Periodontal Disease and Naturopathic Medicine ©Dr. Kevin Passero 2005

Naturopathic Medicine What is it? Naturopathic Medicine blends centuries-old natural, non-toxic therapies with current advances in the study of health and human systems. Naturopathic Medicine blends centuries-old natural, non-toxic therapies with current advances in the study of health and human systems.

The Six Principles 1) The Healing Power of Nature. Naturopathic Doctors believe that the natural state of the body is to be healthy. Our jobs are to help the patient identify and remove obstacles to healing and allow the body to heal itself. 1) The Healing Power of Nature. Naturopathic Doctors believe that the natural state of the body is to be healthy. Our jobs are to help the patient identify and remove obstacles to healing and allow the body to heal itself.

The Six Principles 2) Identify and Treat the Causes. The Naturopath seeks to identify and remove underlying causes of illness, rather than to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms. 2) Identify and Treat the Causes. The Naturopath seeks to identify and remove underlying causes of illness, rather than to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms.

Symptoms as messengers Naturopathic Medicine attempts to find the underlying cause of the patient’s condition. Naturopathic Medicine attempts to find the underlying cause of the patient’s condition. Much of modern medicine, conventional and alternative is focused on symptom management. Often this means neglecting the possibility of an underlying cause. Much of modern medicine, conventional and alternative is focused on symptom management. Often this means neglecting the possibility of an underlying cause. Symptoms are messengers, and what happens when we shoot the messenger? We don’t know from where the message came. Symptoms are messengers, and what happens when we shoot the messenger? We don’t know from where the message came.

The Six Principles 3) First Do No Harm. 3) First Do No Harm. The Naturopathic Doctor implements this third rule with the following precepts The Naturopathic Doctor implements this third rule with the following precepts Utilize methods and medical substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects. Utilize methods and medical substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects. Avoid when possible the harmful suppression of symptoms. Avoid when possible the harmful suppression of symptoms. Acknowledge, respect and work with the individual’s self-healing process. Acknowledge, respect and work with the individual’s self-healing process.

The Six Principles 4) Doctor As Teacher. 4) Doctor As Teacher. As Doctor’s we not only believe it is our job to help people improve their health, it is also our job to educate them so they can be responsible for their own health as well. As Doctor’s we not only believe it is our job to help people improve their health, it is also our job to educate them so they can be responsible for their own health as well. Encouraging self-responsibility for one’s health is a major goal for the Naturopathic Doctor. Encouraging self-responsibility for one’s health is a major goal for the Naturopathic Doctor.

The Six Principles 5) Treat the Whole Person 5) Treat the Whole Person This is achieved by taking into account individual physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social and spiritual factors. This is achieved by taking into account individual physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social and spiritual factors.

The Six Principles 6) Prevention 6) Prevention Prevention involves assessing individual risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease and making appropriate interventions in partnership with the patients to prevent illness. Prevention involves assessing individual risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease and making appropriate interventions in partnership with the patients to prevent illness.

How are ND’s trained? Naturopathic Medical colleges are four-year, graduate level medical schools with admission requirements comparable to those of other medical schools. The Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree (ND) is awarded after classroom, clinic and practical study. Naturopathic Medical colleges are four-year, graduate level medical schools with admission requirements comparable to those of other medical schools. The Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree (ND) is awarded after classroom, clinic and practical study.

ND’s are trained in medical sciences including Anatomy Anatomy Neurology Neurology Pathology Pathology Obstetrics Obstetrics Pharmacology Pharmacology Lab diagnosis Lab diagnosis Cardiology Cardiology Biochemistry Biochemistry Minor surgery Minor surgery Immunology Pediatrics Clinical and physical diagnosis Physiology Radiology Microbiology Gynecology Dermatology

What NDs do Clinical Nutrition Clinical Nutrition This refers to both the practice of using food to heal people and using food to maintain optimal health. This refers to both the practice of using food to heal people and using food to maintain optimal health. Nutritional supplements are often employed to further help people optimize nutritional intake for their particular needs. Nutritional supplements are often employed to further help people optimize nutritional intake for their particular needs.

What NDs Do Homeopathy Homeopathy Homeopathy is a form of medicine that uses extremely diluted preparations of substances to cure illness. Homeopathy is a form of medicine that uses extremely diluted preparations of substances to cure illness. As a medicine, it is unparalleled in its ability to effect people on a physical, mental and emotional level while at the same time having virtually no side effects or drug interactions. As a medicine, it is unparalleled in its ability to effect people on a physical, mental and emotional level while at the same time having virtually no side effects or drug interactions.

