A Message from Dr. Tom:

I've spent my entire dental career specializing in patient education and preventive dentistry. My new book, Healthy Teeth-Healthy Body: How to Improve Your Oral and Overall Health is the culmination of what I've learned over the past 30+ years.

Gum (Periodontal) Disease, Overall Health, and Tooth Decay

All tooth decay and gum diseases are of bacterial origin. What is commonly referred to as dental disease is actually two separate diseases: tooth decay and gum disease. You can have one without the other or both simultaneously.

While the basic cause of tooth decay and gum disease is poor oral hygiene (due mainly to a lack of patient education and/or motivation) other factors are involved. Diet, smoking, vitamin deficiency, genetics, and exposure to toxic substances, such as mercury from amalgam fillings, can also contribute to dental disease. The more advanced form of gum disease (periodontitis) is far more harmful to overall health.

The Relationship Between Oral and Overall Health

The damaging effects of dental disease are not limited to the teeth and gums. It can and does negatively impact the overall health of the body. Yet, as destructive as dental disease can be, most people, including many dentists and physicians, still believe that the damage it does is limited to the oral cavity. But the fact is that numerous scientific studies no longer support that long-held assumption. We now know that gum disease can contribute to and increase the risk and severity of:

• heart attack
• respiratory disease
• stroke
• osteoporosis
• diabetes
• digestive disorders
• low preterm birth weights

It can also severely stress the immune system and lower the body's resistance to infections. If you don't address your existing oral health issues, especially gum disease, your overall health will continue to suffer.

About Mercury Amalgam (Silver) Fillings

Mercury is the most poisonous, non-radioactive, naturally occurring substance on our planet. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that there is no safe level of mercury - not even one atom is safe! The fact is that mercury can directly or indirectly cause, contribute to, or make worse every health issue we will ever deal with.

The fact is that mercury can directly or indirectly cause, contribute to, or make worse every health issue we will ever deal with. It's a scientific fact that toxic mercury vapor is continually being released from amalgam fillings. 80% of it enters the body and accumulates in your cells. Over time, your body becomes less and less effective at removing mercury. It may take years for enough mercury to accumulate and express a related symptom, but make no mistake, the accumulation is poisoning you every step along the way. We also know that chronic mercury poisoning from amalgam fillings can make it more difficult to treat and heal gum disease.

For more information about how mercury affects the body and how it does its damage, I suggest reading The Poison in Your Teeth: Mercury Amalgam (Silver) Fillings ... Hazardous to Your Health. Once you learn how devastating it is to your health, you will be dumbfounded as to how the ADA can possibly continue to support the use of this poisonous material.

About OraMD: How OraMD Supports Oral Health

I'm often asked if I could recommend natural products that would further enhance my philosophy of improving oral health. In my efforts to find such products, I discovered a company, Trusted Health Products, Inc. that has developed OraMD®. Trusted Health's mission is similar to mine; helping people effectively deal with gum disease and other oral health challenges. They have demonstrated that, when used correctly, their product can be a substitute for toothpaste, mouthwash, and even breath mints. It's an all natural product containing 100% pure essential oils of peppermint, spearmint and almond - and has shown itself to be a phenomenal bacteria fighter.

I recommend OraMD® as an excellent companion to the practices outlined in my book, Health Teeth-Healthy Body: How to Improve Your Oral and Overall Health. If you use OraMD® and follow the instructions in this book, I have no doubt you'll see positive changes in your oral health.

I wish you the absolute best as you continue on your journey to improved oral and overall health.

About Dr. Tom McGuire, DDS:

Tom McGuire, DDS, has over 30 years experience in the field of patient education. He is a leading authority on holistic dental wellness, preventive dentistry, mercury amalgam (silver) fillings, chronic mercury poisoning, and mercury detoxification. He is the president of the Dental Wellness Institute, founder of the International Association of Mercury Safe Dentists (IAMSD) and co-founder of New Directions Dentistry (NDD).

His books have been published in Great Britain, Canada, and the Netherlands. He has appeared on national television and many popular magazines and major newspapers have published articles on him, such as: Newsweek, Time, Business Week, Medical World, Esquire, Reader's Digest, The Christian Science Monitor, Publisher's Weekly, Prevention Magazine, Let's Live , New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Detroit Free Press, Wall Street Journal, and the San Francisco Chronicle.