Oral Health: The Root of the Matter
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...
95. Is Your Child's Gut Wrecking Their Teeth, Immunity, and Brain, with Dr. Elisa Song
If you've ever done everything "right" for your kids, clean eating, good hygiene, regular checkups, and still watched them struggle with cavities, ear infections, big tonsils, or just getting sick over and over again, this conversation is going to stop you in your tracks. Because the answer isn't in the toothbrush. It isn't in the antibiotic. It starts in the gut, and it shows up everywhere.
Recurring Cavities Aren’t Always a Brushing Problem 🦷🌱
94. Your Bones Are Alive: Natural Bone Health with Debi Robinson
Maybe you just got your DEXA results back and the word osteopenia is still sitting heavy on your chest. Maybe your doctor handed you a prescription for a bisphosphonate, and your dentist said, hold on, let’s talk about that first. Now you’re caught in the middle, and nobody has explained why your bones are changing in the first place. So I finally brought on the bone health expert I’ve been promising you for years.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why bone loss isn’t simply a “degenerative disease of aging,” and...93. Parasites in Your Mouth? Kim Rogers, The Worm Queen
Have you ever felt like you're doing everything right, eating well, taking your supplements, showing up for every appointment, and your body still isn't getting better? Maybe you've been told your labs look normal, or that this is just how life is going to be now. Sometimes the answer isn't another prescription. It's something hiding where no one thought to look, and very often, that place is the mouth.
This week, I'm joined by Kim Rogers, known to millions as The Worm Queen. After 13 surgeries and being told there was nothing left to try, Kim took her...
92: The Hidden Power of Minerals, Colloidal Silver, Copper and Gold with Seth Quinto
If you've ever wondered whether you're actually getting everything your cells need from a "balanced diet," this episode is for you. We talk so much about magnesium and calcium on this show, but there's a whole category of trace minerals and metals working quietly behind the scenes in your body, and most of us have never been taught why they matter or how to use them well. This week I sat down with my dear friend and colleague Seth Quinto, co-founder of Natural Immunogenics and the force behind Sovereign Silver and Argentyn 23, to talk about one of the most...
91. Toxins, Diet & the Root of Chronic Illness with Tim James
If you've ever done "everything right" with food and still felt off, tired, inflamed, stuck, this episode is for you. My guest today spent years chasing down his own health crisis before he found what was actually driving it, and it wasn't what any of his doctors were looking at. We talk about the real difference between eating "clean" and eating in a way that actually nourishes your body, why your gut health sets the tone for basically everything else, and how the food most of us grew up on set us up for exactly the kind of chronic...
90. Clear Eczema Without Steroids: The Root-Cause 3-Step Process with Dr. Carver
If you've ever stared at a red, itchy patch of skin wondering why nothing you're trying seems to actually fix it, you're not alone, and you're not doing anything wrong. Skin issues like eczema are rarely just a skin problem. They're usually your body's way of telling you something deeper needs attention, and once you understand what that something is, the path forward gets a lot clearer. In this episode, Dr. Rachaele Carver shares her own decade-long journey with eczema and the three-step framework she now uses to help people heal without relying on immune-suppressing steroids.
...
89. Healing Stored Trauma with Frequency Medicine, with Dr. Adam Suzman
Have you ever felt like you did everything right, changed your diet, ran the tests, saw every specialist, and you're still stuck with the same chronic symptom that just won't budge? That was Dr. Rachaele Carver's own story with eczema, and it's the story of so many patients who walk into her practice with a long list of labels and no real answers. In this conversation, she sits down with Dr. Adam Suzman, founder of Immortal Wellness, to talk about a piece of the healing puzzle that almost never gets addressed, the mental and emotional residue we carry in...
88. Breaking Diet Culture: Carrie Lupoli on Beliefs & Blood Sugar
Ever catch yourself weighing yourself before you'll take a picture with your own kids, or quietly promising you'll "just" lose a few pounds before you let yourself feel good?Â
If any of that sounds familiar, this episode is going to feel like a long exhale. I sat down with Carrie Lupoli, a behavior specialist turned nutrition and mindset expert, and we went deep into why so many of us, and so many of our daughters, carry a belief that our worth is tied to how we look. Carrie calls it "the corset," and once you see it, y...
