YOU are a breast cancer conqueror, leaving no stone (or body part) unturned. Finding the underlying root cause and evidence-based solutions is why you read this blog, listen to the podcasts [1], heal with the DIY program [2], and follow the 7 Essentials System® [3].
Essential #5 (of the 7 Essentials System® [3]) focuses on the breast-dental connection. This blog takes it a step further by linking the breast-dental connection to your mental health and immune system. Teeth grinding, clenching, and demineralization are some of the many issues involving your teeth and jaw that can be overlooked. Along with ionic calcium and other vitamins and minerals, they all tightly connect to your mental state, breast health, immune system, and body’s ability to fight cancer cells. You are one beautifully connected unit that is strong, brave, and poised for healing. What you put into your mouth and mind can either fuel health or disease.
Teeth Grinding Root Causes & Solutions
Teeth grinding and clenching, also known as bruxism, can cause tension in the jaw and surrounding areas. It can happen subconsciously while you are sleeping or awake. Over time, this tension can lead to joint spasms and swollen and painful lymph nodes in the jaw and surrounding joints. It can also lead to headaches, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), tinnitus, and cracked teeth that let harmful bacteria fester.
The most common root cause: STRESS.
Other causes can include sleep disorders (which stress your body and mind) and certain medications such as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors/antidepressants). Bruxism is also linked to anger, pain, frustration, and aggressive behavior types.
Stress is an e-motion (energy in motion) that has a detrimental circular effect, as shown in this graphic. Constantly living with the stress response over a long period can lead to chronic diseases, including breast cancer. To learn how to truly sleep well, please read this blog post. [4]
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Training your body and mind to live in a relaxed, heart coherence state can create biochemical changes that literally “turn off” the cancer-promoting genes. I know your life is stressful right now—you may be battling fears about your future, trying to muster the energy to play with your kids, balance work and treatments, or whatever else is happening in your world. It may all feel so heavy that you just want to collapse.
I am here to tell you that you are stronger than you think and braver than you may realize. You may need brain training to discover your full capacity to handle whatever life throws at you while not letting stress destroy your body. Many stress-releasing therapies are free and things you can do right now.
Dr. V’s Stress Release Library
- Emotional Trauma, Stress, and the Link to Cancer [5](podcast)
- 11 Stress Release Tips [6]
- How to Train Your Subconscious Mind [7]
- Recall Healing [8]
- Mediation Tips & Techniques To Change Your Life [9]
- Dry Brushing For Breast Cancer Healing [10]
- Unlock Heart Coherence With HeartMath [11]
- How To Use BrainTap To Help You Relax Now [12]
Another Root Cause of Teeth Grinding: A Lack Of Essential Vitamins
Deficiencies in Vitamin D, magnesium, and iron can all lead to teeth grinding—AND a low immune system, depression, and an inability to relax. Here’s why:
- Vitamin D A deficiency can make it harder for the body to absorb calcium, leading to low plasma calcium and cavity development. Deficiencies are also directly linked to depression, fatigue, anxiety, stress, feeling hopeless, and a weak immune system. Especially in the winter, make sure to test your vitamin D levels and supplement as needed. You can find a Vitamin D+K formula [13] essential for optimal bone and arterial health and for maintaining the immune system in proper balance in my BCC Shop.
- Magnesium plays a crucial role in muscle relaxation and function, which can prevent teeth grinding (bruxism) and reduce tension in your jaw. Magnesium also has a calming effect on the body as it regulates neurotransmitters and stress hormones in your brain while boosting serotonin and melatonin production. I take it before bedtime to relax my body and brain and produce the melatonin needed for rejuvenating sleep. You can purchase Magnesium Ease [14], which supports over 300 biochemical reactions, directly from the store [14].
- Iron is essential for the production of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood. When the body doesn’t have enough iron, hemoglobin levels drop, which can lead to anemia. Anemia can cause fatigue, which can lead to teeth grinding at night as a way to release built-up tension. As for stress, iron may help reduce stress and improve mood because it can lower levels of cortisol and make you more energized. It does this by supporting the production of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine—all mood enhancers.
