Too many Americans suffer the life-changing and debilitating health consequences of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Medications may help to improve and relieve some of the symptoms caused by these problems, but they rarely address the underlying health concerns. It is my experience that many of these chronic inflammatory conditions can be dramatically improved when digestive health and nutritional balance are addressed. Gum disease and cavities are chronic oral health problems, and as Dr. Ellie explains in this book, toothpastes and rinses can reduce sensitivity or mask bad breath, but the real reasons for these problems are frequently ignored and may become more serious conditions over time.
For decades, I have witnessed amazing, drug-free recoveries from many kinds of health issues. These recoveries often appear miraculous when viewed through the lens of traditional medicine, but healing is standard operating procedure for the body when it is provided with adequate support and nutrition. Today, more people have an interest in critically examining their diets, looking for ways to improve their general health, avoid disease, and even reverse health conditions, yet in this search, oral health is often forgotten. Today, we see more clearly than ever before the importance of the mouth as a contributor to the whole-body health puzzle and the fact that dental treatments are not necessarily your only choice.
Of course, a big problem can be sorting through all the information available and deciphering truths from myths. Mouth Care Comes Clean helps to do this, discussing science-based research in an easy-to-understand format. Dr. Phillips’ career has been in private practice in Europe and the United States, as faculty at the University of Rochester, as a pediatric specialist and clinic director at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health, and as a dentist in senior and special-needs communities. Sometimes we need a wide-angle lens to see more clearly, and it is my experience that some of the best medical advice runs contrary to commonly held beliefs and accepted establishment thinking.
As a nutritional pharmacist, I believe we are moving toward an era where patients, empowered with good advice, should expect to enjoy a lifetime of health and minimal need for medical or dental treatments. This book is a valuable introduction to updated dental concepts, and it should be a must-read for anyone who wants to improve their oral health and learn how to avoid chronic dental disease and the damage it can cause.
—Ben Fuchs, RPH, nutritional pharmacist, founder of Truth Treatments Skin Care, host of The Bright Side radio program, speaker, author, and health advocate