THE DENTAL CYCLE · You see the dentist for your bi-annual cleaning and check-up, and a cavity is “discovered”. You have the filling placed and at the next cleaning appointment

THE DENTAL CYCLE | 1

THE DENTAL CYCLE

WHAT IT IS AND

WHY YOU WANT OUT?

by Dr. Christian Hahn


Dental Visit - Find a (new)

Problem

Continuous Breakdown Results In

Worsening of Condition

Temporary Relief -

Underlying Cause Ignored

Insurance Dictated Treatment - Treat Pain Not

Cause

WHAT IS IT? You see the dentist for your bi-annual cleaning and check-up, and a

cavity is “discovered”. You have the filling placed and at the next cleaning appointment another filling is needed. Repeat this for the foreseeable future and there you go - you are in the Dental Cycle.

Frequently this Dental Cycle is closely related to your insurance benefits, not your actual needs. Meaning, you see the dental hygienist two times a year because your insurance pays for two visits per year. You get one exam per year because the dental insurance company pays for one exam per year, and you get a certain number of fillings per year because, you guessed it, that is what insurance companies pay for.


It is also important to note that should you have an actual need for dental insurance due to some kind of trauma, for example maybe a car accident that knocks out your 4 front teeth, then the insurance companies cap benefits around $1500 per year, a number that has not changed in decades. This may have been a lot in the 1970s, but today that often does not even cover the cost of one crown. And, as you also probably know, they don’t usually pay 100% of the procedure. Is there any surprise that some of the wealthiest companies in the world are insurance companies?

It would be more accurate to call dental insurance a “dental benefit”.

Dentists often get stuck in the Dental Cycle as well, drilling and filling so many teeth each day that they forget that people are attached to these teeth. It is a business, and unfortunately many dentists need to focus on the teeth to make a living, not the people.

Who is your doctor? The insurance company?


Time is money, and the cheaper the dental treatment is the less time a dentist can spend with a patient. Quality is directly related to time, as dentistry is actually a quite demanding profession requiring concentration and skill, and of course, time. Here is where the dilemma really begins. The “payment” that a dental insurance company gives a dentist who is “in-network” is directly related to the “average” cost of dental treatment in that dentist’s area. Kentucky, for example, has been ranked nearly dead last in oral health for many years now, and you guessed it, average dentistry there is cheap! Dentists keep trying to get more business (patients to work on) by undercutting the competition's price, further driving down their profit which requires the dentist to do more work on more teeth to make a living. Insurance companies constantly adjust the fees that these dentists have to subscribe to, reflecting the “average” cost of dentistry in their area. Quality just goes out the window. It is a game of “how much dentistry do you need to do to make a living, not what should you do for the patient to help them escape the Dental

Cycle.”

Who do you think loses in this scenario?

You do. This is why you tend to get higher quality dentistry in areas such as Florida, California and New York, as even the average insurance dentist gets paid enough from insurance companies to deliver better quality care. This is the main reason most quality dental practices are out-of-network with insurance companies. The quality practices focus on getting you out of the Dental Cycle, not just treating the resulting decay.


HOW DO YOU GET OUT OF THE DENTAL CYCLE?For a dentist to be able to help you get out of the Dental Cycle they need to have a good understanding of why you are in the cycle in the first place.

For the most part, decay is due to acid from poor nutrition, medications, or lack of saliva and neglect (accumulation of bacteria).

Once the reason for the decay is discovered treatment can begin.

Each patient has a unique situation and a different approach is required. This takes time, and as you know, time is a luxury that does not exist in insurance driven practices.

The solution to getting out of the Dental Cycle is simpler than you might think. All you need to do is

pass each of the Stability Phase components:

STABILITY PHASE COMPONENTS• Infections• Decay• Function• Nutrition• Oral Hygiene


A new patient exam with Dr. Christian W. Hahn evaluates each component of the Stability Phase. Your mouth is a window to your overall health!

INFECTIONS Infection (and inflammation) is the most important component, as infections affect your entire body. Bone and tissue infections have been closely linked to just about every major ailment (from Diabetes to premature birth). Your whole body health is directly related to oral infections and hence this should always be priority #1.

DECAY Tooth decay can be painful and will eventually lead to a root canal infection or tooth loss, hence it is priority #2. Decay is just the result of an underlying condition that will need to be addressed later, most likely nutrition.