Remineralize Your Teeth
Tooth demineralization is a natural process that occurs when tooth enamel weakens and wears away. Early signs of demineralization are usually sensitive teeth and white, chalky spots that can lead to cavities and other dental problems. Several factors can cause tooth demineralization, including acidic or sugary drinks, a lack of calcium and Vitamin D, microbial attacks from excessive bacteria in your mouth, brushing your teeth too hard, etc.
You are in control of your mind-body and dental health.
Remineralize solutions:
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- Take a customized probiotic to replace harmful with healing bacteria. Ensure it includes strains naturally found in your mouth: Bifidobacterium, reuteri, rhamnosus, and salivarius. I use Floré’s custom probiotics for my overall health, microbiome, and breast health. Please learn more via this blog post. [15]
- Rinse your mouth and drink more (filtered) water. If you are out and about and can’t brush your teeth after a meal, always rinse them out to reduce demineralization. Your beautiful, powerful body is about 75% water, and daily consumption of clean water is the foundation of your life. Water flushes impurities from your system, helps your body absorb nutrients, prevents constipation and dizziness, keeps your brain hydrated, regulates the digestive process, and provides countless other benefits. However, toxic water—especially water that includes PFAS and other damaging chemicals—can substantially harm your health. Please learn more about why you need a water filter here. [16]
- Dramatically reduce sugar and starchy foods. Too much sucrose and glucose demineralizes your teeth and fuels cancer cells. Please learn more about why you need to cut toxic sugar and starches out of your diet via this blog post. [17] I also want to shout from the rooftops that a healing diet is also delicious! Please explore and savor these healthy breast recipes [18].
- Get the calcium and vitamins that your body needs and can absorb. No one knows you better than your actual genes. Instead of following the diet flavor of the week, eat precisely what your body needs for healing and health. Especially on a breast cancer healing journey, what you eat is critical to how well your body and immune system function. You can do this by taking The Nutrition Genome Test. [19] Your body may also need more bioactive calcium ions—keep reading to learn how, and why.
Dentigen
Dentigen is a powerful supplement that releases bioactive calcium ions that strengthen your teeth, remineralize teeth, rebuild periodontium, restore gum health, and accelerate overall oral health. You can purchase this healing form of calcium directly through my store by emailing >> store@breastcancerconqueror.com [20].
Ionic calcium is highly absorbable, usable, and easily accepted by your body. It relies on Passive Transport for absorption, meaning that it does not need other cofactors (such as muscles and nerves) to help it go where it needs to. Bioactive calcium ions, such as Dentigen, can be significantly more effective than protein-based or food-based calcium supplements.
P53 Gene
Besides building strong teeth and gums to prevent oral health issues, supplementing with ionic calcium can increase Natural Killer (NK) cells to ward off cancer cells (2018 study [21] and 2023 study [22]).
However, the real magic of ionic calcium is its ability to protect the P53 gene from mutation.
Approximately 50% of all cancer tumors carry a P53 gene mutation [23]. Women with a P53 gene mutation also tend to have more aggressive types of breast cancers. P53’s job is to produce proteins that help repair damaged cells and kill off cancer cells. In short, ionic calcium protects the gene that protects you from cancer development. Please ask your doctor for an ionized calcium test to know exactly what you need.
Integrative Health & Healing
[2]If you are like most women I talk to, you are probably confused, frustrated, and overwhelmed by all the information out there about preventing or healing breast cancer. They may also not even know about how dental health impacts breast health. That’s why I have invited world-class medical and integrative experts and fellow Breast Cancer Conquerors to share their experiences and insights. Survive & Thrive: Conquering Breast Cancer with Conventional Treatments and Natural Medicine [2] is an online program that will help you curate an ACTION Plan of protocols for YOUR healing journey.
You can do this! You can make healthy changes daily and keep going even in the hardest times. Women before you are here to lift you up, just as you can do the same for the ones to come.
Author: Dr. Veronique Desaulniers, better known as Dr. V [24], is a Doctor of Chiropractic & has 44 years of experience in the wellness industry. For personalized support, please partner with a trained Breast Cancer Conqueror Coach [25].