Melissa Wyllie
Melissa is a dental hygienist and functional nutrition counselor at 425 Dental. She received her bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene at Eastern Washington University, and has been practicing dental hygiene for 21 years.
She understands that while brushing and flossing are the building blocks of dental hygiene, our mouths are complex and there is often more at play that can help a patient achieve optimal oral and overall health.
After seeing a naturopathic doctor about her own health, Melissa decided to return to school in order to obtain certification to become a functional nutrition counselor as well. There she learned the parallels in oral health and nutrition, the relationship between functional health and a natural full-systems approach to dental care, and found her unique niche that she is now excited to share with the members of the 425 Dental community!
Did You Know? Alzeimers, Diabetes, Heart Disease and More Can All Be Related to Your Oral Health
How can nutrition help control chronic diseases and in turn help your oral health?
The mouth is a gateway to our overall health because bacteria in our mouth has a direct path to our internal systems – think of all the things you eat on a daily basis! It is also a mirror because gum health and all the tissue in your mouth can often show us what’s going on with your body. Having gum inflammation or persistent issues like bleeding, decay and chronic periodontal disease may indicate inflammation elsewhere.
As such, there’s no better time to get a good look at your nutrition and how it’s affecting your body than at your bi-annual dental exams! We have the privilege of seeing you twice a year or more, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to see how your oral health may be related to your overall health.
When making an appointment at 425 Dental, you may elect to meet with Melissa, our Functional Nutrition Counselor, following your treatment for one of three Nutritional Counseling Sessions.
Counseling Sessions
1. Oral DNA- PerioPath testing
The purpose of this test is to detect oral pathogens that cause gum disease and threaten oral and systemic health. The pathogens tested can help determine if you are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke and birth complications. Included is a 30-minute consultation with each test to go over results and provide oral and nutritional options.
2. Food Sensitivity Testing
Food sensitivity testing measures our inability to process or digest certain foods by looking for the presence of IgG antibodies. This intolerance to foods can contribute to a feeling of sluggishness, bloating, diarrhea, joint pain, skin problems and mineral uptake issues. This test, along with food journaling is a great place to start a healing journey. Included are two 1-hour visits, a copy of your test results, and an action plan to get you started.
3. Inflammation Testing
This program evaluates systemic inflammation and records baseline markers. Systemic inflammation may be the underlying factor with chronic periodontal disease that is resistant to traditional therapies. This program features 10 tests to help pinpoint any specific issues that may be at play inside your body, two 1-hour counseling sessions, and an action plan to get you started on your healing journey.
If you have questions about Functional Nutrition Counseling at 425 Dental, or would like to make an appointment with your Nutrition Counselor following an appointment, please email us at nutrition@425dental.com. We’re happy to help!