FUNCTION Each tooth has a specific function. Molars(back teeth) are for chewing and anteriors(front teeth) are for incising. Problems arise when teeth wear down, contact incorrectly with the opposing teeth, or are stressed beyond their ability, such as in grinding or clenching. Not much unlike a car and its tires – they wear down unevenly if the alignment is off. A properly aligned jaw functions better and longer. It is not only the teeth that suffer in a poorly aligned mouth, but the TMJ (Temporomandibular, or jaw joint). Once the function of the teeth is corrected, we want to slow down the natural breakdown and wear of teeth. This is done with a properly adjusted custom nightguard/splint which protects both the teeth and the joint. Most nightguards that I see are just not fitted correctly and do more harm than good.


NUTRITION You are what you eat. A well balanced diet, as organic as possible, is the key. I cannot over emphasize how your nutrition shapes everything about you – from the size and alignment of your jaw to the strength and health of your teeth.

We hear a lot about different “diets”, yet over the past few decades human health has dramatically deteriorated while the treatment options by drug and pharmaceutical companies, and doctors, has increased. Coincidence? I think not.

Processed foods have destroyed our health and misled the public through constant misleading marketing campaigns. Our jaws are not growing enough so wisdom teeth don’t have enough room. This has been great for oral

surgeons and orthodontists, but unfortunately mostly entirely unnecessary. Studies show that all teeth fit into the jaw and were straight prior to people switching to the “modern” diet of processed foods. Airways (your sinus and breathing space) developed correctly due to proper growth, allowing for better Oxygen consumption and consequently better energy levels and health. Proper nutritional awareness is the most critical component of our health! Some simple advice to start:

1. Use a small plate2. Eat slowly, wait 20 minutes and drink

lots of water (8 oz glass) before deciding to get more food

3. Often cravings can be satisfied by simply drinking some water

4. Avoid processed foods (things that are not provided by nature), sugar and diet foods

5. Minimize meat consumption - follow my Quick Fit Diet

There are many quality nutritional programs, but they can be overwhelming and difficult to follow. Stay tuned for a completely new approach to healthy living coming soon - my QUICK FIT DIET. I have created some nutritional guidelines to help you achieve optimal oral health – Dr. Hahn’s Nutritional Recommendations section.


ORAL HYGIENE Proper personal oral hygiene is critical. You can have the best dental cleaning in the world but 99% of the time you are responsible for your own oral health. For most people cleaning your teeth after each meal, at least twice a day, for no less than two minutes is the bare minimum (you get a C for this). Proper nutrition actually can lower this requirement to once a day. Flossing is more important than brushing. Yes, read that again. If you have to pick one, floss. Bacteria can live between your teeth and there is very little you will be able to do about that. Your tongue continuously cleans your teeth, and so do your cheeks. Avoid acidic

mouthwashes (most over the counter mouthwashes such as Listerine and Scope are very acidic) and chemical bombs (such as fluoride) – use natural mouthwash (sea salt, natural mint and xylitol) as well as natural toothpaste. Let your hygienist set your re-care schedule (how often you should see the hygienist), not your insurance company. I am not a fan of Colgate Total or Crest Pro Health and advise my patients not to use these products as I have seen tissue sloughing (strings of tissue, white slime, peeling of in mouths of patients that use these products). It probably has something to do with the chemicals in these toothpastes and triclosan (low level antibiotic).


RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS

SPRY Toothpaste – 2-3 times per day

SPRY Xylitol Gum – 5+ pieces per day

Rotadent, Oral B or Sonicare Automatic Toothbrush – which ever you prefer

Thin Bristle Toothbrush – Soft, thin bristle manual toothbrushes

Xylo-Salt Mouthwash – Xylitol and natural sea salt mouthwash (make your own)

Reach Access Flosser – before brushing at least twice a day

Super Floss – before brushing at least twice a day

Xclear Nasal Spray – mornings and evenings

MI Paste – if needed for sensitivity or to fight decay

Water Pick/Irrigator – once per day


c

DR CHRIS NUTRITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

What is nutrition? Here is the

wiki definition:

Nutrition (also called nourishment or aliment) is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary (in the form of food) to support life.

Often nutrition can be overly complicated. Once something becomes too complicated we all shut down and pretty much ignore it. To avoid this natural tendency to ignore nutritional supplements due to its inherent complexity, I created a very simple, “bare bones” approach that reaps significant benefits for the majority of patients. This new approach to nutrition is simple yet highly effective and consists of 5 basic products groups as well as a “do and don’t” list. Check out my Quick Fit Diet if you are ready for living your best life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cells_%28biology%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life


Multivitamin Vitamin D3 (with K2) + Vitamin C + CoQ10 + Multiminerals (Magnesium, Zinc etc.)

