How Your Teeth Are Connected to Your Health & the Rest of Your Body
You may already know that the health of your mouth has a direct impact on your whole-body health. But did you know that specific teeth may correlate with certain organs and that one can impact the other? We explore this bidirectional relationship and how it works below.
What Are Tooth Meridians?
Tooth meridians are energy pathways that connect each tooth to specific organs, glands, and parts of the body. The concept of a meridian comes from Traditional Chinese Medicine, which teaches that energy flows through certain channels in the body. This theory suggests that channels are the same for all humans and that a problem in one part of the body can impact other parts that fall along that same channel or meridian.
Understanding the Tooth Meridian Chart
The tooth meridian chart provides a visual depiction of which tooth impacts which parts of the body:
This means that, according to Chinese medicine, an infection in your top back teeth could affect your heart and small intestines. Vice versa, an infection in your kidneys could cause problems with your front bottom teeth.
Is the Tooth Meridian Chart Real?
The concept of tooth meridians belongs to alternative medicine, which some practitioners consider controversial. Fewer scientific studies are conducted on alternative medical practices, which affects the availability of trustworthy data about them. While many dentists and patients have had success with treating ailments based on the tooth meridian chart, it is not yet widely accepted in Western medicine.
How Your Oral Health Connects to Your Overall Health
Irrespective of the tooth meridian chart, it’s scientifically proven that your oral health has a deep connection to your overall health. For example,
- Periodontal disease, or gingivitis, increases a person’s risk for heart attack by almost 50%. (American College of Cardiology)
- Certain oral bacteria increase the risk of developing beta-amyloid proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease. (National Institute on Aging)
- People with diabetes are over 300% more likely to experience gum disease. (Frontiers)
The data clearly shows that infections in the teeth and gums can negatively impact other parts of the body, making regular dental care and good hygiene critical for overall health.
How a Holistic Dentist Can Help
At Green Dentistry, we take a holistic approach to your dental health. This means we look at your oral health through the lens of your whole-body health and use biocompatible materials that have few to no side effects. Working with a holistic dentist means optimizing your wellness from the inside out so you can live fully while feeling great.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment with San Francisco biological dentist Dr. Nammy and experience the difference that holistic dental care can make. Call now at (415) 578-7544 to get started.
What Our Patients Have to Say
“Since Dr. Patel has been taking care of my dental health, I have noticed an overall improvement in my health. She helped me connect the dots between my dental health and all other diseases in the body. No other dentist I’ve been to has this been this kind, in-depth and holistic. Her techniques are modern and safe. She is always educating herself to give her patients the best of everything. I love every visit!” – Vita, November 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do holistic dentists use tooth meridians?
Holistic dentists can use tooth meridians to better understand how dental issues might be causing health problems or unwanted symptoms in other areas of the body. For instance, an infection in tooth 28 or 29 could explain why a patient is experiencing stomach pain, bloating, and acid reflux.
Will my health issues improve after dental treatment?
If a problem with your tooth is affecting something in your body, symptoms are likely to improve after dental treatment. Often, this has nothing to do with tooth meridians and is the result of treating the root cause of a systemic problem.
An example of this might be if you are diabetic and have periodontal disease that is making your blood sugar difficult to control. Getting a deep cleaning and removing bacteria from underneath your gums can help stabilize your glucose levels since high sugars are a known symptom of the body trying to fight off infection.
