Oral Health: The Root of the Matter

If you've ever thought "it's just a cleaning, I can skip it," this episode is going to change the way you see that appointment forever. The hygiene visit is so much more than polishing teeth. It's one of the most powerful windows into your whole-body health, and most people have no idea what they're missing. Dr. Rachaele Carver sits down with Brenda Powers, RDHAP, a biological dental hygienist in Southern California, to pull back the curtain on what a truly comprehensive hygiene appointment can look like, and why it may be one of the most important health visits you make all year.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• A biological hygienist doesn't just check your gums, she's reading your posture, your skin tone, your breathing, your sleep, and your stress levels from the moment you sit down in the chair.
• Salivary diagnostics can identify the specific pathogens living in your mouth, including bacteria linked to heart disease, Alzheimer's, and type 2 diabetes, even when your mouth looks "healthy."
• Biofilm is the sticky matrix where bacteria live and multiply on your teeth, and managing it daily at home is just as important as what happens in the office.
• Ozone therapy is a safe, non-surgical tool that kills harmful bacteria, promotes tissue healing, and can help patients get off the deep cleaning hamster wheel for good.
• Collagen, vitamin C, vitamin D, B complex, magnesium, and zinc are among the key nutrients that directly support gum and bone health, and most of us aren't getting enough from food alone.

Connect With Brenda Powers: 

Instagram: @holistic_hygienist 

Website: rdhguru.com 

Email: [email protected]

Connect With Dr. Rachaele Carver: 

Join the 6-Week Gum Disease Course

Ready to get to the root of your own health issues? If this resonated and you'd like personalized guidance, you can book a consultation with Dr. Carver here:

👉 Book Your Personalized Wellness Consultation

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only.  Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner.  Opinions from guests are their own, and this podcast does not condone or endorse opinions made by guests.  This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.

Connect With Dr. Rachaele Carver: 

Book Your Personalized Consultation

If you've done everything right, the clean eating, the functional labs, the supplements, and something still won't budge, this episode was made for you. I sat down with nervous system and trauma coach Mitch Webb, and honestly, this one hit really close to home because I was exactly that person for years.

Mitch has been through Lyme disease, black mold, heavy metals, two traumatic brain injuries, and long COVID. And what he found underneath all of it was a nervous system that never learned to feel safe. What he shares here is some of the most honest, practical nervous system work I've come across.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why your body is not broken and your symptoms are actually an intelligent response to what you've been through.
• The difference between nervous system dysregulation and sensitization, and why the people who try hardest to fix themselves are often the most stuck.
• How the drive to optimize and biohack can quietly become a form of emotional avoidance.
• A simple somatic scanning practice you can do in five to ten minutes that combines body awareness, emotion, and belief work.
• Why healing is not about never having a hard day again. It's about building the capacity to move through hard days without getting lost in them.

About Mitch Webb: Mitch is a nervous system and trauma coach who blends somatic work, parts work, and emotional processing to help people with chronic symptoms get out of the cycle of efforting and into real healing. He meets his clients in the truth of it, without shame and without pressure.

Resources Mentioned: https://mitchwebb.com/free-resources/

Connect With Mitch Webb: https://mitchwebb.com/

Connect With Dr. Rachaele Carver: 

Join the 6-Week Gum Disease Course

Ready to get to the root of your own health issues? If this resonated and you'd like personalized guidance, you can book a consultation with Dr. Carver here:

👉 Book Your Personalized Wellness Consultation

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only.  Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner.  Opinions from guests are their own, and this podcast does not condone or endorse opinions made by guests.  This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.

Ready to take your health to the next level? 

Here's how to work with Dr. Carver:

Join the 6-Week Gum Disease Course

Book Your Personalized Consultation

4 Key Takeaways

• Your mouth is a window into your whole body. If you're chronically sick and nobody can find the root cause, the answer may be in your teeth. Root canals, hidden infections, and old dental work can silently fuel systemic inflammation, sinus issues, joint pain, fatigue, and more.
• Referred pain can fool everyone, including your doctors. Pain you feel in your sinus, jaw, or joints may actually be coming from a tooth on the same meridian (the body's energy pathway). Understanding this connection is why working with a true biological dentist matters so much.
• Peptides can be powerful allies in healing. BPC-157 and TB-500, amino acid compounds your body naturally produces, may support rapid tissue repair, reduce inflammation, and help regenerate bone and gum tissue after dental procedures. Samantha credits them as a turning point in her recovery.
• Functional lab testing helps you go deeper than standard bloodwork. The DUTCH test, organic acid testing, GI panels, and food sensitivity testing can reveal hidden hormone imbalances, poor methylation, gut dysfunction, and mold exposure that standard labs routinely miss.

