Episode 129 | May 8, 2025

How Functional Dentistry Gets To The Root Of Oral Health, With Dr. Eniko Loud

What if your dental issues weren’t just about your teeth—but your stress, diet, and sleep? On this episode of Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi sits down with trailblazing biological dentist and functional medicine practitioner Dr. Eniko Loud to explore how conventional dentistry misses the mark on whole-body healing—and how a holistic approach to oral care could change lives.

“Nobody’s asking why this is happening. That’s what functional medicine taught me—look for the root cause. If someone keeps getting cavities, ulcers, or cracked teeth, it’s not just bad luck or aging. It’s often a symptom of stress, inflammation, diet, poor sleep, or toxicity. The mouth is telling a story about the whole body—and it’s our job to listen.”

Dr. Eniko Loud

Dr. Loud brings a rare combination of training in both medicine and dentistry, alongside a lifelong passion for understanding how every system in the body is interconnected. After recognizing the shortcomings of the standard drill-and-fill model, she immersed herself in functional medicine and began transforming her dental practice to focus on root causes, not just symptoms. Today, she blends science, intuition, and ancient healing practices to help patients restore oral health—and whole-body vitality.

In their conversation, Dr. Sandi and Dr. Loud reveal how a dysfunctional bite, chronic stress, poor diet, and even mouth breathing can lead to long-term oral and systemic health problems. Dr. Loud shares actionable strategies grounded in both data and ancient traditions—like oil pulling, tongue scraping, and thermal imaging—to restore balance to the microbiome and reduce inflammation. The result is a radically different dental experience, one that views the mouth as an integrated part of the whole body.

For health coaches, this conversation opens new doors. Oral health is rarely part of lifestyle change conversations, yet it’s deeply connected to digestion, sleep, inflammation, and immune resilience. Coaches can play a powerful role in helping clients adopt small daily practices that protect long-term oral health—and in bridging the gap between dental care and lifestyle medicine. Dr. Loud envisions a future where dentists work hand-in-hand with health coaches to empower patients with education, support, and preventive strategies.

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Transcript

Dr. Sandi: Welcome to “Health Coach Talk.” We hear a lot about functional medicine doctors. We know, though, that oral health is critically important for overall health. And yet, for many people, they see conventional dentists who are focusing on drill and bill. And that would be about it. And that was my experience growing up. I had a mouth full of cavities, had mercury fillings, had those removed, and I had worked with a number of dentists but never really found the right one until I happened upon the person who is going to be our special guest today.

Her name is Dr. Eniko Loud. Let me tell you about Dr. Loud. She is a trailblazer in holistic dentistry, seamlessly integrating her extensive background in functional medicine, Ayurvedic healing, and intuitive health practices into a revolutionary approach to patient care. With a foundation rooted in comprehensive medical training and advanced expertise in oral health, Dr. Loud bridges the gap between ancient healing science and modern medicine, offering patients a transformative whole body experience. This is dentistry like you have never seen before. So, let me, again, welcome Dr. Eniko Loud.

Dr. Loud: Thank you for having me.

Dr. Sandi: I would love if you can tell our listeners how you got into holistic dentistry, or by some people call it biological dentistry. We can talk about any differences there. And your interest in functional medicine, because you are one of the few who focuses as a dentist on functional medicine as an approach.

Dr. Loud: So, I was actually a trained medical doctor in Europe. I had a dual degree in Europe, and I always had since childhood, since I was probably five, a love for the whole body and understanding how everything is connected. I was just so fascinated with the human body. So, when I came to the United States, I went to dental school, and I started practicing, and I realized that it’s a disease care model and something was missing. People are not getting better. People are getting more cavities, and they don’t own it, and there’s no end to it.

So, I started searching, and I joined the Holistic Dental Association, but I still didn’t find answers. I’m a bit scientific, so I like data, and I like research, and I like to know if I’m doing something that’s been verified. And a friend of mine at the Holistic Dental Association actually told me, “I think based on the questions you’re asking, you really should look up IFM.” So, it happened that there was a course on cardiometabolic disorders that weekend in Phoenix, and I attended it.

And I remember Dr. Saxena, that I was talking about diabetes, and how diabetes is reversible. She showed how she reversed her dad’s diabetes. And I said, “Wait a minute. In dental school, they teach us that once you have diabetes, you have it, just like once you have gum disease, you have it for life. There’s nothing you can do about it.” So, it was like a huge paradigm shift. And I was like, “Okay, I need to understand this more.” And I really just immersed myself in functional medicine, and I wanted to understand it as deep as I could. So, I figured getting certified was the best way, because there’s a lot of studying and a lot of learning. So, I committed to the path of that moment.