87. Homeopathy 101 with Joette Calabrese, What Every Parent Should Have on Hand
If you've ever stood in the pharmacy aisle wondering if there's another way, something gentler than another round of antibiotics, you're not alone. So many parents come into my practice asking the same question. Is there something else we can reach for before we go the prescription route? This episode is for anyone who has ever wanted a few trusted, natural tools on hand for the everyday bumps, illnesses, and dental moments that come up in family life.
I sat down with Joette Calabrese, a homeopathic expert who has spent decades teaching what she calls practical homeopathy...
86. Aging Is a Choice: Peptides, Longevity, and the 5 Elements of Vitality with Carlos Cintron
You might be doing a lot of things right, eating well, moving your body, taking your supplements. And still feel like something's missing. Like you're following all the rules, but not quite getting the results you hoped for. This conversation might be exactly what you needed to hear.
Dr. Carver sat down with Carlos Cintron, author, founder of Reversible Beauty and Wellness, and someone who has walked the talk on longevity from the inside out. Carlos built his entire philosophy on one core idea: aging is inevitable, but getting old is a choice. And in this episode...
85. Naturopathy, Balance, and Listening to Your Body with Dr. Lynn Anderson
Have you ever felt like you were doing everything right and still not feeling well? Maybe you've tried the diets, taken the supplements, pushed through the exhaustion, and still wondered why your body wasn't cooperating. This conversation is for you. Dr. Lynn Anderson, a naturopath, yoga instructor, and author with over 40 years of experience, joins Dr. Carver for a wide-ranging conversation about what it actually means to support your body, and why the answer is almost always simpler than we've been told.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
Why naturopathy is rooted in teaching, not treating...84. Why GLP-1 & other Peptides Work Better With Chinese Medicine, with Dr. Yi Song
If you've ever wondered why you keep getting the same symptoms on repeat, no matter what you try, this episode is going to shift something for you. Dr. Yi Song joins Dr. Carver for a conversation that bridges 17 generations of Traditional Chinese Medicine wisdom with some of the most cutting-edge longevity science available today, and the through-line is surprisingly simple: when you understand your body's constitution, everything else starts to make sense.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
Why your body type, or constitution, is the foundation of everything in Chinese medicine, and how...83. Is Your Child's Gut Wrecking Their Teeth, Immunity, and Brain, with Dr. Elisa Song
The only pediatric doctor formulated probiotic and supplement for kids:Â
microbiome-magicÂ
The test for your child's microbiome:Â
https://www.tinyhealth.com/
If you've ever done everything "right" for your kids, clean eating, good hygiene, regular checkups, and still watched them struggle with cavities, ear infections, big tonsils, or just getting sick over and over again, this conversation is going to stop you in your tracks. Because the answer isn't in the toothbrush. It isn't in the antibiotic. It starts in the gut, and...
82. Ozone Therapy & What Your Hygienist Isn't Telling You, with Brenda Powers, RDHAP
If you've ever thought "it's just a cleaning, I can skip it," this episode is going to change the way you see that appointment forever. The hygiene visit is so much more than polishing teeth. It's one of the most powerful windows into your whole-body health, and most people have no idea what they're missing. Dr. Rachaele Carver sits down with Brenda Powers, RDHAP, a biological dental hygienist in Southern California, to pull back the curtain on what a truly comprehensive hygiene appointment can look like, and why it may be one of the most important health visits you...
81. Your Nervous System Is the Missing Piece: Healing Chronic Symptoms with Mitch Webb
Connect With Dr. Rachaele Carver:Â
Book Your Personalized Consultation
If you've done everything right, the clean eating, the functional labs, the supplements, and something still won't budge, this episode was made for you. I sat down with nervous system and trauma coach Mitch Webb, and honestly, this one hit really close to home because I was exactly that person for years.
Mitch has been through Lyme disease, black mold, heavy metals, two traumatic brain injuries, and long COVID. And what he found underneath all of it was a nervous s...
