Tooth decay continues to plague humans in a way that was not as common hundreds of years ago. Archaeological data from the medieval period (1500s) show that an average of only 20 percent of teeth show any sign of decay. This is in stark contrast to 90% of adults (aged 20-64) who have suffered from this chronic condition today.

What could be different in this 500 year period?? We have far better technology and access to dental care. We have the electric toothbrushes, dental floss and a myriad of rinses and potions to clean our mouths. We have fluoride in everything dental (you know how I feel about this!). The answer is SUGAR. In the 1800s we consumed less than 18lbs/ year. Contrast that with the current consumption hovering between 150-180lbs/year. Continue reading “The Most Common Chronic Disease Is Tooth Decay”

I have written about my concerns of the neurotoxic potential of fluoride overconsumption from the water we drink daily and the current lawsuit in the US Courts. This research led me to start questioning toothpaste and the possible harms when used inappropriately, especially as it relates to children. I was pleased to find that some researchers have recently published on this topic in the BDJ Open.

During my dental training, we were advised to encourage parents to use NON-fluoridated toothpaste for children who are unable to spit out oral contents. Widely available in the US, is fluoride-free toddler toothpaste that helps to encourage children to enjoy brushing through a tasty paste on their toothbrush. Every tube of fluoride containing toothpaste contains a hazardlabel warning to contact poison control if accidentally ingested. This fear is eliminated with fluoride-free toothpaste. Continue reading “Can You Use Too Much Toothpaste When Helping Your Children Brush?”

“As someone who believes deeply in NTP’s science-based mission, I am concerned by the recent course of events with the fluoride monograph. The decision to set aside the results of an external peer review process based on concerns expressed by agencies with strong policy interests on fluoride suggests the presence of political interference in what should be a strictly scientific endeavor.” –Dr. Linda Birnbaum, former NTP director 2009-2019

In a perfect world, science and politics would remain completely independent of one another. Sadly this is not the world within which we live. Continue reading “Today’s The Day….Fluoride Goes On Trial”

No, I am not completely off my rocker!

I may have just shared my concerns with the potential harm of over exposure to fluoride but I am not going to be recommending brushing with sugar!

I am often asked the question, what is the best mouthwash and I have struggled to answer with a strong conviction. Should you use something with or without alcohol, with or without whitening, iodine or chlorhexidine based? There are an endless variety of options in the dental care aisle and I can understand why it can be so confusing. I too find it a bit overwhelming and when asked, I have just simply responded with the recommendation to use whatever had the best clean feeling. And for those not too concerned about chemical additives and plastic usage, this is still my go to response. Continue reading “Dental hygiene from the baking aisle??”

The short answer lies in a very old quote:

“The dose makes the poison.” –Paracelsus

Like most of you, I have been taught to believe that fluoridated water is one of the greatest interventions of the last century. Believing what I learned in dental school, I have not had much interest in reviewing the history of water fluoridation and any possible safety issues with this public health practice. But as I have been studying nutrition and the airway, a natural topic to include in the basic necessities of life (air, water and food) would be to look at what’s in our water. Continue reading “Is Fluoride Safe To Drink In Our Water?”

“It comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living or get busy dying.” Andy Dufresne, The Shawshank Redemption

Over the past few years, I have spent many hours researching the very disturbing trend of the rapidly declining health of American citizens. When compared to other wealthy nations, we spend almost twice as much on healthcare costs but rank at the bottom for health outcomes. As your dentist, I am eager to be part of the solution to help improve the health of the patients I serve. Many chronic conditions (high blood pressure, acid reflux, cardiac ailments, restless leg, tooth grinding & clenching, depression, anxiety, recurrent decay, etc) stem from poor sleep quality and quantity. Dentists can play a role in identifying and treating conditions related to sleep disordered breathing. It has become one of my passions to be part of the solution in helping our patients be the healthiest they can be. Continue reading “Get Busy Living!!”

Aesop’s fable about the blind men and an elephant is a story of a group of blind men who have never come across an elephant. To learn and imagine what the elephant is like, they each are given a body part to examine with their hands. Each blind man feels a different part of the elephant’s body, but only one part, such as the side or the tusk. The men then describe the elephant based on their brief experience with the animal. As one can imagine, the descriptions vary….

Continue reading “Shut Your Mouth: Part II”

A harsh title to draw your attention to a very important topic…breathing. We all know that breathing is fundamental to our existence but did you know that breathing properly can impact everything from your mood to your overall health? As a dentist, I evaluate airways, teeth and tongues all day long. These three elements can shed light on how a patient is breathing both during sleeping and waking hours. In Part I, the focus of my newsletter will be on adult nasal breathing benefits. Part II will focus on signs and symptoms of sleep disordered breathing in adults. And in Part III, attention will be directed to children and their airways Continue reading “…breathe through your nose: Part I”

No Bad Stuff of course…what were you thinking??

As many of you know, I have a passion for health and fitness. An element of this passion is being conscious of not only what my family eats and drinks but also the products we use for household and personal cleaning. With all the healthy eating and living we try to achieve, it never occurred to me to question or be concerned about what is in the toothpaste we use. That is until an article appeared in my weekly dental readings identifying the many ingredients contained in over the counter pastes that serve little to no purpose in optimizing oral hygiene and this alarmed me. I have spent several months trying different organic toothpastes available at the grocery store and have even tried a few attempts at making my own. I could never quite find something that had both a fresh taste and made my mouth feel clean until now. Continue reading “No BS!”

As I have expressed previously, one of the greatest blessings of being a dentist and an employer is having the opportunity to surround myself with wonderful women who help me to serve our patients. When tallying hours spent, the majority of our working hours are spent with the people at our places of employment, not the person we marry or the children we are raising. I feel fortunate that my staff feels more like a family. They are so much more than just co-workers. Continue reading “A Decade of Service to Celebrate”