The Relationship Between Poor Dental Health And Autoimmune Thyroid Conditions

Those who have been reading my blog posts for awhile realize that there are many different factors which can trigger an autoimmune response, and thus lead to the development of an autoimmune thyroid condition.  But most of us don’t think about the potential impact that poor dental health can have on our entire body.  The truth is that there are numerous problems with the teeth and gums which can potentially lead to conditions such as Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, as well as other conditions.  So this is probably one of those posts that you’ll want to forward to your family members and friends, as poor dental health can cause many different health conditions.

In this post I’m going to focus on three of these problems.

1. Mercury Fillings. I’ve written about this in the past, and the good news is that many people are already aware of the impact that mercury has on their health.  I speak with more and more people who have gotten their mercury fillings replaced with white fillings.  However, there are many people who still have mercury fillings.  Some are aware of the health risks involved with mercury fillings, but they can’t afford to get them removed, or just haven’t gotten around to doing so.  To be frank, while mercury can potentially trigger an autoimmune thyroid condition such as Graves’ Disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, people with these conditions need to be extremely careful about having silver fillings removed, as this can also exacerbate the immune system…even if done by a biological dentist.  So while everyone eventually should get their mercury amalgams removed, you want to be smart about doing this, and many times it isn’t wise to do this when initially beginning a natural treatment protocol.

Mercury not only can trigger an autoimmune thyroid condition, but it can also directly bind to the thyroid gland.  When this happens it usually will result in a hypothyroid condition.  Mercury also will interfere with some important minerals that are required for the synthesis of thyroid hormone.  These minerals include zinc, selenium, and magnesium.

While removing any mercury fillings will help greatly, often times this isn’t enough to get rid of the mercury from the body.  This is where a heavy metal detoxification protocol or something like sauna therapy or chelation therapy can help to remove the mercury from the body.  Just keep in mind that some of these procedures can also remove some of the minerals from your body, and so you probably will want to be under the guidance of a competent healthcare professional rather than do this on your own.

2. Gingivitis. One of the keys to restoring someone’s health back to normal is to get rid of the inflammation.  But there are many different factors which can lead to inflammation.  One of the most common factors I speak about is one’s digestive health.  For example, consuming foods that you’re allergic or sensitive to will lead to inflammation.  And if this is the case, then you obviously will need to eliminate these foods from your diet.

But what about a severe case of gingivitis?  I’m not suggesting that inflammation of the gums is a major culprit behind autoimmune thyroid conditions such as Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.  On the other hand, this isn’t something that can be overlooked, as gingivitis is a source of inflammation that has been linked to an increased incidence of cardiovascular problems.  So if someone is following a natural treatment protocol and their digestive health is fine, and other commonly compromised areas I have discussed in the past (i.e. adrenals) are also in good health, then one shouldn’t overlook the health of the gums.

So while everyone should of course brush their teeth a few times a day, floss daily, and get checked regularly by a dentist, perhaps it’s even more important for those with autoimmune thyroid conditions to focus on proper dental hygiene.  While this may not play a big role in a person’s recovery, it still isn’t something to be overlooked.

3. Root Canals. This is going to be somewhat controversial, as there seems to be a lot of evidence that root canals can lead to numerous health issues.  Of course if you were to bring this up to most mainstream dentists then they will tell you that this is a myth, and that root canals are completely safe.  On the other hand, if you were to see a biological dentist then they probably would tell you to do everything you could to avoid getting a root canal, even it meant getting the tooth extracted.

I’m not going to get into too much detail about this, but the fear is that after the root canal procedure, even with the sterilization procedure performed bacteria can still be in the root canal treated tooth, which can lead to an infection, and can potentially lead to certain conditions.  For example, since every tooth correlates with a specific body meridian, having a root canal on a tooth that correlates with the liver meridian can potentially affect the health of the liver.  Similarly, if the tooth that correlates with the thyroid gland is affected then this can potentially lead to a thyroid condition.

Does this mean you should not get any root canals, or have teeth removed that have already had a root canal procedure performed?  This is obviously your decision, as of course nobody wants to lose any of their teeth.  On the other hand, if there is the potential that a root canal can lead to certain health issues, such as an autoimmune thyroid condition, or another health problem, then this is something that needs to be considered.  Biological dentists have their own opinions, as do mainstream dentists, and so I would encourage you to do some of your own research and come to your own conclusions.

Finding A Biological Dentist

I have great respect for “general” dentists, as most of them do a great job of correcting cavities, taking care of dental emergencies, and helping people maintain their dental health.  But if you’re looking to get any mercury fillings removed, or if you’re just looking for a dentist who takes a more natural approach, such as not using fluoride during professional cleanings, then your best bet is to see a biological dentist.  You can find a biological dentist by doing a search online for the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT).  You can also visit your local health food store and ask around and see if anyone can recommend a competent biological dentist.

There admittedly aren’t many of these dentists in practice, and so in some cases you might have to drive a few hours to see one.  But if you’re looking to get mercury fillings removed then it is usually well worth the inconvenience.  You do need to be careful, as I’ve come across some dentists who label themselves as “holistic dentists”, but this doesn’t necessarily mean they are biological dentists.  In fact, there is a “holistic dentist” located in my town who recommends fluoride treatment and root canals, which are usually opposed by biological dentists.

In summary, having poor dental health can potentially lead to an autoimmune thyroid condition.  So having mercury fillings, gingivitis, and/or a root canal can all be primary factors in these conditions, and of course can lead to the development of other conditions as well.  This doesn’t mean that most cases of Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis are caused by poor dental health, as this probably isn’t the case.  But for anyone who is looking to achieve optimal health, it is important not to overlook this aspect of healthcare.