Gum Disease Prevention Guide
Find Mercury Safe Dentists and Mercury Free, Holistic Dentists
Healthy Teeth-Healthy Body: Book
The Poison in Your Teeth: Book
Mercury Detoxification & Gum Disease Supplements
Watch Dr. Tom McGuire's Video: Mercury Amalgam Fillings; The Poison in Your Teeth
Program Guide: How to Use the Program
Participation in my Prevention Program is easy. Simply follow the steps in the Program Guide displayed below.
Step One—Review the Dental Disease Prevention Program
If you haven’t done so already, read Welcome to The Program, Why It Works, along with the information on this page.
Step Two—Read Healthy Teeth-Healthy Body: How to Improve Your Oral and Overall Health
If you don’t already have a one, order a copy of Healthy Teeth - Healthy Body book. The book is full of helpful information but if you want to be successful in your efforts to eliminate dental disease and improve your overall health you MUST read the sections and chapters listed below:
- The two Introductions: “For the Patient” and “For the Dentist/Hygienist”. These will give you a good idea as to what the book is about, what it can do for you, and how to use it more efficiently.
- Chapters 1 through 5 and chapter 8. All other chapters are optional. I recommend that you browse Healthy Teeth's Table of Contents to see if any other chapter interests you.
I’ve no idea how much information you already know, it could be 80% of what you need to understand, or it could be 10%. But by the time you finish those chapters you will have accessed 100% of the information you will need to free yourself of gum disease and tooth decay. I can tell you up front that if you’ve ever thought that eliminating this disease was the responsibility of the dentist, and all you had to do was go to him or her twice a year to have your teeth cleaned and repaired, you're making a painful mistake. The truth is that no amount of dental treatment has ever prevented dental disease—and you must be willing to establish and commit to an effective oral hygiene home care program.
Step Three—What’s Left
There are five other steps you must take to ensure the success of the Dental Disease Prevention Program.
1. How to Find a Dentist
If you don’t have a dentist and hygienistyou will absolutely need to find one to support your efforts to eliminate gum disease and tooth decay. There are two key aspects to restoring your mouth to health and function. The first is to determine the damage done to your teeth and gums and have it treated. In most cases the treatment needed can only be done by the dentist and hygienist. The second is your personal oral hygiene program. This can only be done by you. Both are necessary to achieve total oral health.
Removing mercury-amalgam (silver) fillings is a separate issue and if you want more information about the health hazards of the poisonous mercury vapour released from these fillings you I highly recommend reading: The Poison in Your Teeth: Mercury Amalgam (Silver) Fillings . . . Hazardous to Your Health. If it turns out you are dealing with the health hazards of both amalgam fillings and gum disease, a mercury free dentist will safely remove your amalgam fillings and support your Dental Disease Prevention Program. Access the largest and most comprehensive directory of Mercury Safe Dentist and Mercury Safe, Holistic Dentists.
2. Periodontal Pocket Chart
If you don’t know what that is, you’ll find out once you read the chapter on Working with the Dental Hygienist. The periodontal chart is most effectively used as a guide that shows you where the gum disease is and the severity of the infection. With this information, you will know which areas to focus on and where to spend the most time and effort. Once you have had your pockets charted, the dental staff will show you what it means, how to read it, and how to use it as a guide to making your home hygiene program even more successful. Make sure you get a copy of this chart to take home with you because this will be your roadmap to oral health.
3. Establish a Relationship with the Dental Hygienist
Studies have proven that any type of wellness program will be more successful if it is monitored and supported. I agree completely. While a book can contain valuable information it doesn’t have eyes, ears, mouth, or hands. Thus it can’t see how well you are doing, listen to and answer your questions, or actually do the work for you. Nor can it pat you on the back and acknowledge your effort and progress. To really make this program effective you will need someone to monitor and support your program. That person is the dental hygienist (Or dentist if he or she is acting in the capacity of a dental hygienist.).
The role of the dental hygienist is so important that I’ve devoted a separate chapter to show you how to effectively work with her or him. The dental hygienist will be able to work with you to customize the program to fit your needs. The dental hygienist rarely sees a patient who is already educated and motivated about oral hygiene like you will be. This will be a special opportunity for her and I can assure you that she will be there to support you and encourage your efforts, and you won’t be judged or criticized.
Psychologically and emotionally it’s important not to dwell on the past. You can certainly learn from it but you don't need to live in it. If you now have dental disease, you must fully understand that whatever you did or did not do in the past has not worked for you and changes must be made. It may sound trite, but if something doesn’t change it will always remain the same, and in regard to dental disease I don’t think that is what you want. But the past is the past and there is no need for blame, guilt or shame. So take heart in the fact that you will no longer be a dental victim and the success of your dental wellness program will now be in your hands. It will also mean you’ll no longer have anyone to blame, and that is very good news.
4. Bring Your Questions
I highly recommend reading the suggested chapters before you go to your next dental hygiene appointment. As you read the book always write down any questions you have, no matter how silly you think they may be, and take them to your dentist and hygienist. Please don’t feel embarrassed; you are not only paying them to treat your dental problems but to answer your questions. I suggest using the space provided at the back of Healthy Teeth - Healthy Body , or a small notebook, so you can not only keep track of your questions but also write down the answers to them. I’ve found that unless they are written down it’s easy to forget them, even important ones. Remember, dentists and hygienists don’t have crystal balls so it’ll be up to you to communicate your needs.
5. Customizing Your Program
Once you’ve read the material in the book, had your oral/periodontal examination, had your teeth cleaned, asked your questions and had them answered, you’ll have taken the first big step toward customizing your Dental Disease Prevention Program to fit your unique situation. The chances are good that you’ll have new questions between hygiene appointments so again, remember to write them down and bring them with you. With the information in the book, the support of your hygienist, and your motivated efforts, it won’t be long before you’ll not only be free of gum disease and tooth decay, but have a customized prevention program that is designed to perfectly fit your situation.
Now It’s Up to You
Ultimately, the success of this program will be in your hands. The information and support you will receive by participating in it will take you to a place where you will be able to make an educated choice—that of choosing health over disease. In choosing to take control over your oral health you will cease being a victim of this health destroying disease. You will also increase your resistence to other diseases, improve your overall health and actually live longer.