Dr. Jigar Gandhi: Are Your Teeth REALLY Making You Sick? | TUH #179

Dr. Gandhi explains that most patients come to him only after exhausting all other medical avenues. He uses the CBCT in conjunction with the meridian chart to correlate specific teeth with systemic symptoms. For example, Gary’s left shoulder pain, left lung catch, and left big toe numbness all mapped to a specific infected tooth on the meridian. When Dr. Gandhi removed that tooth and cleaned the cavitation, those symptoms resolved within 48 hours. He stresses that the scan is the gateway; without it, patients and even many dentists don’t know the infection is there because the body has walled it off, and blood tests often show nothing. The protocol is to obtain a detailed 3D image, interpret it with a biological lens, and then plan surgical removal if needed, not as an emergency but as a proactive cleanup.

Dr. Gandhi describes his surgical technique in detail. He doesn’t just pull the tooth; he opens the jawbone, removes the infected material (which looks like a swamp of pathogens), and cleans until fresh bleeding appears—a sign that the area is re‑oxygenated and the immune system can access it. He then floods the site with ozone gas, which is powerfully antimicrobial, and applies red and possibly green light to stimulate cellular healing. Next, he draws the patient’s own blood, spins it to concentrate platelets and fibrin, and forms PRF plugs that are packed into the bone defect. These growth‑factor‑rich plugs accelerate healing and reduce infection risk. Gary shares his own experience: during his procedure, the gum tissue around the extracted tooth was pale pink and oxygen‑deprived; Dr. Gandhi worked until it turned bright red. Gary reported minimal pain, healing quickly, and immediate relief from long‑standing symptoms. Dr. Gandhi says he sees the same immediate change in patients’ energy and eye clarity as soon as the last speck of infected tissue is removed.

Dr. Gandhi strongly advises against mouthwash, calling some of them ‘floor cleaners’ that wipe out beneficial bacteria and lower nitric oxide production, which starts on the back of the tongue. He explains that nitric oxide is essential for vasodilation and energy, and low levels can contribute to fatigue and high blood pressure. He recommends copper tongue scrapers because copper has natural antimicrobial properties and is not plastic. For oil pulling, he suggests virgin olive oil or coconut oil, both of which can trap and remove oral pathogens. He uses a tooth powder rather than paste to avoid chemicals; his favorite contains beta clay and cinnamon. Gary adds that he uses hydroxyapatite toothpaste and has seen his gum sensitivity vanish. Both agree that flossing is crucial, but note that if food routinely gets stuck, there may be underlying recession or periodontal disease that needs professional attention. Dr. Gandhi mentions Cocoa Floss and David’s floss as PFA‑free options with no affiliation.

Dr. Gandhi uses the meridian chart as a primary reference in his practice. He tells Gary that when he saw him stomping his left big toe and Gary reported left shoulder and left lower lung catch, he immediately recognized the pattern from the chart’s signals for tooth #19. After confirming infection on CBCT, removing the tooth cleared all symptoms. He notes that even mainstream dentists’ education includes aspects of this neuro‑anatomy, but they don’t routinely apply it to systemic disease. The interactive chart on his website allows users to click on each tooth and see its energetic connections. He recommends patients use this as a starting point to have a more informed conversation with a biological dentist.

Dr. Gandhi explains that a root canal removes the main nerve and blood supply, so the tooth no longer has the natural defense mechanisms. The 2 million dentinal tubules remain open and can become colonized by microbes. He tells Gary that even if a root canal is well‑done, it’s almost 100% infected over time. He advocates for a game plan: recognize that the tooth is a potential source of future disease and address it proactively rather than waiting for a crisis. Many chronic conditions resolve only after the last infected tooth is cleaned out.

Dr. Gandhi emphasizes that gold crowns cause galvanic shock, a continuous low‑voltage current akin to a 9V battery, which not only damages the nerve but also can disrupt the body's electrical signaling. He says the tooth under a metal crown is often black and dead, having been slowly electrocuted. He includes this in his five major areas of biological dentistry. Gary shared images of the blackened teeth after crown removal. Dr. Gandhi advises that anyone with these restorations get a CBCT and consider replacement, especially if they have cardiac or neurological issues.

Dr. Gandhi shares that he has built his practice on the premise that dental infections, even when painless, can seed systemic inflammation. He references the meridian chart—a 5,000‑year‑old Chinese medicine framework—showing each tooth is energetically connected to specific organs and body parts. By evaluating a patient’s dental X‑rays (preferably 3D cone beam) against this chart, he often identifies infected teeth or jawbone sites that correspond to the patient’s mystery symptoms, without needing a full medical history. He emphasizes that once these hidden oral infections are cleaned out, many patients experience dramatic improvement in conditions that no other doctor could explain. This approach reframes the dentist as a key detective in chronic disease, not just a tooth mechanic.

Dr. Gandhi explains that when dissimilar metals sit in the moist oral environment, they act like a battery. Gold crowns and mercury fillings produce a measurable electrical current that he likens to ‘touching a 9‑volt battery’—but continuously. He notes that under such restorations, the tooth structure often turns black and is effectively dead due to years of this low‑grade insult. Traditional dentistry judged success by form and function (the crown fits, patient chews), but biologic dentistry looks beyond to ask: is the tooth alive, and is the body burdened? The galvanic shock can disrupt the local environment and possibly contribute to systemic neurological issues because the trigeminal nerve is directly in the current path. He recommends that patients with metal dental work consider evaluation and possible removal with a biological dentist.

Dr. Gandhi describes that on every patient who undergoes his protocol—surgically cleaning out cavitations, removing dead tissue and pathogens—their eyes change. He tells of performing a six‑hour surgery and seeing the patient the next day: despite swelling, the patient said he felt ‘totally different,’ and Dr. Gandhi could see his eyes were clearer. He says it’s a consistent phenomenon. The improvement in eye brightness is so reliable that he now expects it. This dramatic visual change often convinces skeptical patients that something real has shifted.

This is Gary’s personal testimony: he and Dr. Gandhi took the extracted tooth, burst a small sac at the bottom, smeared the contents on a slide, and examined it under a microscope. They observed spirochetes (helical parasites) and white blood cells (macrophages) actively trying to engulf them. Gary says seeing his own immune cells fighting parasites in a dead tooth he had been walking around with was a turning point; it cemented his conviction to promote biological dentistry. This first‑hand demonstration underlines a central claim of the field: root canal teeth can harbor a polymicrobial biofilm inaccessible to systemic antibiotics and hidden from routine X‑rays. The tooth may be painless, but it’s not sterile.

Gary references a study he and Dr. Gandhi had shared, where researchers mapped specific bacteria found in root canal infections to the heart’s vascular plaques. Dr. Gandhi adds that according to the meridian chart, wisdom teeth correspond to all four chambers of the heart. He describes that elevated cytokines like RANTES (CCL5) can promote plaque formation and may not be detected on standard scans until it’s too late. The pathway is direct: pathogens from jaw cavitations travel along nerves (trigeminal to vagus) and via the lymphatic/blood system to the heart. This gives patients another reason to check for hidden oral infections, especially if they have elevated inflammatory markers or a family history of heart disease.