In life, it is usually better to take a proactive approach rather than a defensive one. This is true for all things, be it regular car maintenance, to periodic physicals and health exams. And nowhere is this more vitally important than in your dental health – particularly Functional Dentistry.

By taking an offensive and assertive step towards your dental health, Functional Dentistry can handle bad breath, tooth decay, malocclusions, and gum problems.

How is this done?

Functional Dentristry is unique from standard dental practices as, rather than simply handle the symptoms of a problem, they go after and deal with the underlying causes and issues present.

Kelowna Functional Dentist

There are a lot of reasons one should consider seeing a Functional Dentist. The simplest and most effective is the holistic principle that it’s better to take steps to avoid a crisis rather than stressing out about how to solve one.

Using ongoing high-tech dentistry, Functional Dentists have been able to educate patients and change problematic lifestyle choices so that they never suffer from the same problem again. This information is incredibly valuable for those that wish to have good dental health and hygiene and should be available to everyone.

Some of the most vital aspects of Functional Dentistry to consider are as follows:

Encourages Nasal Breathing

Though for some it may seem strange, it is actually the normal physiological process to breathe through your nose.  Dentists speak and teach their patients the importance of nasal breathing and its connection to Orthotropics, the science of dental maintenance by way of a closed mouth and the tongue in the right position throughout the day.

Stresses a Proper Diet and the 80/20 Rule

Just as eating the right foods can help repair bodily damage or help fight off diseases, so too can it help enrich the dental structure of the teeth, preventing cavities. These foods include nuts, milks, and cheeses. Conversely, juices, sweets, and heavily processed foods can erode at the tooth’s enamel, increasing the chances of cavities and sensitivity.

Dentists teach the importance of eating diets rich in vitamin K2, leafy greens, and healthy fats. They also teach about negative effects of carbonized drinks and processed foods.

Talks on Practicing Good Oral Hygiene

In addition to cleanings, Functional Dentists teach about good oral hygiene practices. Daily, one should:

  • Brush in the morning (after breakfast) as well as right before bed. This should be for at least 2 minutes.
  • Floss during both brushing periods as a mandatory activity. A significant portion of dental decay actually takes place between the contacts of the back teeth.

Encourages and Advises Supplements and Vitamins

For those suffering from open cavities or dental decay, a Functional Dentist will suggest a number of different vitamins, supplements, and high-quality foods in order to slow down (and in some cases, reverse) the decaying process.

Vitamins such as K2, D3, and vitamin A, as well as oral probiotics, trace minerals, and calcium, are all excellent methods of remineralizing cavities. As such, they should be regularly incorporated into one’s routine.

Educates on a Balanced Oral Microbiome

One of the foundations of proper oral hygiene, it is important to know about the different types and strains of bacteria that live in the mouth. While there can certainly be harmful and dangerous types of bacteria in the mouth, there are also beneficial strains that live in the oral cavity and help fight bad breath and other diseases.

Dentists help educate patients on these as well as introduce ways to support a balanced microbiome. This can include: flossing and tongue cleaning as well as reducing the consumption of processed foods.


In the end, the overall concept behind a Functional Dentist is less about simply solving a symptom and more about motivating and educating the patients so that they understand, not only what is the cause behind many of their dental troubles, but, more importantly, how to effectively prevent it from happening again.

As we become more and more scientifically inclined, these aspects of dental health are more and more important to know and realize. Where once this information would be largely part of the day to day dentistry, now less importance is being placed on the cause of a symptom while simply handling the symptom itself.

For Functional Dentists, this is not good for the patients or their overall health and they seek to change it, one mouth at a time.