Healthy Natural Fats (Omega 3, Nuts, Seeds, Fish, Eggs, etc.)

Healthy Proteins (Animal and Plant based)

Healthy Carbs (Sweet Potato, Quinoa, Legumes etc.)

Organic Fruits and Vegetables (Greens)

Special regimens have been created for the following scenarios:

Amalgam Removal

Dental Surgery

Infection – Acute

Infection – Chronic


MAXIMIZE THESE AVOID THESE

ORGANIC DARK LEAF GREENS FAST FOOD – MCDONALDS, ETC.

ORGANIC FRUITS NON-ORGANIC FRUITS (PESTICIDES)

ORGANIC VEGETABLES NON-ORGANIC VEGETABLES (PESTICIDES)

SPRING WATER – NOT DISTILLED (HIGH pH BEST)

FLAVORED DRINKS, SODA, SPORT DRINKS

ORGANIC GRASS FED MEATS ENHANCED MEATS (ANTIBIOTICS, ETC.)

FISH MEALS IN A BOX (MICROWAVE FOOD, ETC.)

ORGANIC YOGURT (UNSWEETENED) ICE CREAM

SEA SALT (IN LOW QUANTITIES) REGULAR SALT

RAW SUGAR (IN LOW QUANTITIES) REGULAR SUGAR

XYLITOL (NATURAL SWEETENER) ASPARTAME, EQUAL, SPLENDA, ETC.

STEVIA AND MONK FRUIT BREAD (CARBOHYDRATES)

BONE BROTH CANDY

SOLUBLE FATS EXOTIC COFFEE DRINKS (MOCHA, ETC.)


BONE HEALTH Your bones, including your jaw, are an essential part of who you are. Everything is supported by them and hence we want to continuously reinforce our bones.

There are many things you can do to strengthen your bones, one of the most important being exercise!

Just like a muscle that grows with exercise, bones strengthen with exercise. The first group of supplements is designed to help tissue and bone health - Vitamin D, C, K as well as various minerals and trace elements.

TISSUE HEALTH Your skin, including your gums, require maintenance as well. Your number one defense system is your skin – the largest organ in your body. If the pathogens cannot get into your body then you are safe. Often the skin in your mouth, your gums, is neglected and consequentially is one of the major portals of entry into your system. The mucous membranes in your nose/sinus are also a great way for pathogens to get inside you. Most illnesses, such as the flu, enter through the nose. Our goal is to create a healthy barrier and strong protective skin everywhere. For this to happen we need to get rid of inflammation in the mouth and nasopharynx. For optimal health I highly recommend daily supplementation of Vitamin C - 3000mg and Vitamin D3+K2 (10,000 I.E. D3, 100 MCG K2).


TOOTH HEALTH

Teeth have many functions, including aiding in digestion, food enjoyment and emotional expression. The mouth is the beginning of our digestive tract and every step of the whole system is important. Without teeth your food tastes bland, can’t be broken down properly for absorption, and you feel as old as you look.

To save your teeth you need to surround them with an environment they can live in (You would not put a fish in a desert or a bird underwater, would you now)?

This means creating a neutral to basic pH (above 7.0), sugar free mouth. Teeth are able to re-mineralize themselves as long as the saliva that surrounds them is pH neutral and filled with proper nutrients. Teeth de-mineralize quickly in a low pH (below 5.5), or acidic environment (most often due to soda). Too little saliva is another strike against tooth health and often is a side-effect seen in many medications.


IMMUNE SYSTEM

Your body is a miraculous machine - with a strong immune system every disease can be conquered. Your immune system protects you from everything. A strong immune system is one of the best indicators for longevity and overall health. Your goal is to have the strongest immune system possible, and that starts with the gut where 70% of your immune system resides. Supply the proper nutrition (see the diet recommendations), then give the body the ability to absorb this nutrition (proper gut health), and reduce the toxins you put into your body. It really is that

simple. You are what you eat!

Learn which foods and drinks are acidic and avoid them. Eat organic whole foods that supply the proper nutrition, supplement the vitamins, minerals and trace elements you lack. Cut out processed foods, box store fast food, soda, and excessive sweets. Visit local farmers markets – it is fun and much healthier for you. Organic is not a trend, it is a lifestyle. Lastly, give your digestive system time to rest and repair by fasting around 12-14 hours each day (don’t eat after 7PM or before 7AM, coffee is ok). Think about it…you sleep so that your body can repair itself.

You are what you eat.


If your digestive system is never able to rest because it is always working, it will fail.

