How Holistic Dentists Manage Dental Infections

Rather than just treating individual teeth and gum issues, holistic dentists view the mouth as an integral part of the body's overall health. According to them, this means infections and inflammation in the mouth can impact the rest of the body. Likewise, imbalances elsewhere in the body can manifest in the oral cavity.

The Holistic Approach to Infection Treatment

The main ways holistic dentists manage dental infections are:

• Treat the whole body - They search for any underlying issues that could be contributing to the infection susceptibility.
• Use biocompatible dental materials - They avoid placing toxic materials that could impair healing.
• Prioritize minimally invasive options - They focus on options like silver diamine fluoride before resorting to root canals.
• Support the body's defenses - They utilize natural supplements and diet changes known to boost immunity.
  
  

Assessing Contributing Factors

One of the first things a holistic dentist will do when treating an infection is to search for anything that could be contributing to infection susceptibility. This includes:

• Medical history analysis
• Medication review.
• Lifestyle review.
• Oral ecology testing.
• Biocompatibility testing.

Based on these assessments, the dentist can detect the cause of the infection and then develop a tailored treatment plan.

Using Biocompatible Materials

Holistic dentists avoid using toxic materials. Instead, they choose high-quality ceramic, resin, or zirconia materials, tested to ensure biocompatibility.

For temporary fillings, holistic dentists avoid antibiotics and harsh antiseptic pastes. They often use biocompatible pastes containing healing ingredients like aloe vera, neem bark, or turmeric. They may also utilize ozone therapy to support healing before placing a permanent restoration.

Prioritizing Conservative Treatments

Whenever possible, holistic dentists prioritize the most conservative treatment options first before considering root canals or extractions. They have specialized training in minimally invasive techniques that support the body’s natural infection-clearing mechanisms. These include:

Silver Diamine Fluoride

Silver diamine fluoride (SDF):

• Kills bacteria - The silver ions can penetrate decayed areas to kill infection-causing bacteria.
• Harden decay - The fluoride strengthens the weakened tooth structure, preventing bacteria from burrowing deeper.
• Neutralize toxins - Silver ions neutralize damaging enzymes and acids produced by bacteria.

SDF stops an active infection in its tracks. This allows the dentist to take a more conservative approach.

Ozone Therapy

Ozone therapy utilizes ozone gas to kill bacteria while also stimulating blood flow to improve the body's healing abilities.

Laser Therapy

Laser light has photo disinfection effects, killing bacteria embedded deep within the tooth’s inner structures.

Oral Probiotics

Much like an infection in the gut, harmful oral bacteria can sometimes overrun the mouth’s natural balance.

Holistic dentists prescribe oral probiotic supplements containing strains that displace pathogens. This supports the body’s defenses.

Supporting the Body’s Defenses

They also use therapies to help reduce inflammation while also providing the body with the tools it needs to complete the healing process.

Dietary Support

They may recommend eliminating inflammatory foods while prescribing therapeutic supplements shown to support dental healing.

Stress Reduction

They educate patients on stress management techniques like meditation, yoga, or counseling. Addressing high-stress levels helps prevent recurrences while supporting healing.

Detoxification

Toxins, chemicals, and heavy metals accumulate through our environment, impairing immune cells. Holistic dentists may recommend gentle detoxification methods like dry brushing, saunas, or liver support supplements. Removing toxins bolsters healing capacities.

Ozone Therapy

The same ozone therapy used to disinfect infections also improves local blood flow and oxygen delivery. This provides infected areas the nutrients and immune cells needed to heal while flushing out toxins.

Common Infections and Their Treatments

The specific treatment plan a holistic dentist develops depends on the type of infection present. Here is an overview of common infection types and typical holistic treatment approaches:

Cavity-Related Infections

Cavity infections occur when decay reaches the soft inner pulp tissue of the tooth. Bacteria rapidly multiply inside this moist, enclosed environment. Without treatment, it progresses to:

• Irreversible pulpitis.
• Necrotic pulp.
  