80. When Your Teeth Are Making You Sick: A Journey Through Root Canals, Biological Dentistry, and Healing
Ready to take your health to the next level?Â
Here's how to work with Dr. Carver:
Join the 6-Week Gum Disease Course
Book Your Personalized Consultation
4 Key Takeaways
Your mouth is a window into your whole body. If you're chronically sick and nobody can find the root cause, the answer may be in your teeth. Root canals, hidden infections, and old dental work can silently fuel systemic inflammation, sinus issues, joint pain, fatigue, and more.Referred pain can fool everyone, including y...79. Is Your Child's Mouth Breathing Causing ADHD, Bedwetting, and Sleep Problems? A Myofunctional Therapist Explains
🌿 Ready to get to the root of your oral health? 👉 Join the 6-Week Gum Disease Course 👉 Book Your Personalized Consultation with Dr. Carver
In this episode of Oral Health: The Root of the Matter, Dr. Rachaele Carver sits down with Karese Laguerre, registered dental hygienist and myofunctional therapist, founder of The Myo Spot. Karese's journey into myofunctional therapy started at home, with four kids whose struggles, ranging from ADHD and bedwetting to chronic ear infections and sleep issues, turned out to have one surprising thing in common: airway.
What unfolded was a story that so m...
78. Bone Health And Gum Disease Solutions with Dr. Alex Volchinuk
Gum disease can look quiet while it drives loud inflammation throughout the body. We sit down with Dr. Alex Volchinuk, Biologic Board Certified Periodontist & Oral Implantologist, to unpack what’s really behind bleeding gums, gum recession and bone loss and why the story isn’t just “brush and floss.” We talk about the oral microbiome, genetic susceptibility and the immune response that can turn everyday bacteria into a chronic, bone-resorbing problem.Â
From there, we get practical about regeneration. Dr Volchinuk explains modern periodontal treatments designed to rebuild support around teeth, including minimally invasive pinhole gum rejuvenation for recession...
77. What Your Hands Are Trying to Tell You: Fingernail & Hand Diagnosis for Gut, Liver, and Hormonal Health
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 br...
76. Heart Disease Is Reversible: The Oral-Systemic Link, Hidden Infections, and the True Root Cause of Cardiovascular Disease
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...
75. The Hidden Oral Infections Keeping You Stuck in Chronic Illness Dr. Kelly Blodgett
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...
74. Why Your Nervous System Is the Missing Link in Health, Detox, and Healing
What if real healing this year has less to do with trying harder and more to do with listening differently?
In this episode of The Root of the Matter, Dr. Rachaele Carver explores why New Year’s resolutions so often fail and what actually creates lasting change in the body.
Instead of focusing on goals, this conversation centers on values, nervous system regulation, and the foundational pillars of health that support true healing from the inside out.
Drawing from clinical experience, personal health challenges, and a powerful reminder from time spent in...
73. Values Over Resolutions: How Alignment Creates Lasting Health and Energy
After a brief pause at the end of the year, Dr. Rachaele Carver returns with a powerful solo episode to open 2026, inviting listeners to rethink the way we approach change, healing, and personal growth.
Instead of setting New Year’s resolutions that often fade by February, this episode explores a deeper and more sustainable framework: living in alignment with your values.
Dr. Carver unpacks why so many goals fail when they are driven by “shoulds” rather than meaning, and how shifting toward values-based living can transform not only oral health, but energy, confidence, relati...
72. How to Heal Early Cavities Naturally: Minerals, pH & Tooth Powder Explained
In today’s episode of The Root of the Matter, I sit down with Jennifer Rankin, owner of Wonder Oral Wellness, to explore a question I get almost daily:
“What toothpaste should I use?”
And more importantly…
“Does it actually help my teeth remineralize?”
Jennifer’s story is one of my favorites because it is so real. She started out as a customer who was simply trying to help her child avoid a cavity and ended up buying the company that changed her family’s oral health. Yes, rea...
71. Regenerative Healing, Stem Cells, and Exosomes with Dr. Jeff Gross
In this episode of The Root of the Matter, Dr. Rachaele Carver sits down with regenerative medicine pioneer Dr. Jeff Gross, founder of Re-CELLebrate, to explore how stem cells, exosomes, and regenerative therapies are reshaping the future of healing. You’ll learn how these tiny cellular messengers help the body repair itself naturally, what they mean for oral health, joint pain, TMJ dysfunction, inflammation, and aging, plus everyday ways to stimulate your own stem cells through fasting, sauna, and mindful living.
If you’re curious about the scie...
70. Oral Health & Breast Cancer: What the Mouth Tells Us About the Body
In this special Breast Cancer Awareness Month episode, Dr. Rachaele Carver explores how your mouth may hold clues to breast health. From gum disease and oral bacteria to hormone balance and energy flow, she breaks down surprising connections between oral inflammation, estrogen levels, and breast cancer risk.
You’ll learn how bacteria like P. gingivalis can trigger inflammatory cytokines that affect tissues far beyond the mouth and why supporting your oral microbiome and hormone health may be one of the best preventive steps you can take.
