| Allan I. Abolafia, D.D.S. |  |
Allen W. Ackerman, D.D.S. |
| THE TOOTH TRIBUNE |
Healthy Body - Healthy Teeth
More and more every day, doctors and other health care practitioners are taking an holistic approach to wellness. What that mean in terms of your teeth is that in order for your teeth to be healthy, you need to maintain total body healthfulness. Every aspect of your life style
from smoking to drug allergies to eating habits, are elements which can affect the health of your gums and teeth.
What is the best advice that both conventional and alternative dentistry have to offer? Maintaining a regular routine of proper brushing and flossing is certainly on top of the list. Vying for first place, however, is cutting back on all processed and junk food, not just on sweets. The results of recent research suggest that, for example, people who eat too little vitamin C (for healthy gum tissue) and calcium (for healthy bones) nearly double their risk of periodontal (gum) disease in later life. If you don't eat a well-balanced diet, you may need a multivitamin plus calcium and vitamin C supplements. Talk to your doctor about what is best for you.
One of the hottest topics in whole-body health has been the controversy over mercury/amalgam fillings. After extensive research and reviews of scientific literature, the U.S. Public Health Service has concluded that the only clear danger to patients from amalgams ("silver" fillings) is if they are specifically allergic to amalgams. This substantiates the American Dental Associations' previous conclusion that mercury amalgam, which is still the most durable and affordable filling material, is safe.