In the history of the human race, eating was regarded with the highest priority. The taste was unimportant. Today, overly tasty foods act on the brain the same way alcohol, meth, cocaine, heroin, and many other drugs do. They cause a dopamine hit that will stimulate reward-seeking behaviors that are difficult to control. Flavorful foods are hijacking our brains. Drugs and hyper-palatable/highly processed foods are precisely the same. In both cases, the immediate short-term pleasure overtakes long-term health and wellness. I will cover this unfortunate shift and what we can do about it in this post.
Read MoreI am a proponent of using botanicals to help treat numerous conditions. Allicin from garlic and sulforaphane from cruciferous are two great examples of botanicals that are effective in treating a variety of illnesses. Many websites cite them as home cures for dental abscesses. I did a quick search on the web and found 27 home cures for dental infections. I searched PubMed for studies supporting claims that any of the 27 could cure dental infections. The research, sadly, did not support these claims. Today I am going to give a short primer on the three types of dental infections to explain why I was not surprised by the fact that, in most instances, they will have little to no effect.
Read MoreEver hear of saving face? Myofunctional therapy does just that. In today’s guest post, myofunctional therapist, Brittny Sciarra talks about how improper tongue posture, mouth breathing, and other problems can lead to improper facial development, difficulty breathing, and even swallowing. Brittny works with patients to establish proper lip seal, nasal breathing, and tongue posture to help them develop healthy beautiful faces and airways.
Read MoreI had the idea for a post about the different kinds of teeth we have a few weeks ago and thought it might be too simple. But then I had a patient that was asking me about the different kinds of teeth and their functions in chewing, so I am going forward with the post. Maybe this is not a very exciting topic, but knowledge of the functions of the different kinds of teeth we have could help patients who are experiencing problems because they are not correctly using them.
Read MoreVirtually everyone has measurable levels of several chemicals present, including lead, mercury, toluene, perchlorate, bisphenol A (BPA), and some phthalates, pesticides, perfluorochemicals (PFCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenol ethers (PBDEs). The good news is that far infrared saunas are a great way to detoxify the body from harmful toxins. Today I am going to talk about mercury and other toxins and how saunas can help.
Read MoreSugarless gum chewing is touted as being supported by four out of five dentists. Sadly, there are many risks to habitual gum chewing that most people are unaware of. Today I will talk about the range of problems gum chewing can lead to. Some of them can be quite severe.
Read MoreI have been researching the carnivore diet for the last seven months and have decided to give it a try. The more I learned about it, the more I liked the idea of it as an elimination diet. The one thing I can say with confidence is that it is a very healthy choice when it comes to avoiding tooth decay and gum disease.
Read MoreLow magnesium status is known as hypomagnesemia. Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), insulin resistance, type-2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular disease (e.g., stroke), migraine headaches, and osteoporosis are all associated with low magnesium status. Over half of Americans are deficient in it. Today I am going to talk about all things magnesium, including its use in dentistry.
Read MoreAlthough virtually every physician agrees that regular physical activity, weight loss, adequate nutrition, and quitting smoking all result in health benefits, their business model does not allow the integration of these lifestyle modifications due to the short duration of the average visit, reliance on pharmaceuticals and lack of integrative care. Functional Medicin, on the other hand, focuses more on lifestyle changes than medication. A new study shows that this is a superior approach.
Read MoreDental insurance, although a benefit is more limited than it appears. The amount of money insurance companies are willing to pay in any given calendar year does not go very far. To that end, I am dedicating today’s post to the ins and outs of insurance, the typical indemnity-style ones, and the traditional insurance our ancestors all benefited from.
Read MoreThe CDC reports that 40 percent of children between the ages of 3 and 6 use potentially dangerous amounts of toothpaste. Fluoride-containing toothpastes have a warning on their label stating “Keep out of reach of children under 6 years of age. If you accidentally swallow more than used for brushing, seek professional help or contact a poison control center immediately”. There are definite risks for toxicity from the fluoride in toothpaste. However, topical fluoride can help prevent tooth decay. The decision to use it is the focus of today’s post.
Read MoreTraditionally, humans have always eaten fats and oils that were predominantly saturated and animal-based. New industrial seed oils have replaced the traditional fats like butter, tallow, and lard. These oils contain large amounts of omega-6 oils which are problematic for our health. We utilize fats for a variety of uses including building blocks for cell membranes, and energy storage. This high omega-6 substitution has had a dramatic effect on our health which I will discuss in today’s post.
Read MoreLasers have been used in medicine and dentistry for a few decades with surprisingly good application in some areas and poor in others. The advantages of using lasers over scalpels include greater precision, a relatively bloodless surgical and post-surgical course, sterilization of the surgical area, minimal swelling and scarring, coagulation, vaporization, cutting, minimal or no suturing, and less or no post-surgical pain. Today I will discuss the advantages of using lasers in dentistry, along with some of the dieadvantages.
Read MoreI had the pleasure of speaking with the creator and owner of Primal Life Organics Trina Felber this week live on FaceBook. We spoke about a number of topics near and dear to my heart such as how the introduction of “dense acellular carbohydrates” into our diets has been disastrous not only for our teeth, but for the rest of our bodies as well. We also spoke about the dangers of fluoridated water to our health. I also stressed how important it is to have a dentist trained in how to safely remove mercury containing fillings using the non-toxic SMART technique. I hope it is helpful and enjoyable!
Read MoreI spoke about how processed carbs ruin our teeth and health, and I get into the specific mechanisms of tooth decay and gum disease. I hope you enjoy the video and more importantly I hope it can help you better understand how processed carbs work in insidious ways to harm our health.
Read MoreThousands of studies have shown that xylitol can help prevent tooth decay and many dental professionals recommend it. While it can definitely help, there are some negatives. Today, I will discuss the pros and cons so you can decide if it is right for you.
Read MoreThree unusual problems I commonly see together are a scalloped tongue, A white line on the inner cheek and ear pain. Today I will address how they may be related to one larger problem.
Read MoreCracked teeth are so common as to be practically ubiquitous. A tooth crack is not a disease but is instead a risk factor for further problems. Fractures tend to grow and change over time; therefore it is very important for dentists to screen for cracks and catch them early. The prognosis of cracked tooth that is not treated will progressively deteriorate and may evolve into a split tooth or result in severe periodontal defects. Eventually the tooth may be lost. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are essential in saving these teeth. This post discusses the ways to approach diagnosing and treating a cracked tooth.
Read MoreA recent study shows a strong connection between gum disease and Alzheimer’s Disease. The germ that causes gum disease has been found in the brains of Alzheimer Disease sufferers. Substances known as gingipains are secreted by the bacteria are responsible for much of the damage. The good news is that gum disease is easily treatable. The same study shows that there may be a new drug on the horizon to inactivate gingipains.
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