Functional Roots Podcast

The Tooth Whisperer: Tuning Forks, Teeth Meridians & the Root of Chronic Illness | Dr. Gregory Hyde & Elena Mar

In this Functional Roots episode, hygienists Amanda and Heather talk with Dr. Gregory Hyde (MD/PhD, ENT surgeon and integrative physician) and Elena Mar (naturopath and biofield practitioner) about the mouth as a “circuit breaker box” for whole-body health and their method using coherent sound (tuning forks) and kinesiology to detect imbalances linked to teeth, organs, minerals, emotions, and chronic infections like cavitations. They share Dr. Hyde’s story of losing vision from a brain abscess tied to oral bacteria and a healing experience involving a Native American cedar flute, plus Elena’s long research into why certain teeth decay while adjacent teeth stay healthy. The conversation covers frequency, the biofield/aura, how sound can be used for assessment and therapy, why they focus on restoring harmony rather than “killing” microbes, and their Vita Institute courses and tooth avatar charts. 00:00 Intro & Guest Introductions00:40 Guest Background & The Tooth Mystery 03:43 Elena's Journey: Why Some Teeth Get Cavities 05:39 Dr. Hyde's Personal Health Crisis & Sound Healing Discovery 13:19 How Elena & Dr. Hyde Met: Love at First Tuning Fork 18:15 Reading the Body: Tuning Fork Diagnostics & Dentist Case Studies 24:25 The Science of Frequency, Water & Sound 58:57 Vita Institute, Courses & Closing Thoughts 01:22:25 Speaking Engagements & Wrap-Up

pH, Saliva, and Bone Health: Oral Systemic Clues with Kristin Evans The pH RDH

pH, Saliva, and Bone Health: Oral-Systemic Clues with Kristen Evans, RDH (The pH RDH)Functional Roots hosts Amanda and Heather welcome dental educator Kristin Evans (the “pH RDH”) to discuss how whole-body wellness starts in the mouth and why pH is foundational to oral disease prevention. Kristen shares how her daughter’s cystic acne sparked her deep dive into pH, dysbiosis, and oral-systemic connections, emphasizing that controlling oral pH often starts with assessing salivary flow and identifying drivers like dry mouth, acidic OTC products, mouth breathing, inhaler use, trays/night guards, and silent GERD. She addresses misconceptions about baking soda, noting its low abrasivity (RDA 7), and highlights the value of in-office pH education/testing. The conversation expands into osteoporosis and hormones as key factors in periodontal breakdown, advocating for earlier bone screening, resistance training, nutrition, vitamin D considerations, and dentistry’s growing role in systemic health screening.00:00 Welcome to Functional Roots00:41 Meet Kristen Evans02:13 Her pH Origin Story05:39 Oral Systemic Balance07:20 Beyond One Product09:57 Saliva and Dry Mouth13:24 Reflux and Hidden Acids16:27 Baking Soda Mythbusting20:33 pH Testing in Practice23:30 Inhalers Trays and Decay27:56 Ozone Hydroxyapatite Oxygen29:26 pH and Bone Loss Tease30:34 Bone Density Perio Link31:46 Systemic Drivers Behind Bone Loss33:09 Saliva Testing Future Dentistry34:04 Hormones Peak Bone Mass36:38 Inflammation Lifestyle Risk Factors39:21 Collaboration Screening Referrals44:28 Ages 15 to 30 Bone Plan50:14 CBCT Vitamin D Sleep Basics52:47 Where to Find Kristen53:23 Speaking Events Wrap Up54:40 Final Thanks Closing

Peptides with Pat Functional Roots Podcast

Peptides in Dentistry: Healing, Perio Inflammation & What’s Coming Next (with Dr. Patrick Angel)Peptides are showing up everywhere—from post-surgery recovery to periodontal inflammation—and they may be the next big conversation in dentistry. In this episode of Functional Roots, hygienists Amanda and Heather sit down with Dr. Patrick Angel (aka “Pat the Dentist”) to break down what peptides are, how they influence cell behavior and inflammation, and why therapies like BPC-157 and GHK-Cu are gaining attention for healing and potential perio management. They also discuss concerns around GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, including appetite suppression, muscle loss, oral side effects, and important pre-op considerations like delayed gastric emptying. The conversation expands into salivary diagnostics, airway and root-cause care, nutrition, and what peptide-based tools (including rinses and post-op support) could look like in the next five years. Like, subscribe, and share if you’re ready to dig past the plaque and get to the root of whole-body wellness.00:00 Welcome to Functional Roots00:39 Why Peptides Matter00:58 Meet Dr Patrick Angel04:19 Peptides Explained Simply06:58 GLP-1 Risks in Dentistry08:08 Ozempic and Surgery Fasting09:48 Food vs Weight Loss Shortcuts12:36 Dental Peptides and RivaStar15:45 BPC-157 and GHK-Cu Potential18:28 Perio Healing and MMP-821:41 Safety Testing and Regulation25:41 Root Cause Health Journey29:01 Root Cause Dentistry29:54 TMD and Airway Clues32:32 Ortho Red Flags34:15 Peptides Next Wave38:50 BPC Healing Stories42:08 Nutrition and Toxins47:24 CGMs and Food Truth49:46 Processed Foods Exposed52:54 What Pat Reads54:38 Wrap Up and Where to Find

The Mouth Lab: Why Bleeding Gums Aren’t “Normal” (and What Dentistry’s Missing)

In this episode, the founders of The Mouth Lab explain how their work grew out of frustration with traditional hygiene’s “brush, floss, rinse” approach that often leaves patients getting progressively worse. They describe patients arriving after trying everything, pushing them to dig for root causes and connect oral inflammation to broader health factors like gut integrity—down to asking about stool tests—because bleeding is an early sign of inflammation and bacteria entering the bloodstream. They criticize a dentistry model that monitors decline, uses confusing jargon, and prioritizes revenue over outcomes, arguing gum disease’s prevalence shows it’s not just a surface problem. They share why a safe, reproducible tool could be a game changer for hygienists and patients, and end with mentorship and burnout reflections after COVID.00:00 Why Mouth Lab Started00:54 Bleeding Gums Are A Warning01:33 Dentistry Profit Problem02:20 Gum Disease Runs Deep02:59 A Tool To Change Hygiene03:47 Breaking Out Of The Box04:27 Burnout And Mentorship

Functional Roots Podcast Interview with Sally DiCesare

Beating Hygienist Burnout: Pain, Patients, and Practical ResetsThe script discusses burnout and physical strain among dental hygienists, including tight jaws, shoulder and neck pain, fatigue, and early-career injuries that lead some to consider leaving the profession. It contrasts draining, unappreciative patient interactions with meaningful moments, such as advocating for a terminal cancer patient to attend a concert and a patient crediting a hygienist’s blood pressure finding with saving his life. The conversation highlights paying attention to small ergonomic details like glove fit, using belly breathing to calm the nervous system, and simple mobility habits like morning hip circles. It also addresses workload pressures from constantly adding tasks without time, and describes a more sustainable model focused on patient education, support from a dedicated assistant, and staying present to make a difference day by day.00:00 Burnout Warning Signs00:31 Early Career Pain00:43 Listening Before It Hurts00:47 Difficult Patients Drain01:29 Moments That Matter02:24 Small Ergonomic Fixes02:54 Belly Breathing Reset03:47 Morning Mobility Habits04:06 Factory Feeling Burnout04:33 Redesigning The Role05:04 First Line Of Defense05:18 Be Present Now05:36 Build Life Where You Are