Orthodontic treatment is a great option to get that perfect smile you always wanted. To many of us, the need for orthodontics is obvious when the teeth are crowded and misaligned. Sometimes, the teeth can appear straight, but other more subtle problems may be going on. There are many reasons why moving the teeth may be a good option. Today, I will discuss some of the things dentists look at to determine whether orthodontic tooth movement is an option, and the risk factors involved if treatment is delayed.
Read MoreVitamin B3 is needed for 400 functions in the body, making it the most useful one. It has a special place in human history according to the authors of a journal article. Today I am going to talk about what it is, what foods contain it, what it does, and its place in shaping human history.
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 there are several ways our diets have diverged from our ancient ancestors, today, I want to especially touch upon the two primary ingredients in our food supply, causing untold havoc on our health and well-being.
Read MoreOccasionally, the ducts can get clogged, causing unusual pain and swelling. Crystals can form within the saliva that create a nidus for stone formation, known as sialoliths, similar to those in the urinary tract. Like kidney stones, they usually occur on one side only. They can lead to obstruction of the duct with rapid swelling and pain in the gland and, ultimately, infection. In this post, I discuss blocked salivary glands and what you can do to prevent and treat them.
Read MoreYeast infections of the mouth are somewhat common. They are usually caused by illness, corticosteroid use, and antibiotics; however, there are numerous additional causes. In today’s post, I discuss the types, causes, treatment, and prevention.
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 MoreAccording to The Vegan Society, “Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.” They state on their site that “There are many ways to embrace vegan living. Yet one thing all vegans have in common is a plant-based diet avoiding all animal foods such as meat (including fish, shellfish, and insects), dairy, eggs, and honey - as well as avoiding animal-derived materials, products tested on animals and places that use animals for entertainment.” You can see from their definition that the primary goal is admirable, but not related to health and wellness. You may be surprised to hear that vegan (or any other) diets done carelessly can cause some harm.
Read MoreStatin drugs are the most commonly prescribed drugs. How effective are they? What are the potential risks? You may be surprised at the answers, and even more surprised at the tricks the pharmaceutical industry uses to inflate their perceived effectiveness.
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.
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