Dr. Weston Price, probably the most influential figure in modern dentistry, investigated underlying ways in which both dentistry and diet might be linked with disease. Today the Price-Pottenger Nutritional Foundation in Lemon Grove continues to provide educational resources to the public. Dr. Price’s work has also inspired a book called Cure Tooth Decay by Ramiel Nagel, which describes a father’s success in re-mineralizing his toddler’s decayed teeth with nutrition.
Dr. Price found that one of the most important nutrients in diet that impact the health of teeth and bones was the body’s ability to metabolize calcium. Today we know that Vitamin D, is one of the key factors that determines the body’s ability to absorb and utilize calcium. Vitamin D, “the Sunshine Vitamin,” can be absorbed through our skin. It is not actually a vitamin but a fat soluble hormone that allows our body to synthesize the calcium it needs through the liver and kidney.
Vitamin D can be obtained with supplementation and also in limited amounts from foods, the most notable being cod liver oil. Our bodies also store Vitamin D in the liver and in fat, so adequate exposure during spring and summer can sometimes see us through the winter months!
The phytochemicals in whole organic foods that are loaded with the vitamins, enzymes and minerals to support our immune system are often found in the parts that people throw away! The rinds, stems, seeds and skins have special properties that make them anti-aging, anti-disease, anti-viral and anti-fungal. Many people are discovering the joys of blending their meals. 2 and 3 horsepower appliances like the Vitamix and the Blendtec blender can pulverize most any foods – including pits! – creating healthful meals out of whole fruits and vegetables.
Carey O’Rielly DDS has been a practicing dentist for 35 years. He went to USC Dental School and Duke University for his undergraduate degree. He grew up in Laguna Beach and now lives in La Costa with his wife Victoria, who runs his office.
He began his career by owning and operating a network of six offices in the San Francisco Bay Area. Presently he owns a private holistic practice in North County San Diego’s Encinitas.
Dr. O started looking for solutions to his health challenges that resulted from the stress and environmental toxicity that built up over a ten year period running his dental network. He has dedicated himself to learning about oral systemic problems and how dentistry can affect your health. He has applied what he has learned over the last twenty years to ensure he, his staff and his patients are protected from the chemicals and toxic materials found in most dental offices. He has produced an environmentally friendly office that is also peaceful and calm.
He is an expert on dental materials having looked at hundreds of biocompatibility lab tests over the years. He has identified the most bio-friendly materials to use in his practice and which dental materials can be used to replace metal fillings and crowns, including BPA free and fluoride free ‘white’ fillings. He also uses metal-free Zirconia or ceramic implants and PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) grafting materials which come from the patient’s own blood.
Dr. O’Rielly teaches C.E. courses on the systemic effects of gum disease. He is an expert in using phase contrast microscopy for analyzing dental infections, where he shows patients what kind of microbes, i.e. bacteria, amoeba, and yeasts like candida are populating the mouth and affecting the body as a whole.
He has an educational blog and is writing a book on dental health called ‘Hidden Dental Infections: Healing Root Canals and Infected Teeth with the Erbium Laser’ where he discusses dental nutrition, toxic dental materials and the effects of old root canals on inflammation and overall health.