Conservative Treatment Steps

• Assess contributing factors
• Remove decay/restore tooth with biocompatible filling
• Use SDF to kill bacteria and harden remaining decay
• If pulp exposure, perform pulp cap/partial pulpotomy to maintain pulp vitality
• Use ozone therapy to stimulate healing
• Recommend probiotics, vitamin D, CoQ10 to support defenses
• Repeat ozone, SDF periodically to prevent recurrence
  
  

Gum Disease Infections

Toxins released by bacteria trigger chronic inflammation, enabling the infection to advance deeper. This often leads to:

• Gingivitis - Early-stage gum infection. Reversible with treatment.
• Periodontitis - Later stage infection with bone and tissue loss around teeth. Can cause tooth loss if untreated.
• Abscess - Pus formation creating a gum boil, indicating bone infection.
  
  

Treatment Steps

• Oral ecology testing to identify pathogenic bacteria
• Full mouth disinfection using ozone therapy
• Deep cleanings to remove bacteria-harboring tartar below the gumline
• Anti-microbial phototherapy light therapy
• Recommend oral probiotic regimen
• Follow up with ozone therapy periodically

By rebalancing oral flora, the body can better manage these infections on its own. Supporting the body’s defenses helps prevent recurrences.

Post-Procedure Infections

After invasive dental treatments like implants, extractions, or injuries, infection risk increases due to exposed tissues and blood flow disruption. Signs include:

• Delayed healing
• Pus discharge
• Swelling and redness
• Bone pain
• Feeling ill
  
  

Treatment Approach

• Clean the area gently but thoroughly
• Use antimicrobial phototherapy light therapy
• Apply ozone oil to disinfect and increase oxygenation
• Prescribe antibiotics only if the infection is rapidly worsening
• Recommend post-procedure supplements like vitamin C, zinc
• Repeat ozone therapy until the area heals fully

The goal is to support post-procedure healing to prevent infection proliferation. Close follow-up ensures proper healing.

When Antibiotics Are Necessary

While holistic dentists avoid overusing antibiotics, severe infections unresponsive to conservative treatments may require them.

Reasons for prescribing antibiotics include:

• Infection spreading quickly through facial tissues
• Systemic signs like fever indicating bacteria entering the bloodstream
• Compromised immune system unable to clear an infection
• Facial swelling affecting the airway
• Intense, unrelenting pain

Ideally, antibiotic use is limited to the initial infection clearance while other holistic therapies support complete healing. Follow-up care focuses on preventing recurrence and supporting long-term oral health.

Referral to a Specialist

Severe tooth infections may require referral to an endodontist (root canal specialist) or oral surgeon.

For example, a holistic dentist in Houston, TX may refer a patient because of:

• Infection not responding to conservative treatments
• Infection requires tooth extraction and replacement
• Diagnostics like a root canal or biopsy are needed
• Patient prefers to skip conservative steps and undergo invasive treatments

However, the holistic dentist provides input to ensure all materials and procedures used are as biocompatible as possible. They also share their assessments so the specialist can understand all contributing factors.

Post-procedure, the patient follows up with the holistic dentist for supportive integrative therapies. These help prevent infection recurrence and optimize healing outcomes.

Maintaining Oral Health

While holistic treatments aim to clear infections with minimal invasion, prevention is key to maintaining oral health. By understanding what caused the infection, patients can make lifestyle changes to support their natural defenses.

Holistic dentists educate patients on the importance of daily oral care and may provide guidance on:

• Diet analysis to ensure adequate micronutrient intake
• Oral probiotics to maintain a balanced oral microbiome
• Stress reduction techniques
• Options for biocompatible dental materials
• Avoiding potential immune disruptors like tobacco or environmental toxins
• Follow-up assessments to detect any recurrence early

Through nutritional support, stress management, oral ecology balance, and conservative treatments, holistic therapies give the body the best chance of overcoming dental infections. This approach aims to get to the root causes so the body can maintain oral health with less chance of repeat infections.

The holistic approach manages infections by assessing the whole body, using biocompatible materials, prioritizing conservative treatments, and supporting natural defenses. This enables long-lasting oral health.