What if the source of your chronic illness was hiding in your mouth?

In this episode, Dr. Rachaele Carver sits down with Samantha Lander, a functional diagnostic nutritionist and passionate advocate for biological dentistry, who spent years searching for answers to debilitating chronic health issues before finally tracing them back to her teeth.

Samantha's story is one a lot of people will recognize: sinus infections that wouldn't quit, fatigue that no one could explain, and practitioner after practitioner who couldn't find the cause. She saw six ENTs. She lived on antibiotics. She tried everything. And it wasn't until she started working with a biological dentist, and eventually had multiple root canal teeth removed, that her body finally began to recover.

Samantha Lander, FDN-P

Website: SeeFitLiving.com

Instagram: @SeeFitLiving | Free clarity calls available for those interested in functional lab work

Peptides discussed:

• BPC-157 (Body Protecting Compound): supports tissue repair and gut healing
• TB-500: promotes tissue regeneration and reduces inflammation
• Thymosin Alpha-1: supports immune system function
• KPV: may help calm mast cell and histamine responses

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Join the 6-Week Gum Disease Course

Book Your Personalized Consultation

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only.  Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner.  Opinions from guests are their own, and this podcast does not condone or endorse opinions made by guests.  This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.

🌿 Ready to get to the root of your oral health? 👉 Join the 6-Week Gum Disease Course 👉 Book Your Personalized Consultation with Dr. Carver

In this episode of Oral Health: The Root of the Matter, Dr. Rachaele Carver sits down with Karese Laguerre, registered dental hygienist and myofunctional therapist, founder of The Myo Spot. Karese's journey into myofunctional therapy started at home, with four kids whose struggles, ranging from ADHD and bedwetting to chronic ear infections and sleep issues, turned out to have one surprising thing in common: airway.

What unfolded was a story that so many parents will recognize. And what Karese discovered changed everything for her family, and for the families she now helps every day.

4 THINGS YOU'LL TAKE AWAY FROM THIS EPISODE

• Your child's "common" symptoms may not be normal. Bedwetting, teeth grinding, mouth breathing, crowding, and chronic ear infections can all point to an underlying airway issue, and there's a lot more that can be done than waiting it out or reaching for a prescription.
• There's a 70% overlap between sleep deprivation in children and ADHD symptoms. That's not a small detail. It's a conversation worth having with your child's provider before trying a fourth medication.
• Myofunctional therapy is not just exercises. It's a step-by-step process of retraining the muscles of the face, jaw, and tongue, in the right order, for lasting change. Think of it like physical therapy for the mouth.
• It's never too late, but earlier is easier. Whether you're looking at a five-year-old or a forty-year-old with TMJ, the body has an incredible capacity to adapt and heal. Starting sooner just means a shorter road.

WHAT THEY COVER

Dr. Carver and Karese unpack what myofunctional therapy actually is, and why so many people have never heard of it until something goes wrong. They talk about the four pillars of healthy oral function, nose breathing, lips closed at rest, tongue resting on the palate, and teeth slightly apart, and why getting these right from an early age can shape everything from jaw development to immune health to anxiety levels.

RESOURCES + GUEST INFO

Karese Laguerre, RDH Myofunctional Therapist | Founder, The Myo Spot Serving patients in-person in New Jersey and Florida, and virtually worldwide 🌐 www.themyospot.com | Free consultations available

READY TO GO DEEPER?

If this episode had you thinking about your own health or your child's, check out Dr. Carver's 6-Week Gum Disease Course 

👉 Join the course here

Or if you want a personalized plan, book a one-on-one consultation. 👉 Book your consultation

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only.  Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner.  Opinions from guests are their own, and this podcast does not condone or endorse opinions made by guests.  This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.

Gum disease can look quiet while it drives loud inflammation throughout the body. We sit down with Dr. Alex Volchinuk, Biologic Board Certified Periodontist & Oral Implantologist, to unpack what’s really behind bleeding gums, gum recession and bone loss and why the story isn’t just “brush and floss.” We talk about the oral microbiome, genetic susceptibility and the immune response that can turn everyday bacteria into a chronic, bone-resorbing problem. 

