Natural Holistic Dentistry

20/08/2023

SUGAR FEST!!
Recently I had a day procedure at a local hospital. This was the dessert that accompanied the very small, slightly nutritious main. Even in my post Anaesthetic haze I had to note down the total sugar content:
Apple juice: 10.67 g
Ice cream: 22.3g
Jelly: 20g
Custard: 13.3g
TOTAL: 63 grams!!!
The sad thing is the regular convalescing patient would be forced to eat it all, otherwise they’d be hungry. I find it disgraceful that this junk is fed to people who desperately need optimal nutrition.
How about a small tub of unsweetened Greek yoghurt and a small fruit and veg salad, even some cheese?
Our perceptions of ‘good foods’ desperately need to change

27/03/2022

Some tips on early tips that might prevent the need for braces

HOW to GROW STRAIGHT TEETH

These recommendations are based on the research of Weston A Price and other progressive Dental Professionals.

Disclaimer: I failed on all of the steps with my 3 children, partly because I didn't have all the knowledge and partly because, like many parents, I picked the battles I felt I could handle. As they have grown I have taken remedial steps where I can.

1. At birth, check for ties and other oral restrictions. Tongue and lip ties are most common. Dimples look cute but are also a sign of tethered tissues. If you decide to get these released in your baby, make sure you choose an experienced qualified practitioner. (I personally do not treat babies).

2. Breastfeed till one year if possible. Do not use dummies or bottles and choose a sippy cup with a spout, not a straw. (Failed miserably in this area, all my kids had bottles.) Get their first dental check before the age of 1, so form and function can be checked.

3. Make sure the baby has their lips together when sleeping. You may need to gently hold them together. If your baby cannot breathe through their nose, or breathes heavily seek an opinion with a paediatric ENT specialist.

4. When the baby starts solids use baby led weaning techniques, make sure the baby is closely supervised in case of choking. Feed them fibrous foods that require a lot of chewing. This does make an almighty mess and is another thing I did not do. When feeding the child with a spoon, do not stroke their cheeks as this stimulates a suckling reflex. The ideal diet according to Weston Price advocates is rich in vegetables, pastured meat, a small amount of fruit and free of all grains and sugars. Ensure the diet is rich in essential fatty acids and high in essential nutrients such as Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium, Zinc and Selenium. (Given I was raised in an Indian family rice and lentils are a big part of our family diet. )

5. After the age of 1 the use of a myomunchee or other chewie tools to help strengthen the orofacial muscles.

Throughout childhood, ensure nose breathing continues. The ideal posture for dental development is tongue to the roof of the mouth, lips together and breathe through the nose. Plenty of exercise, sunshine and walking outside with bare feet are also essential for optimal growth and development.
Baby teeth should ideally be spaced and the palate a wide oval shape.

24/10/2021

Sustainable farming... the more people know, the more small changes we can enact

FARMING and the ENVIRONMENT

This isn't a post about Dental Health, but I personally think it's important information. We hear a lot about protecting the environment by decreasing carbon emissions from cars, burning coal etc, BUT I only just learned that modern farming practices have a big part to play in releasing CO2 into the environement. Crops such as soy and corn are grown using a heavy dose of pesticides and a principle called monocropping. This means only one type of crop is grown in the field.
Regenerative traditional farming practices don't tend to use fossil based fuel and fertilisers. Regenerative practices have also been shown to sequester CO2 from the environment year after year...reversing global warming.
So if you aren't a gardener what can you do?
1. Source regeneratively farmed produce (including meat) from local farms where possible, (organic doesn't always mean sustainably sourced)

2. Eat like we did in the 70s. Less processed food, and seasonably available produce.

I'm interested to hear feedback on this topic and the if anyone feels compelled to share to spread the word, I’d appreciate it

12/10/2021

Nature vs Nurture, there are some elements of Dental Crowding we can Control
(If you like this page follow us at Vitality Dental Tuggerah)

IS DENTAL CROWDING GENETIC??

The answer is both yes and no. A detailed analysis of stuides in an orthodontic journal found that yes, crowded teeth and jaw shape may be genetic, that means inherited from the parents. But, malocclusions (dysfunctional bites) are not.

This is where EPIGENETICS plays a part. Epigenetics refers to external factors that influence genetic expression. Epigenetic factors can include mouth breathing, thumb sucking or even sleeping on one side of the face. Identifying and correcting epigenetic factors early can help reverse epigenetic influences on orthodontic problems.

19/09/2021

Vitamin ‘N’ature is great for our mental, physical and even dental health!
Listen to my latest podcast with Dr for more about Vitamin N and strategies for taking care of your mental health
Find the Mind Body Mouth podcast on iTunes, Spotify or Stitcher

03/08/2021

5 SIGNS YOUR SLEEP IS KILLING YOU!!
1. You wake up exhausted
2. You snore
3. You feel like you are being suffocated in your sleep
4. You have trouble focusing
5. You need to go to the toilet more than once a night

All of the above can be symptoms of sleep apnoea or sleep disordered breathing. Either your nose or pharyngeal airway or both are blocked and preventing you from getting sufficient oxygen while you sleep. This is critically important because sleep is the time our body is ‘taking out the rubbish.’

For more information listen to my interview with ENT specialist Dr David McIntosh. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-5-is-your-sleep-killing-you-with-dr-david-mcintosh/id1473350798?i=1000447357941

07/02/2021

Dr Vijaya Molloy This week in our ‘guide to feeling good’ series, we’re talking to my good friend, holistic Dentist Dr Vijaya Molloy. She is the owner and

25/11/2020

Why MINDFUL EATING really matters!!
Our body has two nervous systems, The Sympathetic and Parasympathetic. The first takes care of flight and fight type responses. It becomes active when we are in stressful situations, the second is necessary for subconsious functions such as breathing and digesting our food.

These two systems cannot be effective if they are both active at the same time. If you eat on the go or while you are stressed and angry your parasympathetic system is unable to effectively function. This means that your food will not be well digested. Consequences could be indigestion, heartburn, failure to effectively absorb nutrients and in general just feeling crappy. If you simply must multi task ....(and hey who doesn't have too at times) at least take a few slow deep breaths before and during your meal, this helps turn on that parasympathetic system.

vitalitydentaltuggerah.com.au
Taking care of your whole body through your mouth!! 🙂

21/09/2020

What position do you sleep in?

Are you a back, side or tummy sleeper??
Sleeping on your back is thought to be the most beneficial sleep position (unless you snore!).
In growing children spinal sleeping reduces pressure on the facial bones to help create a more symmetrical face shape. The back and neck are also kept in a neutral position which means less pain and discomfort on waking.
Back sleeping also helps relieve build up of sinus tension, you'll also wake up with less creases and wrinkles on your skin.
We can't control what we do at night but if you like the idea of back sleeping, you could try falling asleep with a pillow under your knees or if you need too build a pillow fortress to help maintain your position.

13/09/2020

Same service, different name