And then slowly as I was learning, I started seeing the connections between what people were doing and how they were living, and how it was manifesting in their mouth. I could see metal toxicity in the mouth. I could see how my current exposures to some toxins could cause burning mouth. So, I was connecting the dots, and I was getting so excited. And I realized there’s no other way to practice but to start bringing it in and follow the functional medicine model.

Dr. Sandi: Well, I’m so glad you did, because I found you as a dentist. And my history with dentistry goes way, way back in a childhood with mercury, amalgam fillings, and just a lot of dental procedures. And it was always an area where I wish I had known sooner, good dietary habits when I was much younger, for example, did not follow that and it’s led to a number of dental issues. And I found you, and I’ve got to say that the experience I had walking into your office from my conventional dentist was night and day. The way you analyze so many things that a conventional dentist overlooks and the care, but even down to the environment, which just is healthy. You don’t have the toxic mouth washes, for example, or air fresheners all around, and your use of cutting edge x-ray technology. So, it’s quite a different experience. What are some of the most egregious things you have seen in terms of conventional dentistry where people are just on this path, just more and more issues pop up and often as a direct consequence of bad dentistry?

Dr. Loud: One of the biggest one is really bite related. So, majority of dentists don’t really understand how proper bite is connected to the muscles, to joints, the whole posture and the airway. And oftentimes a person gets a crown or let’s say they crack a second molar, which is the most common thing. Nobody’s asking, “Why is this happening?” That’s one of the things that was big in functional medicine. Why is this happening? What is the true root cause? And a patient just gets a cap and a crown and eventually that breaks, then they get a root canal and then eventually gets this tooth extracted and nobody’s really asking, “Hey, why is this happening to this person?”

And then that’s how people end up losing teeth or end up getting root canals because oftentimes the problem with the second molars is that they are out of alignment or something that is causing misalignment in the jaw joints and muscle activity changes and then they start overloading. So, that’s one of the most overlooked problems. Ninety percent of dental diseases are probably caused by imbalances in a bite, and then teeth end up wearing down, chipping. So, I think that’s one of the biggest things, and they are neglected. And then just not asking why this is happening, why somebody’s getting a lot of cavities or why somebody gets often mouth ulcers and then the patients just end up getting patchwork dentistry and eventually they get worse. And they just think that’s part of aging.

Dr. Sandi: You noticed issues with my bite, and you fitted me for a night guard. Would that be the approach as well as of course a holistic approach where you look at other factors as well? But is that one of the things that you typically recommend?

Dr. Loud: Yeah, it’s one of the things, not just a night guard. It’s really actually designed and it gets adjusted over time to start balancing the joints because oftentimes when the joints are not loaded properly, imagine excessive forces moving the joints out of their socket and not evenly functioning just like one leg will be shorter than the other, eventually the whole systems are showing stress. And these appliances are specifically designed to create a balanced base where the muscles and the joints through the adjustments can find their neutral state where they’re not in stress. Actually if somebody gets thermal scans, we can see very clearly which muscles are really out of balance because when there’s imbalance, there’s inflammation.

Dr. Sandi: Can you describe a thermal scan? What is that? Is that something that you do?

Dr. Loud: I don’t do that but there’s many places around here that do thermal scans. It is used also for early cancer detection. It’s like a thermal imaging because the body emits certain thermal signals, heat or cold. So, when an area is cold there’s lack of blood flow so it could be an area of problem for cancer or there’s too much blood flow, shows up red, and that’s a sign of inflammation. So, it would be like imagine a picture of yourself but only in colors. So, if there’s inflammation in the joints and the muscles, this area would be red. So, that’s how we know where inflammation is localized when it comes to the thermal signature of a human being.

Dr. Sandi: That’s fascinating. I want to talk a bit about dental hygiene. Sometimes there’s conflicting advice out there in terms of how should we be caring for our teeth and does that change as we age. Are there some things that we need to perhaps pay more attention to in terms of the care of our teeth?