From there, we get practical about regeneration. Dr Volchinuk explains modern periodontal treatments designed to rebuild support around teeth, including minimally invasive pinhole gum rejuvenation for recession and laser-assisted new attachment approaches that aim to remove toxic burden and help the body heal with its own clot and biology. We also tackle the part most people miss: biofilm. If you’ve tried oil pulling, ozone or rinses and still feel stuck, you’ll hear why hardened biofilm can block penetration and why professional disruption plus the right home routine matters. 

Finally, we dive into dental implants, peri-implantitis and how to stack the odds in your favour. We compare titanium vs zirconia ceramic (zirconia) implants, including plaque resistance, aesthetics and concerns around corrosion and titanium particle release in an acidic, inflamed environment. We also cover smart pre-implant prep: controlling periodontal disease first, checking inflammation, blood sugar and vitamin D, and using better diagnostics like salivary testing and CBCT 3D imaging to catch hidden infections early. If you want implant longevity, better bone health and fewer surprises, this conversation gives you a clear roadmap. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s considering implants and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

Connect with Dr. Volchonok

Practice Name:
My Tetra Health

Website:
www.mytetrahealth.com

Phone:
929-293-0200

Social Media:
Instagram: @MyTetraHealth

Office Locations:
• Upper East Side, New York City
• Greenwich, Connecticut

Consultations Offered:
• In-person consultations
• Virtual consultations

Connect with Dr. Carver

Join the 6-Week Gum Disease Course: https://reversegumdiseaseinsixweeks.info/optinpage

Book Your Personalized Consultation: https://calendly.com/drcarver-1/health-coaching-consult?month=2025-10

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only.  Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner.  Opinions from guests are their own, and this podcast does not condone or endorse opinions made by guests.  This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.

Feeling unwell while your labs keep saying “normal”? We take a practical, empowering path: reading your hands as a living dashboard. By mapping each finger to organ systems and decoding nail clues—ridges, half-moons, shapes, and white spots—we connect everyday signals to gut health, liver load, circulation, adrenals, and immune balance. It’s a grounded, actionable guide to asking better questions and choosing the right next step.

We walk through the thumb-to-pinky organ map popularized by Roger Bezanis—thumb for gut, pointer for liver and gallbladder, middle for heart and lungs, ring for kidneys and adrenals, pinky for brain and immunity—and show how localized skin flares or joint tenderness can direct your focus. You’ll learn why nail ridges often mean absorption issues, how missing half-moons may flag poor microcirculation, and why liquid minerals can outperform capsules when stomach acid is low. We also share a simple baking soda burp test to screen for hypochlorhydria and explain how digestive enzymes help both at meals and between meals to support nutrient breakdown, thin thick blood, and ease joint congestion.

Along the way, we touch on white nail spots and potential dairy reactions, nail tips that flip up as a parasite clue—especially around full moons—and how unusual nail shapes may nudge you toward targeted cardiac or kidney checks. The goal isn’t to self-diagnose; it’s to sharpen your lens so you can pair smart self-observation with the right functional tests when needed. If you’ve struggled with chronic skin issues, fatigue, or “mystery” symptoms, this walk-through offers simple, at-home ways to tune into your body and make progress without guesswork.

We share a simple way to spot root causes that labs often miss by reading signs in your fingers and nails. From gut and liver stress to circulation and low stomach acid, we show how to translate hand clues into practical next steps.

• mapping each finger to organ systems
• nails, ridges, and nutrient absorption
• missing half moons and circulation
• thick blood, enzymes, and movement
• low stomach acid and the baking soda test
• white spots, dairy reactions, and hormones
• nail shapes, parasites, and timing cleanses
• choosing minerals and when liquids help
• targeting tests based on visible signs

If you found this helpful, follow the show, share it with someone who needs answers, and leave a review to help others discover it. Want personalized support? Tap the link in the show notes to book a 1:1 consultation and let’s map your path to lasting health together.

Connect with Dr. Carver

Join the 6-Week Gum Disease Course: https://reversegumdiseaseinsixweeks.info/optinpage

Book Your Personalized Consultation: https://calendly.com/drcarver-1/health-coaching-consult?month=2025-10

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only.  Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner.  Opinions from guests are their own, and this podcast does not condone or endorse opinions made by guests.  This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.

Heart disease is still the #1 killer of men and women worldwide.

And yet, despite decades of medications, procedures, and guidelines, we haven’t moved the needle.

