by Martin Miron

We all know what a dentist does—they fix our teeth when they hurt and make sure we have a good-looking smile. They can be found on just about every street corner, but biological dentistry goes much deeper. Louis M. Steinberg, DDS, states, “I like to think that a biological dentist is doing things according to scientific principles. The fact is that in this country, 50 percent of dentists have mercury in their office. More importantly, even if you’re a dentist who doesn’t have it, who call themselves mercury-free, as opposed to mercury-safe, the two greatest exposures to mercury are when it is put in your mouth and when it is removed from your mouth.”

         He explains, “If you’re not going to have that material removed safely, better to leave it in place, because it’s possible that real damage could follow the release of mercury from the removal of the amalgam from several teeth at one time. My feeling about this is that [the dental establishment] will never acknowledge it. There are at least 150 million Americans—worldwide, there’s up to a billion or more people—who’ve got these fillings in their mouths.”

         He advises, “That’s just one area. There are many adhesives you can use to cement devices into people’s mouths. I’m talking about dental restorations. Many of them belong to the category of materials called glass ionomers. They work quite well, but they also release fluoride. In fact, that’s one of their advertising messages. I really don’t want someone to be constantly exposed to small amounts of fluoride; biological dentistry recognizes that fluoride is a toxin. I’ve confronted manufacturers, and they are never fully forthcoming about what exactly is in everything that they make because it’s proprietary.”

         Steinberg confides, “I’ll tell you a secret. You don’t need toothpaste. We like toothpaste, we like a fresh taste after we brush, but in actual fact, it’s the mechanical action of brushing and flossing that has to be done. This is an impossibility, but if you were to eliminate carbohydrates from your diet, even carbohydrates that you think of as good foods like fresh carrots and fresh celery, they still have, among other things, linked monosaccharides, as well as linked disaccharides and glycoproteins, which are sugars combined with proteins, that stick. They stick much less than the polysaccharides, long chains of disaccharides, which are starches that you find in rice, wheat and potatoes. You wouldn’t need to brush or floss because proteins and fats don’t stick to your teeth. I use tooth powder because I like the taste, but it’s not necessary.”

         Current hygiene seems to emphasize longer periods of brushing teeth with lots of new inventions such as powered utensils to help. “If you are brushing a long time, I have a problem with that, because then you’re likely losing some enamel, and that becomes a different issue. The only time I recommend an electric toothbrush is if I clearly have a recalcitrant person who simply will not change their ways,” says Steinberg. “At the end of a [professional] cleaning when you have a polishing, it removes a very small amount of the outer layer of enamel. We’re talking on the order of microns.”

         Steinberg also studies dental meridians similar to those used in acupuncture and foot reflexology, that link each tooth to a certain location or aspect of the body. “Generally, it is academic, unless we need to make a decision. For instance, I will tell you that if a woman has had breast cancer, is in remission and worried about what can she do to be preventative,” he says. “In those cases, if I see a tooth such as the upper bicuspid on either side that has had a root canal treatment, I will say point blank that I recommend seriously considering taking these teeth out. If they have mercury fillings, I will recommend that the mercury be removed, because it’s weakening the meridian. If someone has persistent intestinal problems, I look at what’s going wrong with their first molars, because that may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. I won’t do root canal treatment in patients who are immune compromised. It’s too much of a burden for their immune system.”

         “I wish I was not unique. I wish literally that every dentist was like me. I think that we should always be questioning what we’re doing, I will try to use those materials that will be helpful, in terms of at least not damaging. You’ve got to take everything into account,” says Steinberg. “A biological dentist doesn’t just look at the mouth, a biological dentist looks at the human.

The office of Louis M. Steinberg, DDS, is located at 6050 Blvd. E., Ste. LE, West New York, NJ. For appointments, call 201-662-2020. For more information, visit DrLMSteinberg.com.

Martin Miron edits Natural Awakenings magazines across the country.