All your energy comes from your digestive system, so you will want to make sure it is in perfect shape. Give it time to rest and repair. Another important consideration

is the time it takes to digest food. Meat requires 2-3 days to digest, so I recommend eating meat only every 4th day or less. This ensures that your digestive system gets a little rest. Learn more through my Quick Fit Diet.It is a shame that industrialization has resulted in the abuse of nutrition, taking advantage of human weakness and supplying us with wants rather than needs. It began with sugar and now has extended into long chemical substances designed to trick our senses into wanting more. The result is hamburgers that never go bad, drinks that stay fresh almost forever, and sweets that taste the same for decades. None of these “foods” supply the necessary building blocks to support life, and without proper nutrition life fails and illness takes over. Cancer rates are soaring, diabetes is rampant, obesity is an epidemic, yet more and more “junk food” is brought to market preying on innocent people who have succumbed to the convenience these “products” offer. Little do they know that all it takes to make them feel better, prevent disease/illness and avoid a traumatic, hard second part of life is proper nutrition.

You are what you eat, period.


THE TRUTH ABOUT

DECAY


BACTERIA (SUGAR BUGS)

CANNOT EAT TEETH

There is a common misconception that bacteria eat teeth and cause the cavities. Well, that is simply not true. Bacteria do not eat teeth. Bacteria eat junk food, candy, sugar, carbohydrates, etc., then release acid (pH 4.5) as a waste product on teeth. This acid sits on the teeth, demineralizing/dissolving them. This demineralization is what we call a cavity/decay. In other words, acid causes cavities, not bacteria. Bacteria live in crevices and holes, we feed them, they release more acid and make the crevice/hole bigger so they can hide better and add more bacteria. It’s a vicious cycle.


MAINTENANCE CLEAN, SMOOTH TEETH ARE EASIER TO MAINTAIN

So, imagine this - You have a brand-new car that was just waxed and buffed. As water and dust fall onto the paint coat it easily blows off due to the shiny slick surface. Water pearls right off a freshly waxed car. Now, how about a car that has a very old scratched paint job with swirl marks all over it. It looks dull and dingy without any shine. Dirt sticks to it and water just sits on it. Well, the same thing happens to teeth that are damaged from acid.


Acid makes the entire tooth surface more like sandpaper, not glass. The acid slowly dissolves the tooth surface, taking away that shiny, glassy look and feel. Now that the tooth surface is rough, like sandpaper, food particles sticks to it. Bacteria live in the food that sticks to the teeth and release more acid (pH around 4.5), which results in the tooth dissolving more. This is what we call decay. Now those “pearly whites” are not pearly anymore, but rather dull, scratched crystals that collect dirt. They are food and stain traps. This trapped food, bacteria and waste product also gives you bad breath! Bacteria release sulfur, which essentially is what rotten eggs smell like. Who wants that?

The 2-minute rule of brushing was created for perfect “pearly white” teeth, not for sandpaper like tooth surfaces. Two minutes of brushing when your teeth are more like sandpaper (from acid) is almost useless. Double or triple this time, at least, if you want to actually clean all your teeth. Taking this into account: How many kids that have acid eaten teeth (that are now more like sandpaper) actually brush correctly for 2 minutes? I venture to guess very few.

The national average for all people (including adults) is more like 1 minute. It is no wonder that tooth decay is the single most common chronic disease in kids.

If you have clean, shiny teeth then 2 minutes of proper brushing and flossing will maintain your mouth very well. If you have less than perfect teeth due to constant acid exposure, then you need to brush longer and more frequently and reverse the situation by changing your habits that resulted in the acid exposure. The good news is that teeth can re-mineralize!


ACID WHERE DOES IT COME FROM AND HOW DO I AVOID IT

This is one of the most important dental questions anyone could ask. If you understand this, then you know how to prevent cavities as well as seeing the dentist. We know that cavities are actually caused by acid dissolving the teeth. For this reason, the goal is to eliminate acid from the mouth. A quick lesson on pH: Teeth demineralize at a pH of 5.5 or less. So, anything that has a pH of 5.5 or less should be avoided. Soda, diet or regular, has a pH around 3-4. Most mouthwashes have a pH in the mid 3s to mid 4s.

Flavored water has a pH in the 3-4s. All these products create an environment in your mouth that dissolves your teeth and helps bacteria grow. Bacteria in the mouth release acid in the 4.5pH range. There are only a few liquids that are not acidic, regular water being one of them. After taking a sip of soda it takes 20 minutes, in a healthy mouth, to get the pH back to neutral (a pH of 7). So, if you have to drink a soda, drink it quickly, do not sip, and rinse with water, ideally basic water (pH >8) afterwards.