So the real question is… why?

In this short but powerful solo episode, I revisit a message that matters deeply to me, because it saves lives:

👉 Heart disease is not a cholesterol problem.
 👉 It’s not a blood pressure problem.
 👉 And it’s not a medication deficiency.

At the root of it all… it’s inflammation, toxicity, and infection, and one of the most overlooked sources lives right inside the mouth.

In this episode, we unpack:

• Why heart disease is completely reversible when we address root causes
• The truth about LDL (“bad cholesterol”) and why it’s actually a repair signal
• How damaged blood vessels trigger cholesterol buildup, not the other way around
• The surprising role of gum disease and oral bacteria in heart attacks and strokes
• Why bleeding gums are never “normal” (even if they don’t hurt)
• How oral pathogens like P. gingivalis contribute to:
  • Heart disease
  • Stroke
  • Dementia
  • Kidney disease
  • Certain cancers
• The connection between oral infections, leaky gut, and systemic inflammation
• How medications can quietly tax the liver and mitochondria, draining your energy over time
• Why simply lowering numbers doesn’t heal the body
• And how restoring balance, rather than killing everything, creates true resilience

A key takeaway I want to leave you with:

Cholesterol isn’t the enemy.
Blood pressure isn’t the villain.
They’re messengers.

When we listen, really listen, we can reverse the process instead of managing the damage.

If you or someone you love has:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Heart disease
• Bleeding gums
• Chronic inflammation
• Low energy

This episode is an invitation to look deeper, starting with the mouth, the microbiome, and the body’s natural ability to heal.

Healing doesn’t happen by silencing symptoms.
 It happens when we create safety, reduce inflammation, and support the body’s innate wisdom.

Maybe today’s step is simply this: Check your gums. Take one deep breath. And remember, you have more power than you’ve been told.

Connect with Dr. Carver

Join the 6-Week Gum Disease Course: https://reversegumdiseaseinsixweeks.info/optinpage

Book Your Personalized Consultation: https://calendly.com/drcarver-1/health-coaching-consult?month=2025-10

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only.  Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner.  Opinions from guests are their own, and this podcast does not condone or endorse opinions made by guests.  This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.

Dr. Kelly Blodgett returns to The Root of the Matter for a heartfelt conversation about his new book, Feel Whole Again, and the profound intersection of psychology, human connection, and dentistry. With a background in psychology and over 30 years in practice, Dr. Blodgett shares why understanding a patient's mindset, emotions, and intuition is just as important as clinical expertise. This episode dives deep into the power of truly listening, the limitations of symptom-focused healthcare, and how treating the whole person (not just the teeth) can transform lives.

What You'll Learn

Why Dr. Blodgett wrote Feel Whole Again and how his psychology degree shaped his approach to dentistry

The often-overlooked connection between thoughts, beliefs, and physical health outcomes

Real patient stories of transformation, from feeling hopeless to reclaiming vitality

Why biological dentistry treats the mouth as a whole system, and why that matters for predictable healing

The role of nutrition and prep work before dental surgery

How social isolation and mindset can be the missing pieces in chronic illness

What to look for (and ask) when choosing a biological dentist

The energy component of oral health, and why removing toxicity is essential

Key Quotes

"Listen to the patient. He's telling you the diagnosis."

"Every cell of your body is listening to your thoughts."

Patient Transformation Stories

Dr. Blodgett shares two powerful cases of women from Seattle who felt like they were losing hope in their health journeys. One, a chronic smoker who hadn't chewed real food in 20 years, went through a comprehensive protocol of nutrition, mindset work, and full-mouth rehabilitation, and by the end of the year, she was biting through sandwiches and kissing her husband without worry. The other, a former triathlete whose health tanked after incomplete dental work, underwent proper cavitation and bone cleaning and is now back to training for triathlons.

Resources Mentioned

Feel Whole Again by Dr. Kelly Blodgett, available on Amazon (ebook, paperback, hardback)

IABDM (International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine): iabdm.org

Bio Dental Global Standard by Dr. Dominic Nischwitz

Megan Barnett, Functional Nutritionist

Root Cause Protocol (Morley Robbins)

Connect with Dr. Kelly Blodgett

Practice Website: blodgettdentalcare.com

Coaching & Speaking: drkellyjblodgett.com

Connect with Dr. Carver 

Join the 6-Week Gum Disease Course: https://reversegumdiseaseinsixweeks.info/optinpage

Book Your Personalized Consultation: https://calendly.com/drcarver-1/health-coaching-consult?month=2025-10

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only.  Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner.  Opinions from guests are their own, and this podcast does not condone or endorse opinions made by guests.  This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.

