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Oral Health: The Root of the Matter

Oral Health: The Root of the Matter

By: Dr. Rachaele Carver D.M.D. Board-Certified Biologic Naturopathic Dentist
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About this listen

Welcome to the world of biologic dentistry! Meet your host, Dr. Rachaele Carver, who presents a comprehensive overview of biologic dentistry and interviews amazing holistic, functional medicine doctors and health practitioners. Dr. Rachaele Carver, D.M.D. is a Board-Certified, Biologic, Naturopathic Dentist & Certified Health Coach.

She owns and practices at Carver Family Dentistry in North Adams, Mass. She is on a mission to provide the best quality holistic dentistry available and educate the world about biologic dentistry.

Learn from one of the best biologic holistic dentists in the country easy, effective methods of improving your dental and oral health and how to use this to improve your overall health!

Did you know that many people with a chronic or recurring disease or physical condition can be greatly helped by improving their oral health?

Find out how biologic dentistry can help with disease prevention or eradication. Become your own oral health advocate! Find the best dentist for you.

Listen and share with your family and friends!

© 2026 Oral Health: The Root of the Matter
Alternative & Complementary Medicine Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • 77. What Your Hands Are Trying to Tell You: Fingernail & Hand Diagnosis for Gut, Liver, and Hormonal Health
    Mar 1 2026

    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. Before using any products mentioned or attempting methods discussed, please speak with a licensed healthcare provider. This podcast disclaims responsibility from any possible adverse reactions associated with products or methods discussed. Opinions from guests are their own, and this podcast does not condone or endorse opinions made by guests. We do not provide guarantees about the guests' qualifications or credibility. This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.

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    18 mins
  • 76. Heart Disease Is Reversible: The Oral-Systemic Link, Hidden Infections, and the True Root Cause of Cardiovascular Disease
    Feb 15 2026

    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. Before using any products mentioned or attempting methods discussed, please speak with a licensed healthcare provider. This podcast disclaims responsibility from any possible adverse reactions associated with products or methods discussed. Opinions from guests are their own, and this podcast does not condone or endorse opinions made by guests. We do not provide guarantees about the guests' qualifications or credibility. This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.

    Show More Show Less
    12 mins
  • 75. The Hidden Oral Infections Keeping You Stuck in Chronic Illness Dr. Kelly Blodgett
    Feb 1 2026

    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."

    "Thoughts become beliefs, and beliefs become reality."

    "We're not solving a math equation here. It's a human being with feelings."

    "To have predictable results, you treat it all."

    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: htt



    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. Before using any products mentioned or attempting methods discussed, please speak with a licensed healthcare provider. This podcast disclaims responsibility from any possible adverse reactions associated with products or methods discussed. Opinions from guests are their own, and this podcast does not condone or endorse opinions made by guests. We do not provide guarantees about the guests' qualifications or credibility. This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.

    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
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