What NDs Do Botanical Medicine Botanical Medicine Plant substances are safe and powerful tools in the treatment of many illnesses. Plant substances are safe and powerful tools in the treatment of many illnesses. Many modern pharmaceuticals are originally derived from plant compounds. Many modern pharmaceuticals are originally derived from plant compounds.

The Egg of Health

Naturopathic Medicine and Periodontal Disease

Aspects of Periodontal Disease Infection Infection Immune Response Immune Response Inflammation Inflammation

Infection Promoted by poor diet Promoted by poor diet High sugar levels promote bacterial growth High sugar levels promote bacterial growth High inflammatory foods promote infectious process High inflammatory foods promote infectious process Poor nutrition and foods low in nutrition can suppress immune function allowing sustainability of infection Poor nutrition and foods low in nutrition can suppress immune function allowing sustainability of infection

Infection Poor personal hygiene Poor personal hygiene Infrequent brushing and flossing Infrequent brushing and flossing Improper brushing and flossing technique Improper brushing and flossing technique Not on a regular hygiene cleaning schedule Not on a regular hygiene cleaning schedule Physical barriers that impede cleaning efforts Physical barriers that impede cleaning efforts Large gaps in teeth Large gaps in teeth Overlapping teeth that are hard to clean between Overlapping teeth that are hard to clean between Braces Braces

Immune Response The immune system responds to infection in several ways The immune system responds to infection in several ways Primary inflammation Primary inflammation Influx of 1 st stage immune cells like macrophages Influx of 1 st stage immune cells like macrophages Activation of immune specific cells like antibodies Activation of immune specific cells like antibodies

Immune Response This response can be altered by many different things This response can be altered by many different things Low immune function can result from nutritional deficiencies and consumption of certain foods Low immune function can result from nutritional deficiencies and consumption of certain foods Sugar Sugar Alcohol Alcohol Hydrogenated fat Hydrogenated fat

Immune Response Immune response to antigens, bacteria or infection can differ in many ways Immune response to antigens, bacteria or infection can differ in many ways Although all people have oral bacteria, not all develop periodontal disease Although all people have oral bacteria, not all develop periodontal disease Some of this predisposition can be attributed to different ways the immune system responds in different people Some of this predisposition can be attributed to different ways the immune system responds in different people This can be likened to why some people have allergy to certain pollens that manifest in different ways such as asthma, sinus congestion or watery eyes This can be likened to why some people have allergy to certain pollens that manifest in different ways such as asthma, sinus congestion or watery eyes

Immune Response Naturopathic theory speculates that improper immune responses like the ones seen in allergy and periodontal disease is often due to an overload on the body systems, particularly related to its ability to deal with toxins. Naturopathic theory speculates that improper immune responses like the ones seen in allergy and periodontal disease is often due to an overload on the body systems, particularly related to its ability to deal with toxins.

The Story of the Overflowing Cup

Toxins Toxins come from many places and should be considered as anything that impedes ideal physiologic functioning of the body Toxins come from many places and should be considered as anything that impedes ideal physiologic functioning of the body Examples include toxins created as byproducts of fossil fuel and the production of other industrial products Examples include toxins created as byproducts of fossil fuel and the production of other industrial products Some toxins are also produced by the body during normal physiologic functions Some toxins are also produced by the body during normal physiologic functions

Toxins Of more clinical value is the toxic load generated from consuming dietary products that impede optimal immune and physiologic function Of more clinical value is the toxic load generated from consuming dietary products that impede optimal immune and physiologic function Diets high in refined carbohydrates and sugar, alcohol, red meat, hydrogenated fat and coffee and low in fresh fruits and vegetables and healthy fats will not promote the proper metabolism of toxins encountered in everyday life Diets high in refined carbohydrates and sugar, alcohol, red meat, hydrogenated fat and coffee and low in fresh fruits and vegetables and healthy fats will not promote the proper metabolism of toxins encountered in everyday life Its provides added stress to the system and does not foster optimal physiology Its provides added stress to the system and does not foster optimal physiology