Dr. Loud: That’s a very good question, and the answer to that would tie into what I’m studying now Ayurvedic medicine, which is a very ancient medicine that recognizes that we actually go through stages of life and there’s some changes that happen during those stages that are very specific. So, as we age, we start drying out. Everything becomes drier because there’s an air and ether element. So, as we age, it’s very important to use oil-based mouth rinses, oil pulling to reestablish moisture to the oral cavity. We become, as we age, sometimes less prone to cavities and we’re more prone to gum disease. There’s always a shift in the microbiome, and that could lead to gum disease so people can become more prone to gum disease.

When we’re younger, really young, we’re more prone to cavities because of the lack of care and kids try everything and they eat more sweets and carbs. The middle part of our life, we’re a bit more stable. Most people say, “I haven’t had a cavity since I was in my 20s,” because we become more aware of what we need to do. So, brushing and flossing should happen twice a day for everyone. If somebody is dealing with sleep apnea or a drier mouth or digestive issues, probably adding in that third time is really good just to prevent food from building up. And then using oil-based mouth rinses is really healthy, actually for everyone. But as we age, that’s even more important.

Dr. Sandi: Yeah, after my consultation with you, I really upped the ante. I had been oil pulling a few years ago, got out of the habit, and starting that again another I’ve learned from other people as well and hadn’t been doing that regularly, which is tongue scraping. Can you describe the benefits of tongue scraping?

Dr. Loud: So, as you know it and everybody in your community knows it, liver detoxes at night and then the detox process happens at night and all the toxins are cleansed out of the body and depositing to digestive tract. That’s why we go to the bathroom first thing in the morning. A healthy person goes to the bathroom first thing in the morning to release the toxins. And part of the oral cavity is part of this digestive tract. So, there’s a tendency to have some buildup on the tongue because the toxins come out.

So, cleansing the tongue early in the morning removes those toxins, stimulates the taste buds. It also removes any type of toxins that bacteria could be using as a breeding ground. And then in Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, every organ is represented on the mouth. So, you’re actually massaging those internal organs just like acupuncture and acupressure to the hands and feet. When you’re scraping, you’re massaging your internal organs and toning them.

Dr. Sandi: That’s just fascinating. Yeah, and so I’m definitely making that a part of my routine. Is there an ideal time to do that tongue scraping? Is it the first thing you do before you brush your teeth?

Dr. Loud: Yes, that should be the first thing to remove it. Sometimes people use their toothbrush. I don’t recommend that because then you’re just pushing the toxins into the toothbrush and then you’re brushing your teeth with it. So, then again, that toxic buildup is like a breeding ground for bacteria. So, copper tongue scrapers are the best because copper is antimicrobial and the energetics of it also helps cleanse. Actually, Ayurvedic medicine, the right way of doing it is to clean the eyes, maybe use some rose water to clean the eyes, then clean the nose, and then clean the mouth, because the mouth is part of our senses. We communicate through our mouth, we taste, and then the mouth and the nose, the taste and the smell are very much connected. So, this way, you’re getting your senses ready for the day.

Dr. Sandi: That is beautiful. I love that and I hadn’t thought about that. One area that I think people are sometimes obsessed with are mouth washes. And I’ve heard there’s a lot of problems, especially the really strong Listerine, the anti-bacterial. Can you talk about that and what you see in your practice or just in general public, people who are using or perhaps overusing mouth washes? Is there one we should be using?

Dr. Loud: Yeah, there’s [crosstalk 00:13:13.617] I know antimicrobials try to kill everything and then even dentists prescribe chlorhexidine, which is really harsh. It actually prevents the growth of fibroblasts, which are cells that help repair tissues. So, our microbiome is very much part of us. And on Functional Medicine, they teach that our microbiome is what helps us be healthy. So, these alcohol-based, anti-bacterial, anti-plaque, anti-everything, they tend to wipe out the good bugs also. So, they again create a breeding ground for problems. And then our own bacteria help digest carbs and help break down toxins, and it just disrupts that.

So, I’m not a big fan of Listerine. Also they add coloring agents in them and all types of chemicals. Anytime something is in a plastic bottle, then the plastic leaches into it and it’s just a mess. I still would go the simplest thing, coconut oil pulling. It’s simple. There’s one ingredient, or other whole food sells essential oil-based oil pulling, or actually one of the best things is make some herbal teas and rinse with that. Chamomile tea is really good or coriander. You could take coriander seeds, crush them, and then soak them in water overnight and then just drain it and rinse your mouth with that. That’s an anti-inflammatory. So, simple things that we have in our kitchen, we can use instead of spending a lot of money on these expensive chemical-based mouth washes.

