By Michael G. Rehme, DDS, NMD, CCN A concerned mother once called my office with an intriguing question: "Is it possible that my daughter can get sick from brushing her teeth with her toothpaste?" I asked what type of toothpaste she was using. It was one of the...
One of the problems with mainstream mouthwashes is that they’re a little bit too powerful. They not only “kill the germs that cause bad breath;” they kill plenty of beneficial bacteria, too, while also drying out your mouth. Over time, this can actually make bad...
While there’s still a good stretch of summer left to go, it’s not all that long before the kids will be headed back to school - which makes now the perfect time to bring them in for an exam and cleaning. If there’s decay or other problems, you’ll still have plenty...
By Michael G. Rehme, DDS, NMD, CCN It’s often said that it takes about 21 days to introduce a new routine into our lifestyles, though truth be told, science has shown that it actually takes about 66 days, on average. Either way, repetition and commitment are two...
By Michael G. Rehme, DDS, NMD, CCN Here's something a lot of people never think about: how their teeth are the only visible part of their skeleton. I think that's a powerful concept. Also powerful is realizing that your teeth and gums not only give clues as to...
In our office, we believe the best dentistry is the least dentistry; that prevention is preferable to treatment; and that when treatment is needed, biocompatibility is a must. That’s because biological dentistry respects the complex relationships between oral...
Once upon a time, folks were kind of smitten by the “miracles” of science brought to us by the likes of Monsanto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOOqlUx1lVU It’s practically impossible to be so innocent anymore, as countless synthetic chemicals have been...
It’s been several years since we looked at the issue of whether electric toothbrushes are better than manual ones for controlling plaque. The early evidence suggested they were, and research since then continues to favor power brushes. Even so, the fanciest, most...
You gotta admit, it’s a headline just tempting you to click: Trouble is, the study being reported on doesn’t actually tell you what that headline promises. What it does say is that, when it comes to preventing plaque-induced gum disease, some home hygiene practices...
Since the pandemic began, plenty of research has suggested a role for the mouth in how COVID happens - particularly that good oral health and hygiene may be protective to some degree, at least lessening the risk of severe illness. Now, a new paper in the Journal of...
Keeping your mouth healthy isn’t just about brushing and flossing, as our patients and regular readers of this blog know. Crucially, it involves eating right, going for nutrient-dense foods while avoiding sugars, refined grains, and other fermentable carbs - foods...
So if olive oil can help you keep your gums healthy, should you switch to that for oil pulling? Not necessarily, says a small study recently published in the Journal of Orofacial Research. Thirty-four adults took part, half of whom were told to pull with coconut...
Every few years, it seems there’s a big freakout about how your toothbrush could be speckled with bits of fecal matter courtesy of open-lid toilet flushes. It’s no wonder, really. A poo-covered toothbrush isn’t particularly nice to think about. Only, your brush may...
The first Sunday of this year, wide receiver Stefon Diggs was caught taking care of some important business on the sidelines during the Bills’ final game of the season: Remember kids, it’s important to floss. Just ask Stefon Diggs. #BillsMafia...
Earlier this year, we looked at some of the research on the potential relationship between COVID and oral health and how certain mouth rinses might help prevent the spread. Now, a new study in BMC Oral Health suggests that another simple oral hygiene practice may...
Depending on how much online surfing you allow yourself during the pandemic, you may have seen a bit of mouthwash click-bait recently. Here are just a few of the headlines we’ve seen: So which is it? Does it help or not? Inspiring those headlines was a new paper...
The toothpaste market is a $26 billion industry. There are hundreds of options to choose from. Looking for a paste that cleans your teeth, gives you fresh breath, and maybe even whitens, can be pretty overwhelming, especially with all kinds of over-the-top claims...
While the ADA continues to say that there are “no reliable scientific studies to show that oil pulling reduces cavities, whitens teeth or improves oral health and well-being,” evidence that oil pulling works continues to pile up. The latest findings were presented...
When you get right down to it, you don’t really need toothpaste to clean your teeth. It’s the mechanical action of brushing – and flossing – that breaks up the bacterial biofilm (plaque) that forms on your teeth between cleanings. Oh, toothpaste can make the job a...
And no sooner had we clicked “publish” on our last post, we found out about another new study that points to yet another alternative to conventional antiseptic mouthwashes. Published ahead of print in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene, the paper reviewed...