29/07/2018
Dr. Michael schuster:
Friends,
Other than Dr. Westin Price's book Degeneration Regeneration, the best book in my library
is HUMAN LIFE STYLING. Price was a dentist. One of his favorite quotes"
"Store bought food leads to store bought teeth."
Price, an anthropologist, studied DIET and DISEASE throughout the world. Price was able to
related DENTAL HEALTH to TOTAL BODY HEALTH. Where dental caries was rampant, for example,
giving birth was difficult.
DENTAL CARIES constituted the earliest signs of DEGENERATION. Every student of mine for the past
40 years has received a copy of his book, DEGENERATION and REGENERATION.
Every patient of mine since 1975 received a copy of HUMAN LIFE STYLING which is filled with the
research and evidence that DENTAL DECAY and PERIODONTAL DISEASE are a direct cause of DIET.
FOOD it turns out is the most POWERFUL DRUG we take into our body..
FOOD can extend life or limit life.
It starts with me, and it starts with you. The best thing that happened to me was that I developed
a bleeding ulcer from DISTRESS, POOR DIET and OVERWORK when I was 28! How could a 28 year old
develop a disease as I did. LIFESTYLE was the cause and it also become the CURE.
What I was eating.
What my stress level was.
The lack of exercise...all led to a bleeding ulcer.
I lectured in New York recently on the dramatic transformation that my Grandson, Brandon, made by taking
control of his LIFESTYLE. At 19 with sleep apnea, diabetic tendencies and 40 pounds overweight, he became
an ACTIVE PARTICIPANT in his OWN HEALTH...changed his DIET, began a regimen of EXERCISE, and shifted from
being passively involved in his LIFESTYLE to becoming a HEALTH COACH, teaching and coaching others regarding their
own health.
Reversed his own HEALTH CONDITION within a year, lost 40 pounds, reversed his chronic degenerative disease profile
just as most of us can. (Who's chronic disease has not progressed too far!)
We get so used to seeing patients with DECAY, ACTIVE GUM INFLAMMATION, ROOT CANALS that we think it's normal.
Disease is normal?
I proposed to the group I spoke to that we, as dentists, see DEGENERATIVE DISEASE often before it advances into a
full blown CHRONIC DEGENERATIVE DISEASE such as Heart Disease, Diabetes, Cancer...
We can do both....we can help, guide, assist our patients to adjust, modify, or change their LIFESTYLE and then we
can repair past damage from disease and care for the oral system in a manner that Protects their existing dentition, joints, muscles,
etc. Note that those who put HEALTH FIRST, end up doing 4-5 times the amount of definitive dentistry than those who focus only
on treating the symptoms of disease.
Not every patient wants this, but unless they understand that the choices they make determine their health and their
disease...unless each person understands the PRIME CAUSES of DISEASE, how can they make a choice that is in their
best self-interest. I found in time that ALL my patients wanted HEALTH because ALL my patients were referred by patients
that I have worked with.
Remember: in time, you attract patients to you that are rather like you. They share your values, your beliefs, and believe
in your 'philosophy of health'.
Your future is in your hands. I grew tired of 'putting out fires' and 'treating the symptoms of disease', but it was my own
sickness that got me started on my own health path. I'm not perfect and don't pretend to be, but I work at it every day,
every meal, in all my activities...I want to integrate my beliefs into every facet of my life and practice.
Far more patients are interested in a HEALTH is 1ST approach than there are dentists to provide it. It's too easy to
just fill or better yet, crown the teeth.
I'm still learning and am still actively engaged in my own Health.
I'm going to my in house gym for my 60 minute morning work out?
What's in your wallet...no what's in your schedule today.
Also, what's on your Plate today?
Like LD Pankey said to me one morning in Houston when he saw my wife and I coming back from a morning run.
"The best thing to save for your Old Age is Yourself!"
The only reason for writing this is to help you and then for you to help your patients.
HEALTH IS A CHOICE. DISEASE IS A CHOICE.
Every thing we put in our bodies and everything we do TO our bodies is a choice.
Dr. Mike Schuster