Dr. Carver also discusses:
69. Is Your House Making You Sick? The Toxic Home Audit with Cathy Cooke
In this eye-opening episode of The Root of the Matter, Dr. Rachaele Carver continues the Detox Series with a conversation that goes beyond supplements and diet and straight into your home environment.
Joined by Kathy Cooke, holistic nutritionist and certified Building Biologist, they uncover the invisible toxins hiding in your home, from EMFs and mold to plastics, fragrances, and non-stick cookware.
Learn practical, affordable swaps to reduce toxins, improve air quality, and create a healthier space for you and your family. Whether you are just getting started or ready for a...
68. Toxins, Triggers, and Trusting Your Body: A Whole-Person Detox Guide
In this powerful episode of The Root of the Matter, Dr. Rachaele Carver sits down with two of her favorite practitioners and her very first repeat guests, Makenzie Evangelisto, functional nutritionist and founder of Harvest Wellness & Nutrition, and Katie Kitzing certified Emotion Code and Body Code practitioner from Honey Holistic Health.
Together, they dive deep into the connection between drainage, detoxification, and emotional health, revealing why true detox is about much more than supplements and green juices.
You’ll learn:
The difference between detoxification and dr...67. Toxic Bucket Overflow: How to Empty It Before It Breaks You With Spencer Feldman
In this powerful continuation of our detox series, Dr. Rachaele Carver sits down with Spencer Feldman, founder and formulator of remedylink, a company known for its handcrafted, solvent-free detox products. Spencer has spent the last 30 years studying medical literature, filling in the gaps left by conventional medicine, and developing innovative protocols to help people detox safely and effectively.
From heavy metals and mold to biofilms and microbiome health, this conversation shines a light on the hidden toxins affecting us every day, and the smarter ways to support our body’s natural cleansing systems.
🔹 Wha...
66. Toxins, Emotions, and Resilience: A Real Look at Detoxification
Forget everything you thought you knew about detox. In this eye-opening solo episode of The Root of the Matter, Dr. Rachaele Carver cuts through the hype and misconceptions to reveal what truly supports your body’s natural cleansing systems.
Quoting Harvard physician Dr. Peter Cohen, “A true detox isn’t a starvation or restriction diet, it’s biochemistry.” With over 80,000 chemicals in today’s environment, Dr. Carver explains why quick fixes and fad cleanses fall short, and why a science-based approach to detoxification is more important than ever.
You’ll discover how your liver, kidneys, skin, intestin...
65. When the Mouth Speaks for the Body: Exploring Biologic Dentistry with Dr. Toni Engram
Welcome back to The Root of the Matter. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Dr. Toni Engram, a SMART-certified biologic dentist, integrative health coach, and founder of Flourish Dental Boutique in Texas. From the moment we connected, it felt like talking with a soul sister. Our journeys through personal illness, holistic healing, and biologic dentistry mirror each other in many ways, and this conversation is packed with insights for anyone curious about how the mouth and body are deeply intertwined.
Dr. Engram shares her personal story of being diagnosed with Crohn’s dise...
64. Linking Medicine and Dentistry: Dr. Jessica Lee on ENT Innovations
What happens when dentistry meets ear, nose, and throat medicine? In this fascinating episode of The Root of the Matter, Dr. Rachaele Carver sits down with Dr. Jessica Lee, a double board-certified ENT and lifestyle medicine physician, to explore how integrative, cross-disciplinary care is transforming patient outcomes.
From the connection between jaw development and airway health to the truth about tonsil stones, sinus surprises on dental CBCT scans, and how allergies really develop, Dr. Lee offers a rare blend of conventional expertise and holistic insight. Together, they uncover why medical–dental collaboration is crucial for ta...
63. Healing with Light: The Wearable Patch Revolution with Victoria Ahrensdorf
The healing power of light exists beyond what we can see with our eyes. Our cells communicate constantly with photons, those tiny molecules of light that surround us daily. But what if we could harness this communication system to trigger healing throughout the body?
Meet Victoria Ahrensdorf, a 70-year-old practitioner of the Feldenkrais Method who looks decades younger and credits much of her vitality to an innovative technology. These quarter-sized wearable patches use your body's own heat to generate specific light frequencies that communicate directly with your cells, activating powerful healing responses without drugs or invasive procedures.<...