Dr. Sandi: Those are great suggestions. I love that. I’m going to try those. So, is it possible then to restore our oral microbiome? Let’s say we have been using those commercial grade products like Listerine that are mouth washes that are very harsh.

Dr. Loud: Of course it is because our body knows how to get back into balance. But I think a big part of that is a really healthy diet. So, we get the nutrition that we need. The other thing that can disrupt the healthy microbiome is mouth breathing. And a lot of people tend to do that. There are people that talk a lot that can cause disruptions in their microbiome. So, paying attention to breathing through your nose more and even at night breathing through your nose to help that bacterial population be healthier because dryness drives them out so they can’t thrive. But, yeah, definitely.

And you can use oral probiotics. Just like in the gut, these are transitional so they don’t really last but they can help regulate the immune system and then help reestablish a healthier flora. So, just bring back a little bit of balance so your microbiome can regrow. But a healthy diet like the rainbow diet, I’m a big fan of that, or the Mediterranean diet, those are great because health comes from the inside from the gut. They actually did these studies many years ago. Very controversial and not very nice. They have a study. They took radioactive isotopes and put them in food particles and then they had dogs eat that. And then they were trying to see how long it took from the stomach to get into the teeth. And it took five minutes. So, as we absorb foods from our stomach, that ends up in our teeth, so it’s very important that we eat the right way because that nourishes our oral environment.

Dr. Sandi: So, once again looking from a functional medicine lens, we’re really addressing those lifestyle factors and namely nutrition where we can significantly improve our oral health as well as our overall physical health.

Dr. Loud: And there’s two other things that disrupt the microbiome severely. So, if somebody wants to reestablish is sleep. Again, the lifestyle. So, at least being in bed and asleep by 10 and sleeping seven and a half hours. If somebody stays up at night all the time, that will disturb their oral microbiome because the detox process is not happening and toxins accumulate. So, the bad bacteria thrives in this toxic-laden environment. And then also we test saliva. So, we test the microbiome just like a gut test. The microbiome in the mouth is very much affected by stress. I’ve had patients that went from healthy microbiome, and we tested six months later when the spouse passed away and it was off the charts. Really harmful, really aggressive bacteria off the charts full, and it took a long time to calm it down. It was purely stress that triggered that inflammation.

Dr. Sandi: Wow. So, once again the importance of lifestyle factors. Health coaches are the specialists in lifestyle factors, can really help people who are struggling or perhaps they see their dentist and they are getting a bad prognosis in terms of their oral health but addressing these factors that dentists overlook. I’ve never had a dentist other than you look at these factors. They’re basically taking x-ray, fill and drill. But health coaches can be the ones who can really help people to maintain their oral health, restore their oral health.

Dr. Loud: Yeah, we work with a functional medicine health coach and nutritionist. So, that’s a huge part of what we do because it’s so important. You can’t get better if the lifestyle is not addressed. And most people don’t really know that. [inaudible 00:18:24.018] health coaches. What you’re doing is amazing because the world needs a lot of it.

Dr. Sandi: We need millions more health coaches and wouldn’t it be incredible if health coaches could really look at oral health and help people. And if dentists can refer people rather than just filling the cavity or recommending an implant or a root canal but actually start way before then to help people with these factors that you’re describing, stress, and having an immediate purpose in your life is going to be anti-inflammatory, and of course what you’re eating or not eating, and how that contributes as well as motivation to have good oral hygiene. And it’s amazing how many people don’t floss for example.

Dr. Loud: Yeah, totally. I think that could be a huge potential for health coaches to go out and connect with some dentists because there’s a huge need for it.

Dr. Sandi: Yeah, and often that’s when I think they might be most receptive if they are told, “Oh, this is something down the road. You might need this.” And nobody wants a dental procedure. And I’ve had enough of them in my lifetime to know that they are not fun.

Dr. Loud: Or, even if they have surgeries like massive dental surgeries and how to introduce the diet and lifestyle so they heal faster, and then they recover better, and they don’t have as much pain. Procedures go well. Implants fail if somebody has a really poor gut immune system, a lot of stress and poor diet. They can fail, and that’s a lot of money that they waste.

Dr. Sandi: Oh, absolutely. That’s so true. What are some of the signs? What should they look for? Let’s say they’re wanting to get a new dentist, and often they’re in an area where there might not be a holistic or… Well, first of all, can you explain the difference between a biological dentist and holistic dentistry? Is there a difference?