The moral of the story – check and be aware of the pH of what you eat and drink.


REBUILDING/ REMINERALIZING TEETH

Yes, you can rebuild and re-mineralize your teeth, naturally! With the right amount of minerals in your diet/saliva, nutrition (D3 and K2) and the proper pH your teeth will rebuild themselves. The key is to rebuild your teeth faster than they are breaking down. Every person’s teeth break down and rebuild at different rates. Some people seem to never get cavities regardless of what they eat or drink, while others just look at a soda and get decay. Your best bet is to focus on rebuilding your teeth while eliminating acid from your diet.

So, how do you rebuild teeth? There are several products out there that help rebuild teeth such as MI Paste(avoid the fluoride version), a calcium derived product. Furthermore, your saliva needs to be plentiful and packed with the right minerals. Certain medications, such as allergy medications, reduce the flow of saliva, which significantly impacts the ability of your saliva to protect and rebuild your teeth. A healthy, well balanced diet is incredibly critical. Avoid processed foods, preserved foods and junk foods. Invest in whole organic and natural products whenever possible. Snack on vegetables such as carrots and celery, not chips. Drink lots of spring water, not flavored water. Follow the Quick Fit Diet. If the earth does not make it, avoid it!


TREATMENT SEQUENCING FIX THE REASON BEHIND THE PROBLEM FIRST

Often fillings are placed and the reason given is that there was decay. That’s it. People have been trained to accept this generalized statement as enough. Well, yes, obviously there was decay, but why was there decay? The focus, first and foremost, needs to be on how the decay got there in the first place, otherwise decay will come right back, creeping around the filling or on another tooth.

During your dental consultation it is critical to evaluate your current dental and medical health, diet/nutrition and hygiene. This will give your dentist a baseline on how decay prone you are and what challenges you face. From there the dentist needs to work on building a strong foundation for you that is decay resistant and specific for your unique circumstances. This often needs to include nutritional and life-style changes.


The Dental Cycle is a downward spiral that takes it's toll on your teeth and body. It starts with a small filling and often ends up down

the line with dentures/false teeth. While on this path your whole body is suffering (due to inflammation and infection), you are

constantly visiting the dentist (wasting your valuable time and getting more and more anxious about dentistry), not to mention the

costs involved are astronomical.

I strongly urge all patients to find a dentist that understands this Dental Cycle and focuses on the principles of stability,

not which insurance plan the patient has – Organic Dentistry!

These dentists often are called Biological/Organic, or Functional Medicine Dentists. I am a Biological Cosmetic Dentist practicing Functional Medicine, or as I define it, an ORGANIC DENTIST. You can have a future free of constant dental worries and a smile you

love, just find the right dentist and make the changes necessary in your life.

THE

Contact Me:

www.drchrishahn.com [email protected] @drchrishahn

"I'm Dr. Chris, a Lifestyle Entrepreneur, Organic Dentist and hopeless optimist. After escaping the rat race and finding my "why" I wrote Unbox Yourself so that others stuck in the same rut have a roadmap towards living a life true to themselves."

About Dr. Christian W. Hahn

Christian W. Hahn, DDS, AAACD, a magna cum laude graduate of University of Southern California Dental School, has practiced as a dentist for over twenty years and is an international speaker for his profession.

Dr. Hahn is one of fewer than 300 AACD accredited cosmetic dentists and lectures on dentistry, success, and personal happiness.

He believes that everyone has the right to live a life filled with joy and makes it his life mission to bring hope, inspiration and motivation to those in need. As a dentist he delivers Organic Dentistry.

He has invented multiple products, including Frogglez Goggles, which are sold through his company Frogglez LLC.

With Frogglez Dr. Hahn helps kids gain the confidence necessary to conquer water, become a life long swimmer and learn a life saving skill.

Dr. Hahn has partnered with WaterStep to bring safe water to those in need - with every pair of Frogglez that is sold Dr. Hahn donates a portion towards WaterStep.

Dr. Hahn has a passion for helping people live a life true to themselves and giving them the tools necessary to optimize their health and success. If you want to learn more about becoming a Lifestyle Entrepreneur or optimizing your health through the Quick Fit Diet, contact Dr. Hahn below.

@drchrishahn

http://www.drchrishahn.com/

mailto:[email protected]

THE DENTAL CYCLE · You see the dentist for your bi-annual cleaning and check-up, and a cavity is “discovered”. You have the filling placed and at the next cleaning appointment

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