62. Oral Health Revolution: Uncovering the Hidden Link to Systemic Disease with Tosha Kozloski
What if the key to preventing heart disease, dementia, and cancer was hiding in your mouth? In this eye-opening episode, we're joined by dental hygienist and consultant Tosha Kozloski RDH, who's revolutionizing periodontal care through advanced diagnostic techniques that reveal what traditional exams miss.
"All infections start subclinically," Tosha explains, sharing how microscopy has transformed her approach to gum disease. While conventional dentistry often relies on visible symptoms like bleeding or inflammation, Tasha shows how harmful bacteria can thrive beneath the surface in seemingly healthy mouths. The microscope becomes a powerful educational tool as patients witness spirochetes...
61. Unveiling Ozone Myths with Tobias Siegel
In this episode, Dr. Rachaele Carver sits down with Tobias Siegel, Owner and CEO of Promo Life, to dig deep into the world of ozone therapy. Whether you’re a practitioner, a curious home user, or someone looking for holistic tools, this conversation lights up the path. Tobias shares his family’s story, the science behind ozone, clears up some myths, and gives us a real sense of how ozone can support the body’s natural healing.
This week, Dr. Carver sits down with Tobias Siegel from Promo Life to explore what ozone therapy really is, how it sup...
60. Unlocking the Secrets of Copper: A Journey to Reclaiming Health With Morley Robbins
Imagine discovering that a century of nutritional advice has been leading us astray, and that the true root of chronic disease might be hiding in plain sight. That's exactly what happened when I sat down with Morley Robbins, creator of the Root Cause Protocol and author of "Cure Your Fatigue."
Robbins's journey from hospital administrator to health researcher began with a personal health crisis, frozen shoulder, that conventional medicine couldn't solve. This led him to question everything he thought he knew about human physiology. What he uncovered was shocking: copper, not iron, is our body's "innate healer,"...
59. Navigating Nutrition: Facts, Myths, and Personalized Guidance
Dr. Carver and functional medicine certified health coach Irene Chang demystify the confusing world of nutrition by exploring evidence-based approaches to eating and lifestyle changes. They discuss how conventional nutrition advice has misled us while revealing practical strategies for making sustainable health improvements without feeling deprived.
• Health coaching bridges the gap between medical advice and patient implementation through accountability, motivation, and personalized support
• The food pyramid promoted harmful practices like eating six times daily, causing blood sugar spikes and insulin resistance
• Protein-rich breakfasts (aim for 30g) provide longer satiety and help maintain muscle mass a...
58. Essential Oils: Understanding their Role in Health and Healing
What if your medicine cabinet could be condensed into a collection of tiny glass bottles? The world of essential oils offers powerful therapeutic options, but navigating their proper use requires guidance from true experts.
In this illuminating conversation, aromatherapy specialists Robert and Hana Tisserand from the Tisserand Institute take us beyond the aromatic experience into the science of these potent plant extracts. They explain why these highly concentrated substances deserve respect – imagine capturing only the volatile compounds from plant steam, resulting in substances so powerful they can dissolve membranes (both bacterial and human).
We explore pr...
57. How Medicine Meets Mindfulness: Dr. Edgar Vanderhorst on Pediatric Care & Whole-Body Wellness
What happens when a neonatologist applies the principles of neuroscience to everyday wellness? In this fascinating conversation with Dr. Edgar Vanderhorst, we explore the profound connections between brain science and self-care that are often overlooked in traditional medical education.
Dr. Vanderhorst shares his remarkable journey from international medical graduate to pediatrician and NICU specialist, revealing how his work with premature infants shaped his holistic understanding of human physiology. "When I have premature babies, all the organs are developed but they are not mature yet," he explains, highlighting how this specialized knowledge transfers to understanding wellness across all...
56. Beyond the Surface: Connecting Dental and Whole-Body Health with Dr. Scott Vzal
Pain is not merely a nuisance to be silenced—it's your body's sophisticated alarm system calling for attention. In this illuminating conversation with Dr. Scott J. Vrzal, we uncover how the location of your headaches serves as a roadmap to understanding deeper health imbalances throughout your body.
Dr. Vrzal, a chiropractor specializing in applied kinesiology, shares his groundbreaking approach to decoding seven distinct headache patterns and their connections to specific organ systems. Did you know that a right-sided headache typically indicates gallbladder dysfunction, while temple pain often relates to hormonal imbalances? These connections, featured in his new bo...
