sugar, brush twice daily, floss once a day, come in every six months for their cleaning and check-up, and use fluoride, they would be fine. I was wrong. I had good company; many dentists believe that the problems our patients suffer are their fault. There is much more to understand, and it has been omitted from dental education curriculums, leaving dentists and their patients bewildered. This post will explain why this is so, why it happened, and what we can do to solve the problem.
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