Meet Dr. Seema Agarwal

Dentist, Yoga Instructor

I am a dentist, mother, Certified Yoga Teacher, nutrition enthusiast, functional medicine researcher in dentistry... and a proud dog mom!

I'm passionate about uncovering and explaining the root causes of oral conditions. My goal is to educate both practitioners and patients on how oral diseases originate - and how oral health impacts the entire body.

I do this by reviewing current, credible research and translating it into practical guidance to make dental visits more informed, productive, and ultimately more effective for patients and practitioners.

My Turning Point

It all began when I noticed a troubling pattern in my patients, and own extended family: some toddlers had significant oral disease, while their siblings - on the same "healthy diet and brushing habits" - did not.

This lead me to research the role and composition of the microbiome and to focus on prevention. Tooth decay is the most prevalent preventable disease in the world.

Yet in dental school, the focus was more on managing conditions rather than preventing them. After years of "drilling and filling," I felt as though the cycle of oral disease would never end for some patients. Ending my family's and my patients decay cycle became an obsession with me. Advanced materials can repair and rebuild a damaged tooth, but they don't restore homeostasis alone.

A restoration fills a hole, but it doesn't answer: Why did that hole form in the first place? Or why does decay keep returning, often leading to even deeper infections? That's why understanding the root cause is essential.

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Core Topics

Beyond Decay

Tooth decay is just one disease process. Periodontal disease is another — a polymicrobial infection of the gums that occurs dangerously close to our blood vessels. Its pathogens have been linked to:

- Stroke and cardiovascular disease

- Adverse pregnancy outcomes

- Infective endocarditis

- Arthritis and respiratory disease

- An increased risk of dementia

A mouth with active periodontal disease should be viewed as both an inflammatory and infectious assault on the body's connective tissues — and a potent source of harmful bacteremia.

Leaky Mouth

Gums act as the resilient weatherstripping of the mouth, forming a tight, protective seal around the base of your teeth. This delicate biological barrier plays a major role in keeping harmful oral bacteria out of your bloodstream. Left unchecked, a "leaky mouth" can drive systemic inflammation, contributing to cardiovascular disease, blood sugar imbalances, and even cognitive decline.

During midlife and menopause, declining estrogen levels can disrupt this tight barrier, causing gum tissue to dry out, lose its elasticity, and pull away from the tooth.

But what exactly happens beneath the surface when this protective seal breaks down? And what are the professional wound care protocols to heal inflamed gums and cool the body's inflammatory burden, beyond just standard brushing and flossing?

The Airway, Tongue and Sleep

The mouth is also the gateway to the airway. Tongue position during sleep plays a major role in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Left unchecked, OSA can contribute to metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and heart disease.

But what causes the tongue’s position to shift with age? And what are the root-cause treatments for mild sleep apnea, beyond appliances and short-term fixes?

Homeostasis: Restoring Balance

Homeostasis in the mouth is when things are in harmony. A healthy balanced disease free mouth has over 700 species existing in billions of quantities.

Decay and periodontal disease, cause a shift in bacterial composition and quantity to harmful bacteria, thus altering the microbiome that both air and food pass through several times every minute.

Your saliva, the elixir of harmony in the mouth buffers to remineralize teeth and release digestive enzymes. The harmony of the forces between muscles and the load on your teeth, positioning of your tongue relative to your airway and teeth and your ability to speak, chew, breathe and to digest food are just a few of the functions your mouth.

Saliva: The Elixir of the Mouth

Saliva is often dismissed as mere moisture, but it is actually the quiet guardian of the mouth. This living, responsive ecosystem of enzymes and minerals plays a major role in early digestion, enamel repair, and immune defense. Left unchecked, a decline in healthy saliva flow can accelerate tissue inflammation, acid wear, and even reflect deeper metabolic imbalances.

During midlife and menopause, shifting hormones can disrupt this delicate balance, leaving oral tissues sensitive and vulnerable to chronic dryness.

But what exactly causes this vital elixir to falter as estrogen drops? And what are the root-cause strategies to restore and support our oral environment, beyond simply drinking more water and relying on short-term fixes?