In this week's episode of Food, Freedom, and Fertility, Caitlin and Sophia welcome special guest, Dr. Kelly J. Blodgett, DMD, NMD, IBDM, to discuss his holistic approach to oral health and how oral health can impact fertility. Dr. Blodgett specializes in biological dentistry, taking a holistic approach to oral health. His practice in Portland, OR just celebrated 20 years in business!

So what is biological dentistry you ask? The main difference between biological and traditional dentistry is that, while traditional dentistry is primarily symptoms driven, biological dentistry takes a deeper look at the interconnectedness of body systems and how infectious and energetic imbalances could be contributing to overall health and wellness. Different teeth are connected energetically to other body parts and things like infection and inflammation can alter those energetics.

How many of you have been asked about your oral health during your fertility journey? Our guess...not many. Truth is, when TTC, oral health is equally as important as other aspects of your health. Dr. Bodgett's own research comparing oral microbiomes between women with healthy births and those suffering from infertility found noticeable differences in their oral microbiome composition. A microbiome imbalance or other source of imbalance in body systems could be contributing to hormonal dysregulation.

So what should I be eating to care for and protect my teeth? Dr. Blodgett recommends The Dental Diet by Dr. Steven Lin as a great place to start. It's also a good idea to limit food and drinks that degrade the enamel protecting your teeth. The biggest offenders are acidic drinks, especially those that are acidic and sweet, like kombucha or soda, or sweetened coffee drinks, which are acidic, sweet, and HOT.

According to Dr. Blodgett, taking a hard look at how we balance our lives is just as important as how we physically care for our teeth! Modern life often has us turning on our sympathetic nervous system (think flight or fight response). This can lead to not only a decrease in saliva production but also encourages stress responses like teeth grinding, neither of which are great for your oral health. So try to find room for some parasympathetic activation (rest and digest!) in your life to encourage balance and good health.

Instagram: @blodgettdentalcare

Web: blodgettdentalcare.com