Eliminating Toxins Naturopathic therapies help to promote dietary patterns that minimize toxic exposure and support the body in its process of eliminating toxins Naturopathic therapies help to promote dietary patterns that minimize toxic exposure and support the body in its process of eliminating toxins Dietary supplements like vitamins, minerals and other nutrients can greatly help support physiological pathways that promote the proper metabolism and excretion of toxins Dietary supplements like vitamins, minerals and other nutrients can greatly help support physiological pathways that promote the proper metabolism and excretion of toxins

The End Result Clinical evidence commonly shows the improvement of many immune related disorders like allergy and asthma when proper modifications are made in relation to reducing toxin exposure and enhancing proper toxin elimination through diet and nutrient therapies. Clinical evidence commonly shows the improvement of many immune related disorders like allergy and asthma when proper modifications are made in relation to reducing toxin exposure and enhancing proper toxin elimination through diet and nutrient therapies.

Inflammation The body’s natural reaction to infection The body’s natural reaction to infection Attempt to stimulate healing Attempt to stimulate healing Delivers new blood and immune products to a site of injury or infection Delivers new blood and immune products to a site of injury or infection

Inflammation Gone Bad Chronic inflammation happens when the immune system can not take care of the injury or infection by itself and ends up in a counterproductive cycle of inflammation Chronic inflammation happens when the immune system can not take care of the injury or infection by itself and ends up in a counterproductive cycle of inflammation Chronic inflammation can lead to decreased effectiveness of immune function due to swelling and destructive properties of immune cells (periodontal bone loss) Chronic inflammation can lead to decreased effectiveness of immune function due to swelling and destructive properties of immune cells (periodontal bone loss)

Inflammation Dietary influences can greatly impact pathways of inflammation Dietary influences can greatly impact pathways of inflammation Diets high in sugar, hydrogenated fats, refined carbohydrates, animal proteins and dairy products all promote the production of inflammatory molecules and prostaglandins Diets high in sugar, hydrogenated fats, refined carbohydrates, animal proteins and dairy products all promote the production of inflammatory molecules and prostaglandins These pro-inflammatory foods contribute to the feed forward loop of inflammation in periodontal disease These pro-inflammatory foods contribute to the feed forward loop of inflammation in periodontal disease By modifying this aspect of inflammation the likely hood of someone having a recurrence after surgical correction is greatly reduced By modifying this aspect of inflammation the likely hood of someone having a recurrence after surgical correction is greatly reduced

The Big Picture It is well known that periodontal disease can be correlated to heart disease It is well known that periodontal disease can be correlated to heart disease Recent research now shows the significant role of inflammation in heart disease and heart attacks Recent research now shows the significant role of inflammation in heart disease and heart attacks Reducing inflammation in the body can have beneficial effects beyond periodontal health Reducing inflammation in the body can have beneficial effects beyond periodontal health Reduce arthritis pain and other chronic pain syndromes, enhance immune function, reduce heart disease and some forms of cancer, help allergy symptoms Reduce arthritis pain and other chronic pain syndromes, enhance immune function, reduce heart disease and some forms of cancer, help allergy symptoms

The Big Picture Some people are genetically predisposed to developing certain types of diseases like periodontal disease Some people are genetically predisposed to developing certain types of diseases like periodontal disease For these people, Naturopathic therapies can only address the portion of predisposition that is variable (not genetic) For these people, Naturopathic therapies can only address the portion of predisposition that is variable (not genetic)

Closing Remarks The oral cavity is the beginning of the gastrointestinal system The oral cavity is the beginning of the gastrointestinal system One must think of this system as more than just a tube where things go in and come out One must think of this system as more than just a tube where things go in and come out What is put in that tube can have dramatic effects on overall health and well being What is put in that tube can have dramatic effects on overall health and well being

Closing Remarks By nurturing our bodies from the inside out we can enhance our lives in many different ways By nurturing our bodies from the inside out we can enhance our lives in many different ways Reduce chances of developing the most common life threatening diseases like heart disease and cancer Reduce chances of developing the most common life threatening diseases like heart disease and cancer Improve outward appearance Improve outward appearance Weight loss Weight loss Improved skin tone and texture Improved skin tone and texture Stronger and healthier hair and nails Stronger and healthier hair and nails Nicer smiles Nicer smiles

Closing Remarks Improve quality of life Improve quality of life Greater energy Greater energy Better memory Better memory Enhanced concentration and mental performance Enhanced concentration and mental performance Greater physical stamina Greater physical stamina Feeling younger, stronger and healthier later into life Feeling younger, stronger and healthier later into life

Thank You for Your Time!