Made for Health | Medical Gaslighting | Lyme | Chronic Infections | Metabolic Syndrome | Insulin Resistance | Mystery Illness

What if cavities are not just about brushing and flossing, but a signal of microbiome imbalance and diet patterns?
In this episode, Dr. Aaron Hartman sits down with Dr. Staci Whitman, DDS, to break down what functional dentistry really means and why oral health is never “just teeth.” Dr. Whitman explains how ultra processed foods, frequent snacking, and an acidic oral environment drive cavities through microbiome imbalance, and why many early cavities can be remineralized or arrested when you catch them in time. They also explore the oral gut brain connection, why gum inflammation can become systemic inflammation, and how airway issues like mouth breathing and narrow palates can impact sleep, behavior, and long term health, especially in kids.
👤 About the Guest
Dr. Staci Whitman is a leading authority in functional dentistry and a board certified pediatric, integrative, and naturopathic dentist. She is also one of the only dentists with functional medicine certification through the Institute for Functional Medicine. Dr. Whitman founded one of the leading functional pediatric dental practices in the US and lectures globally on oral systemic health, remineralization, and airway focused care.
🔑 Key Topics Covered
Why cavities are a modern disease tied to changes in the food landscape
How oral bacteria create acid that pulls minerals out of teeth
Why the frequency of eating matters as much as what you eat
Saliva as the “golden elixir” for remineralization and tooth repair
The bliss point and hyper palatable foods that keep people snacking
Oral pH testing, mouth breathing, and why acidity feeds harmful bacteria
The oral microbiome and how mouth bacteria can affect gut and brain health
Gum bleeding as a sign of systemic inflammation risk
Tonsil stones: common causes and practical strategies that can help
Airway health in kids: narrow arches, high palates, and sleep disordered breathing
Early expansion timing, myofunctional therapy, and why muscles matter for long term stability
Tongue ties: when to treat, when to monitor, and why it is not one size fits all
Hormones and oral health across puberty, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause
Oral microbiome testing, including Bristle, and how it can guide targeted protocols

🔗 Resources & Links
Dr. Staci Whitman
Website: https://doctorstaci.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doctorstaci/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staci-whitman-dmd-ifmcp-b5845a9/
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What if the reason your symptoms haven’t been explained yet is because the condition you’re dealing with isn’t something the system is designed to look for?
In this minisode, Dr. Aaron Hartman discusses one of the major challenges in diagnosing and treating Lyme disease and other tick borne infections. While the healthcare system is built to manage acute illness, many patients experience persistent symptoms that don’t fit standard treatment pathways.
He explains why chronic or complex infections are often overlooked, the limitations of standard testing, and why clinical context and symptom patterns matter. This short episode offers practical guidance for listeners who have ongoing symptoms and want to better understand when Lyme may be worth exploring.
Key Topics Covered
Why chronic Lyme and tick borne illnesses are often overlooked in conventional care
The difference between acute infection management and persistent symptom patterns
Why infectious disease specialists typically focus on acute cases
How current prevention and treatment guidelines may miss early or ongoing infection
The role of the Horowitz Symptom Questionnaire as a screening tool
Why exposure risk is higher than many people realize
Limitations of standard two step Lyme testing
How immune suppression can affect antibody results
When advanced testing methods may be helpful
Why Lyme may be considered in patients with chronic fatigue, brain fog, autoimmune symptoms, or complex illness

Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine
🌐 Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/
📺 YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD
Mentioned in this episode:
Get Dr. Hartman's New Book - UnCURABLE
If you’ve been let down by the system, you’re not alone — and you’re not powerless.
Dr. Hartmans wrote UnCURABLE to help you take back control of your health and your hope.
Visit the link below ⬇️ to get your copy and start your transformation today.
Get the new book UnCURABLE