What if real healing this year has less to do with trying harder and more to do with listening differently?

In this episode of The Root of the Matter, Dr. Rachaele Carver explores why New Year’s resolutions so often fail and what actually creates lasting change in the body.

Instead of focusing on goals, this conversation centers on values, nervous system regulation, and the foundational pillars of health that support true healing from the inside out.

Drawing from clinical experience, personal health challenges, and a powerful reminder from time spent in Italy, Dr. Carver explains how safety, rest, and emotional regulation directly impact digestion, inflammation, detoxification, and overall resilience.

This episode is an invitation to slow down, realign, and build health in a way your body can actually sustain.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why most New Year’s resolutions do not stick
• The difference between chasing goals and living in alignment with values
• The five core pillars of health that influence oral and whole-body wellness
• Why nervous system regulation is the foundation of digestion, immunity, and detox
• How stress disrupts minerals, enzymes, and gut health
• Why detox does not work when the body does not feel safe
• How relaxation and environment can dramatically change inflammation and symptoms
• Simple ways to support your nervous system before changing your diet or routine

Key themes discussed:

• Nervous system health as the missing link in chronic symptoms
• Diet, sleep, movement, and minerals as supportive tools, not fixes
• Emotional and mental health as drivers of physical healing
• Consistency and planning as acts of self-respect, not discipline
• Listening to the body instead of forcing it to comply

A grounding takeaway

Your body is not broken.
 It is responding exactly as it was designed to.

Healing happens when we stop fighting symptoms and start creating the conditions where the body feels safe enough to repair, digest, and release.

Maybe the first step this year is not a new plan, but a slower breath.

Your body already knows the way.

Connect with Dr. Carver

Join the 6-Week Gum Disease Course: https://reversegumdiseaseinsixweeks.info/optinpage

Book Your Personalized Consultation: https://calendly.com/drcarver-1/health-coaching-consult?month=2025-10

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only.  Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner.  Opinions from guests are their own, and this podcast does not condone or endorse opinions made by guests.  This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.

After a brief pause at the end of the year, Dr. Rachaele Carver returns with a powerful solo episode to open 2026, inviting listeners to rethink the way we approach change, healing, and personal growth.

Instead of setting New Year’s resolutions that often fade by February, this episode explores a deeper and more sustainable framework: living in alignment with your values.

Dr. Carver unpacks why so many goals fail when they are driven by “shoulds” rather than meaning, and how shifting toward values-based living can transform not only oral health, but energy, confidence, relationships, and overall well-being.

This conversation blends personal stories, clinical insight, and reflective questions to help listeners begin the year with clarity, compassion, and intention.

In this episode, Dr. Carver discusses:

• Why traditional New Year’s resolutions rarely stick
• The difference between goals and values, and why values matter more
• How living out of alignment drains energy and fuels burnout
• The connection between values, nervous system regulation, and health
• How thoughts become beliefs, and beliefs shape reality
• Parenting, anxiety, and helping children live in their own values
• Recognizing physical and emotional signals from the body as guidance
• Questions to help identify your core values
• Signs you may be living out of alignment
• How values-based living improves decision-making, boundaries, and fulfillment
• Why integrity and empowered teaching are central themes in Dr. Carver’s life and practice
• Setting intentions for the year ahead through alignment rather than pressure

Resources mentioned:

• Firefly Therapy Austin
• Dr. John Demartini’s Values Assessment (drdemartini.com/values)
• Podcast: Energized with Dr. Mariza

Closing reflection:

Healing doesn’t come from pushing harder or chasing outcomes. It comes from slowing down, listening deeply, and allowing our actions to flow from what truly matters.

When we live in our values, the body responds.
 And everything we want begins to unfold naturally.

Thank you for being part of The Root of the Matter.
Here’s to a grounded, aligned, and nourishing year ahead. 🌿

Connect with Dr. Carver

Join the 6-Week Gum Disease Course: https://reversegumdiseaseinsixweeks.info/optinpage

Book Your Personalized Consultation: https://calendly.com/drcarver-1/health-coaching-consult?month=2025-10

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only.  Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner.  Opinions from guests are their own, and this podcast does not condone or endorse opinions made by guests.  This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.