Your mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body.
Understand the jaw-dropping realization that your bite, mouth and jaw are highly influential in all your body ailments.
The mouth is the portal to the body. Optimise that.
ABOUT OUR GUEST: DR. RON EHRLICH
Dr. Ron Ehrlich, is one of Australia’s leading holistic health advocates, educators, a podcaster and an author, with over 40 years of clinical experience.
Dr Ron Ehrlich has developed a holistic approach to health and wellness, which includes a comprehensive model of how the various stresses of our modern world impacts our lives.
Dr Ron is in clinical practice and continues to see patients at his group practice, the Sydney Holistic Dental Centre in Sydney CBD.
In 1996, Dr. Ron gained his Fellowship in Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (FACNEM). He is immediate-Past President of the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (ACNEM).
Dr Ron is also co-founder and board member of Nourishing Australia, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to informing, educating and inspiring people about the critical importance of healthy soils, nutrient-dense foods, and sustainable farming, bringing together principles of holistic healthcare and holistic farm management for the health of people, communities and ultimately, our planet.
In 2019 he was awarded a Fellowship from the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine (FASLM).
Dr Ron’s passion is to convert confusion to clarity and information to knowledge. To empowering individuals to fulfil their potential, take control of their health, build resilience and be the best you can be.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
Dr. Ron’s morning routine (Dinacharya)
Bodily cleanses: rinsing of nasal passages, tongue scraping and gargles
6-10 rounds of salute to the sun (Surya Namaskar)
Rotational and extension movements
Intensive workout for 10 minutes
Dentistry as a profession
How Dr. Ron became introduced to holistic dentistry.
Dentistry being the job with the highest suicide rate of all, and also the worst job for the practitioner’s health (according to the US Department of Labor) – 950 jobs were measured in this annual report.
The dangers of mercury and it still being used in patients’ mouths for tooth fillings
Precautions a dentist can take on the job to reduce health risks.
Why is attending to the health of your mouth important?
Teeth are needed to chew food so as to make the nutrients more bioavailable to be absorbed and digested.
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New studies link a person’s ability to chew, to their cerebral cognitive function.
The size and shape of your mouth (and teeth) determines that of your upper airway, therefore it predisposes you to have (or not) certain bodily dysfunctions such as:
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Mouth breathing instead of nasal breathing
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Sleep disordered breathing (most common disorders being snoring or having sleep apneas but there is over 80 of them)
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Other cardiac conditions due to oxygen deprivation.
An unbalanced bite, teeth clenching and/or teeth grinding may cause chronic musculoskeletal pains (chronic headaches, neck aches, etc.)
Gum health being connected to cardiovascular disease, strokes, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, low birth weight in children, some forms of cancer, erectile dysfunction and more.
The mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body and therefore it is key in building health and resilience throughout the body.
The two most common infections in the human body are in the mouth: gum disease and tooth decay.
The five pillars of health
Sleep, breathe, nurish, move and think. Further developed in Dr. Ron’s book (link available in “resources”).
Mouth Microbiome
There are approximately 700 different species of microbes in the mouth alone.
The inside of the mouth is pink due to the proximity of many blood vessels to the surface of the skin. If the unhealthy microbiome enters your bloodstream then the toxins will be carried to the rest of the body perpetuating disease.
Highly acidic foods and foods high in sugars and carbohydrates changing the mouth’s microbiome to be much more pathogenic (disease provoking).
Chewing fennel and cardamom seeds reduces the acidic quality in the mouth.
Suizz studies on the effect of the stone age diet on the human mouth.
Snoring
Why is it that snoring occurs?
An ayurvedic solution to snoring is playing the didgeridoo, the conch shell or any long pipe for that matter, as they exercise the muscles around the pharynx and the back of the throat.
Using a Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD) to stop snoring and have better sleep quality (also serves as a solution for sleep apneas).
Why is breathing through your nose fundamental? Mouth breathing vs. Nose breathing.
- 60% of the nitric oxide in the body is being produced through paranasal breathing.
- Snoring and sleep apneas and their relationship with Prana (life force).
Mouth taping: its origins as a russian breathing technique called Buteyko, how to properly do it, doing a diagnostic test and some of its possible outcomes.
Sleep Apnea according to Ayurveda
Sangha Srota Dusti – Pranavaha srota and udakavasrota.
Vitamin D deficiency can play a role in the manifestation of Sleep Apnea
Cikitsa (treatment):
- Panchakarma – The five actions that profoundly eliminate toxins from the body and mind.
- Swasaksantak leham, available in the Vital Veda shop HERE
- Smriti, available in the Vital Veda shop HERE
- Sipping hot water. For more info on this read the following article on how to shed toxins from your body by drinking hot water HERE
Acidic drinks
The ayurvedic approach to starting the day.
Sodas and kombucha are very acidic and should be taken in moderation as they alter the pH of the mouth.
How frequently should we visit the dentist?
It is essential to get a comprehensive oral checkup to actually know how healthy your mouth currently is.
“No pain, no problem” doesn’t apply to your mouth: 90% of oral health problems have no pain associated with them.
If you have no fillings in your mouth, it is advised to go to the dentist once every 8 months or every year. If you have fillings, every 6 to 12 months. If you have a history of gum disease, every 4 to 6 months.
Toothpaste
Natural and unnatural.
Most of them act like a soap / detergent and break up the mucosa of the mouth.
Fluoride being present in toothpastes and yet ingestion being a health hazard.
Organic toothpaste being a good alternative.
Practicing mindfulness while brushing your teeth.
The use of charcoal being too abrasive and with little actual effectiveness.
Flossing
Is it important to floss daily? It actually depends, but long story short: yes.
Oil pulling for gingivitis and gum inflammation. For more information on Oil Pulling check out our article on this process, and you can also buy Gandusha Oil Pulling Oil in our shop HERE
Regenerative agriculture
It is a combined solution to harvest quality nutrient-dense foods, manage climate change and regenerate soils for future use.
RESOURCES
Dr. Ron’s podcast: “Unstressed with Dr. Ron Ehrlich”
Dr. Ron’s book: “A life less stressed: the five pillars of health and wellness” – Free downloadable PDF HERE and Amazon link to purchase Kindle, audiobook or paperback editions HERE.
Dr. Ron’s website.
Dr. Ron’s Instagram: @drronehrlich.
Link to Bupa Dental Cremorne clinic (holistic dentistry) with Dr. Philip Stein in New South Wales HERE
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