Show #110: Dr Lewis Ehrlich: Your holistic dentistry questions answered Part 2

Dr Lewis Ehrlich is a highly sought after holistic dentist who graduated from James Cook University (JCU) with the Academic Medal. With a background in professional sport and his passion for holistic health, Lewis focuses on the link between oral health and general overall health in his practice - it's why you'll never hear a bandaid solution for an oral health concern in my interviews with him! 

Before studying dentistry, he completed a Bachelor of Science at Northeastern University in Boston, USA after receiving a soccer scholarship where he played for 2 years. He then moved to Reykjavik, Iceland where he played professional soccer before moving into dentistry and now practicing at Sydney Holistic Dental.  

This show, part 2 of two that I'm recording with Dr Lewis (go back for the 1st one last month!), is the result of my asking the Low tox club chat group and alumni course groups if they had any ongoing concerns and questions about oral health - from teeth (grinding / enamel / cavities) to gums to oral microbiome to jaws to treatments and appliances and preventative health. There I was thinking I was going to be doing a show on grinding and appliance options with ‘a few' questions from you guys but when 100+ questions quickly presented themselves, I changed tack and turned it into a two part “All your holistic dentistry questions” answered. So in this show, part 2, we talk:  

• Cavities and fillings 
• Preventative oral health 
• Miscellaneous trouble shoots from grinding to tongue ties to geographic spots and so much more! 

Head over to lowtoxlife.com/podcast for all the details.  

Here are the questions answered in this second FAQ with Lewis and we twist and tangent on all things oral care in between:  

On fillings and cavity protection:

At a dentist a few years ago, my 5 yr old had 3 fillings told me it was bad luck and there was nothing I could do. Dietary improvement was my first thing. What else? 

I have tried using natural toothpastes and they all cause mouth ulcers and corners of my mouth to crack really bad? I really want to use natural toothpaste but I'm unsure which ingredient may be causing this? Any suggestions?? Thank you.

I'd be interested to hear about what toothpaste (glycerine or no glycerine) and/or toothbrush (electric vs manual) he recommends for children. I've read so many different opinions on this topic, particularly in relation to the glycerine in toothpaste issue, so any brand recs would be great. 

would you mind asking Dr. Ehrlich if there is any actual benefit to using toothpaste, or is it just an added bonus to make your breath fresh and your mouth feel like it's had a good clean because you can "taste" the clean. I read somewhere recently that there's no real benefit to toothpaste, that it's the brushing and flossing that actually is the most important part of the process. 

On preventative oral health 

What does he think of Weston Price's research on teeth -diet prevents over crowding, don't remove wisdom teeth, root canals can cause heart disease?

Does he believe vitamin d / k2 supplementation universally necessary for kids? 

How do you change your mouth microbiome, with symptoms such as bad breathe, metallic taste, white tongue, excessive saliva? I know there is a correlation with gut dysbiosis and the bacteria imbalance starting in the mouth. And working on the gut is key to changing the way the gut and body functions, but are there ways to change the mouth microbiome in order to get a head start on changing the gut microbiome.

I have receding gums. I'm wondering if this is due to poor diet or brushing my gums too hard ( I like to get it really clean), and what natural remedies I could try before seeing a traditional dentist? 

Anything to help get kids to look after their teeth...?

We've just been recommended to brush with kids fluoride toothpaste and then after rinsing pop more on the back molars that are showing signs of decay. Are there any alternatives? It's my 4yo with the issues. 

On trouble shooting miscellaneous issues 

What causes grinding and how to fix?  

My son has a ‘geographic' spot on his tongue. ( changes location all the time) What could be the causes? Is it a sign of something more problematic? 

Teeth clenching and how to stop it! I'm having to wear a mouth guard at night and I've heard miss 4 grind her teeth

Tongue tie - I've recently been told by a holistic dentist that I have a partial tongue tie - had no idea and I'm sure there are loads of people like me. She said it goes hand in hand with jaw clenching and teeth grinding. My question is how important is it to have corrected. I figure I've made it past 50 years of age without knowing - maybe I can let this one slide.

Chromogenic bacteria, how does someone get this over night (or the dark coloured appearance anyway)and what's the best solutions for it? 

If you cannot go to a holistic dentist for whatever reason, what to look for in a dentist or dental practice?

Love to know more about breathing and connection with the teeth I am reading that if we don't breathe correctly that's the reason our mouth is crowded etc? 

Mouth taping for kids. Can you do it? Who do you need to consult/see before it's considered appropriate? 

My 8 year old has a small jaw and not enough room for his teeth, he has poor teeth as well. his gums have white marks on them above the teeth, would love to know why his gums have these marks. We eat organic only, low tox, Whole Foods diet and lifestyle... can't work it out.  

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