For 10 years, we’ve emphasized that the first step to dental self-empowerment is to get to know what’s going on in our mouth by filling out the OraWellness Mouth Map.
However, as we’re constantly revisiting the concepts we share with you, we recently realized that there’s a step before this first step. (What would that be called? The zero point? 
)
Here’s the thing: getting to know your mouth is a critically important step. But truth be told, most people aren’t comfortable with the idea of taking a look around their mouth as the starting point for their journey to greater oral health.
So, before we consider exploring our mouth, we need to “get our head in the game” and ask ourselves a question: “Who is the most important person in my oral health journey?”
The answer establishes a crucial frame of mind that will help us to optimize our growth and benefit on this path.
Let’s define the roles of the players on our team.
Who is the captain and CEO?
Who is the most important person in my oral health journey?
If we buy into what mainstream media, dentistry, and medicine lead us to believe, that most important person would be our dentist. After all, they went to school to become an expert in the field.
However, in our view, this would be a mis-assignment of the most important position.
We have to realize that each of us is the captain, the most valuable person, the CEO, the BOSS of our own health journey.
If we don’t consciously proclaim this and take responsibility as the CEO of our journey, we’re more likely to get stuck in a victim mindset when something ‘bad’ happens ‘to us’.
This victim mentality of not taking full responsibility for what happens (in oral health and in our lives in general) is a tricky trap. It disempowers us and creates a huge hole in our ability to create positive change.
So, step one: proclaim that we are the MVP, the CEO of our own oral (and whole-body) health journey.
Say it with me, “I am the boss of my path.”
The importance of guides…
Now that we have the MVP role firmly established, where do we go from here?
Like any good leader, you’re aware that you need team assistance in order to steer your ship on your optimal course. You need the support of guides, coaches and mentors who can help you brainstorm and gather information so you can make the best decisions for your path.
Guides and mentors help us sift through the ocean of information so that we can make the wisest, most educated decisions possible for our path.
At OraWellness, our role is in this space of being guides, or brainstorming buddies if you’d prefer.
We help you grasp what options exist, what strategies might be available given your circumstances, and the holistic implications of your choices. With a background in holistic longevity arts and a lifelong passion of research, we bring a different, wider point of view than someone classically trained (and indoctrinated) in the field.
We aspire to provide a broader perspective.
And in case you’re new here, we are truly honored to support you along your path, specifically focusing on the areas of our research including:
- holistic oral health
- toxin-free product solutions
- the role of the oral microbiome in the health of the whole body (the mouth/body connection)
A good dentist can also serve in the role of a guide and help you identify and weigh your options. However, as we’ll discuss more below, not all dentists are created equal and depending on the dentist, they could even serve as a detriment to this role of guide for you.
With a good grasp of what’s going on and which options are available to us, we’re in an empowered position to make the best decisions for ourselves.
The importance of technicians…
Our team (or board of advisors if you will) also needs expert technicians (think engineers) to do the technical work and to fix stuff when it breaks.
Perhaps this will date us, but the analogy of Star Trek seems suitable.
How well would captain Kirk have been able to navigate his course if Scotty weren’t there to help him keep the engines running?
Dentistry is a very technical trade. It takes solid diagnostics combined with lots of visual and hand skills.
This is where a good dentist can be a real blessing. However, it’s an unfortunate truth that not all dentists are equally skilled or have a deep-rooted sense of what we call a “helper’s heart”. Plus, some dentists are way more engaged with the holistic nature of dentistry and others are nearly blind to this truth.
So, the key to getting the perfect technician for your team is to find the right professional(s) to work with.
And, in the spirit of being good guides for you, here are some resources to help you find a dream dental team:
- Helpful resources to find a qualified dentist to assist you
- 7 Key Components of a ‘Dream Dentist’
- How to be your own oral (and whole body) health advocate
- Guide to Safe Dentistry eBook
- How to find awesome emergency dental help while traveling
- Holistic Oral Health – “What’s the difference between biological, functional and holistic dentistry?”
Pulling it all together…
In order to make the wisest choices on our path, we must first firmly establish that each of us is the MVP, the BOSS of our own health journey.
With this role solidly in place, we can also benefit greatly from finding guides and mentors as well as skilled technicians to assist us in navigating this path to optimal oral (and whole-being) health.
Welcome to OraWellness, Boss!!
(ps. How has your life changed since taking full responsibility and claiming your role as captain? Or did you realize from this article that you are inspired to take this leap? Please share your insights in the comments below. We love hearing how you navigate this amazing journey!)
Helpful, related resources:
The first step of dental self-empowerment [article]
OraWellness Mouth Map [free download]
Helpful resources to find a qualified dentist to assist you [article]
7 Key Components of a ‘Dream Dentist’ [article]
How to be your own oral (and whole body) health advocate [article]
Guide to Safe Dentistry [free eBook]
How to find awesome emergency dental help while traveling [article]
Holistic Oral Health – “What’s the difference between biological, functional and holistic dentistry?” [article]
The post Step One of Upgrading Your Oral Health: (Re)Defining Roles appeared first on OraWellness.