What if one of the most powerful tools for improving hormones, metabolism, and long-term health isn’t a supplement or treatment, but the quality of the food you eat every day?
In this episode, Dr. Aaron Hartman talks with Ashley Armstrong, PhD, former engineer turned regenerative farmer and co-founder of Nourish Food Club. After experiencing her own health challenges, Ashley began questioning mainstream nutrition guidance and the modern food system. Her journey led her into regenerative agriculture and a mission to help people access food they can trust.
Together, they explore how changes in farming practices, food processing, and fat composition may be influencing metabolic health, hormone balance, and chronic disease. The conversation also breaks down the differences between industrial agriculture and regenerative farming, why food sourcing matters, and how small consumer choices can support both personal health and a more resilient food system.
Listeners will also learn how Ashley co-founded Nourish Food Club and Angel Acres, creating a cooperative model that connects small regenerative farms directly with consumers while preserving soil health, animal welfare, and nutrient density.
Key Topics Covered
Ashley’s personal health journey and transition from engineering to regenerative farming
How modern nutrition guidance has influenced fat intake and metabolic health
The role of food quality and sourcing in energy, hormones, and gut health
How government policy and industrial agriculture shaped today’s food system
The difference between saturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, and changing dietary patterns
Why the fatty acid composition of food and livestock feed matters
What CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations) are and how they differ from traditional farming
How regenerative agriculture supports soil health, nutrient density, and ecosystem balance
The connection between soil health, animal health, and human health
Why many small farms struggle economically and how cooperative models can help
How Nourish Food Club connects consumers with small regenerative farms
Practical advice for consumers: starting with one food item and improving sourcing over time

Therapies / Concepts Referenced
Regenerative agriculture
CAFO (confined animal feeding operations)
Ancestral and traditional food patterns
Fatty acid balance (saturated vs polyunsaturated fats)
Soil microbiome and nutrient density
Cooperative food distribution...

What if chronic fatigue, brain fog, or unexplained pain are not random symptoms, but signs of a hidden infection that was never fully recognized?
In this minisode, Dr. Aaron Hartman highlights Lyme disease and tick borne infections as a growing but often overlooked factor in chronic illness. While standard care focuses on identifying acute infections, many patients experience persistent or reactivated symptoms that do not fit the traditional model.
He explains why Lyme is considered a “great imitator,” how current testing methods can miss cases, and why symptoms may appear years after the original exposure. This short episode offers important context for understanding why chronic infections remain a clinical blind spot and why careful history and ongoing evaluation often matter more than a single test.
Key Topics Covered
Why Lyme disease is more common than many people realize
The difference between acute infection and persistent or recurrent patterns
How Lyme can present as fatigue, brain fog, pain, or neurological symptoms
The role of co infections such as Bartonella and Babesia
Limitations of standard screening and antibody testing
Why many people never recall a tick bite or classic rash
How infections may remain dormant and flare during stress or immune suppression
Why clinical suspicion and patient history are critical in complex cases

Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine
Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/
YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD
Mentioned in this episode:
Get Dr. Hartman's New Book - UnCURABLE
If you’ve been let down by the system, you’re not alone — and you’re not powerless.
Dr. Hartmans wrote UnCURABLE to help you take back control of your health and your hope.
Visit the link below ⬇️ to get your copy and start your transformation today.
Get the new book UnCURABLE

What if the greatest breakthroughs come not from following the system, but from knowing when to question it?
In this UnCurable audiobook episode, Dr. Aaron Hartman shares the deeply personal story of his daughter Anna and the journey that reshaped how he understands medicine, diagnosis, and healing. What began as a cerebral palsy diagnosis quickly became a lesson in how standard care can overlook individual potential, especially in complex cases.
Through years of advocacy, research, and careful restraint, Dr. Hartman and his family learned that saying “not now” or “no” to the status quo can open doors to better long term outcomes. This episode also connects Anna’s story to other patients whose symptoms were dismissed or misidentified, illustrating how root causes are often missed when medicine focuses on labels instead of people.
This conversation is not about rejecting medicine, but about choosing thoughtful care, informed advocacy, and practitioners who are willing to see the whole person.
Key Topics Covered
Why one size fits all medicine often fails complex conditions
The importance of slowing down and avoiding rushed, irreversible interventions
How patient advocacy can change long term outcomes
Why asking “will this help ten years from now?” matters
Translational medicine and learning from parallel research when data is limited
How nutrition, movement, and non invasive therapies supported progress
Why diagnoses should be starting points, not limits
Recognizing when “standard of care” prioritizes appearance over function
The power of informed persistence in pediatric and chronic care
How overlooked conditions like POTS can be misread as anxiety
Why root cause thinking leads to real improvement, not symptom suppression
Helping patients learn how to question diagnoses and treatment plans safely

📖 About UnCurable
UnCurable blends memoir and medicine, weaving personal family experience with decades of clinical insight. It challenges conventional models of chronic illness and empowers patients to pursue healing through personalized, root cause focused care.
Discover the book:
📘 Amazon: UnCurable: From Hopeless Diagnosis to Defying All Odds
🎧 Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/UnCurable-Audiobook/B0G4NNPSF2?srsltid=AfmBOoqovf36lmHnQPTbTM9YhGlzJ40P8kCAnzrGjXknVrygXQ7az_y4

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