Dr. Loud: I think those are labels. Biologic dentists are looking for preventing toxic materials from going into the mouth or removing toxic materials. Holistic dentists is very similar, but holistic meaning, like, they try to look at the whole body and connect the dots between the body and the mouth and how that’s influencing somebody’s health or disease states. So, that’s how you can make a distinction.

But it’s becoming a trend. So, you have to be careful with that, because a lot of people just call themselves holistic or biologic. It’s a trend now because we’re realizing that there’s a need for it. So, American Academy for Oral Systemic Health, I would say that would be a good resource. I think it’s AAOSH, American Academy for Oral Systemic Health. That’s pretty legitimate, very much dedicated to systemic well-being and connecting the dots. And all the dentists that I’ve met through that were really amazing dentists, and I think they’re all around. That would be a good resource.

Dr. Sandi: That’s great. We will make a note of that. And what are some of the things that would be important to look for? Perhaps you are seeking a new dentist.

Dr. Loud: I think if I was a patient looking for a dentist, I would call and find out if they have a getting-to-know-you appointment, because I think that’s so important. I learned that from functional medicine, how important it is to sit with the patient and know what they want and what their goals are. It’s like having an appointment where the dentist will just sit with you for an hour or half an hour and know what your wants are and what your concerns are. And then look on their website, what they’re dedicated to, what they’re learning, and ask some questions like, “What is the philosophy of the dentist about overall health? How’s the mouth affecting the health?” And then I think you’ll find out some information. And also, make sure they wear magnification loops, like high magnification loops, because you can’t really see after a while. So, that allows for more precision in their work.

Dr. Sandi: That’s a good point. I see ads all the time about, “Come in, and in one visit you’ll get Invisalign, you’ll get implants done, and you’ll walk out with a brand new you, with a new smile.” What would you say in those kinds of approaches or advertising?

Dr. Loud: Well, they’re focused more on the process, on the procedures, versus the human being. It is just, unfortunately, what dentistry became, like, get it all done. It fills some people’s needs that want to get it done fast, but I think if you want to have quality care, you need to have a relationship and a partnership with the dentist. Going to a dentist should be long-term, not just like in and out. If all you’re needing is just getting something done quickly, there are plenty out there. But if you want a long-term relationship with the dentist that looks out for you and pays attention to things that could go wrong in your health based on your mouth, then maybe do those interview questions.

Dr. Sandi: Yeah, absolutely, and really, this is so similar to what we would look for when we’re looking for a medical practitioner. Unfortunately, modern medicine has become just this in-and-out, and you’re given 10, 15 minutes, and they don’t even know your name or make eye contact in some cases. And then you feel like just a number, and there is no relationship that’s created. So, I love what you’re saying. It is relationship-based. They know you. And a real win, a home run would be if they had a health coach or referred to a health coach that appreciated the importance of the lifestyle factors that we’ve been discussing.

Dr. Loud: Yeah, I have this big dream of changing dentistry somewhere or another.

Dr. Sandi: Well, I am right there with you. Yes, exactly, because I think people, they’re in the chair, they’re captive when they’re seeing their dentist. And what an opportune time for the hygienist, or the dentist, or the health coaches in the office to address those whole health factors.

Dr. Loud: Yeah. As a matter of fact, patients see their dentist more often than they see their medical doctor.

Dr. Sandi: Yes.

Dr. Loud: Most patients do. So, it’s a privilege that we get to serve that way, and I think if more dentists saw it that way, dentistry could change.

Dr. Sandi: Absolutely.

Dr. Loud: It’s a responsibility also. If somebody comes to see you, you have a responsibility to care for that human being.

Dr. Sandi: That’s so true.

Dr. Sandi: That’s so true. Well, I admire you. I admire the work that you are doing. I chose you as my own dentist, and your practice is called Whole Health, and I think that really says it all that you are not just a fill and drill or refer to do a root canal. The drilling doesn’t work. So, Dr. Loud, where can people find you?

Dr. Loud: wholehealthdentistryaz.com. And on Instagram, Dr. Eniko Loud. I post videos about certain topics, so it might be interesting to learn about some things.

Dr. Sandi: Well, this has been just a pleasure to talk with you. And you are a real trailblazer, a dentist who is a whole health dentist, and a practitioner of functional medicine. So, thank you so much.

Dr. Loud: Thank you. My pleasure.