How Lyme Disease Affects the Body and the Mouth

How Lyme Disease Affects the Body and the Mouth

Lyme disease is a complex and often misunderstood condition. Caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria transmitted through tick bites, Lyme disease can affect multiple systems in the body including the nervous system, joints, skin, and even your mouth. For patients with Lyme, conventional treatment often focuses solely on antibiotics. But the truth is, healing from Lyme disease requires a comprehensive, whole-body approach that includes your oral health.

How Lyme Disease Affects the Body

Lyme disease is often called “the great imitator” because its symptoms mimic those of other chronic conditions. Patients may experience fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, nerve dysfunction, mood swings, and sensitivity to light or sound. It can also affect hormone balance, digestion, and immune function. Left untreated or under-treated, Lyme can become persistent and deeply embedded in tissues.

While some people may recover on their own, in many cases, the immune system becomes overwhelmed, and lingering symptoms can persist for years. This is known as chronic Lyme disease or post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS).

How Lyme Disease Affects Oral Health

Many patients are surprised to learn that Lyme disease can also have a significant impact on oral health. Here's how:

• Jaw and facial pain: Lyme-related inflammation can cause discomfort in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), leading to headaches, jaw pain, or clicking.
• Neurological symptoms: Facial nerve issues, tingling, and numbness in the mouth or tongue are not uncommon.
• Gum inflammation: Lyme can suppress the immune system, making the gums more susceptible to infections or delayed healing.
• Dental infections and cavitations: Previously treated areas like root canals or extraction sites may harbor lingering infections that become more problematic in immune-compromised patients.

How a Biological Dentist Can Help

Unlike conventional dentistry, biological dentistry focuses on the entire body, not just the teeth. For Lyme patients, this approach is critical. A biological dentist can:

• Identify hidden dental stressors: Cavitations, mercury fillings, and root canals can act as chronic stressors to the immune system. Removing or properly treating them helps reduce the body’s toxic burden.
• Use biocompatible materials: Lyme patients are often chemically sensitive, hence, usage of biocompatible materials reduces the risk of reaction.
• Support detoxification: Because holistic and biological dentists look out for the whole-body health, nutritional, or supplemental recommendation can help with the detoxification and healing not just the mouth, but the whole body.
• Work in collaboration: Biological dentists often work alongside naturopaths, integrative physicians, and Lyme-literate doctors to create a holistic healing plan tailored to each patient healing.

Healing from Lyme Disease Is Possible—But It’s a Journey

If you're living with Lyme disease, your path to healing may require more than just antibiotics. It's about rebuilding your immune system, reducing your toxic load, and addressing every source of inflammation in the body, including your mouth.

A biological dentist understands how oral infections, heavy metals, and dental materials can all influence your systemic health. By taking a personalized, root-cause approach, they can help support your recovery in ways traditional dentistry cannot.