“Antibiotics are frequently overused and misused in dental practice,” note the authors of a recent paper in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. According to one 2019 study, “nearly 81% of all antibiotics prescribed before dental...
Our thanks to the office of biological dentist Dr. Colin Yoshida, Fremont Natural Dentistry, for letting us share a slightly modified version this recent post from their blog... If you’ve got gum disease - and about half of all adult Americans (and 70% of seniors)...
By Michael G. Rehme, DDS, NMD, CCN The American Academy of Periodontology estimates that nearly 80% of Americans have some form of gum disease. Approximately 50% of cases are considered moderate to severe. As a biological dental office, it is our responsibility not...
By Michael G. Rehme, DDS, NMD, CCN A recent dental journal article I read described, at length, the oral/systemic connection, i.e. the influence the teeth and gums have on the whole body (the "system") and vice-versa. It referred to the overwhelming attention this...
One of the challenges of gum disease is that it’s so easy to ignore - at least in its early stages. Then gingivitis (early gum disease) evolves into periodontitis (advanced gum disease) and the gradual destruction of tissues that support your teeth, including bone....
One common reason you hear from people about why they don’t floss is that it makes their gums bleed. Yet those bleeding gums are actually a sign that they should be flossing more. They’re a telltale sign of gum disease. Not only does this raise the risk of...
About half of all Americans have some degree of periodontal (gum) disease - and over 70% of all seniors. Yet the condition is one that's often easy to ignore. Its symptoms aren’t especially debilitating - at least early on. You may have red, puffy gums that bleed...
Gum disease isn’t a problem just for your mouth. It raises your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disease, cognitive decline, mental health issues - even some cancers. That link between poor periodontal health and other...
Oral health and gut health are inseparable. Each one affects the other. This is particularly so with gum disease, a condition that can ultimately lead to bone loss in the jaw. That bone loss sets the stage for tooth loss. It’s long been thought that the cause of...
But let’s get back to the subject of real sugar, the favorite food of harmful oral bacteria (as well as something craved by many of the humans who host them!). They love the stuff - and, of course, what goes in must go out. Their metabolic waste is incredibly...
Several years ago, we blogged about a couple of fascinating studies that showed how dietary changes alone can be enough to actually reverse the progress of gum disease. The key was shifting away from refined carbs to something closer to a paleo, primal, or Wise...
The dental benefit you get from eating healthfully isn’t all about avoiding the foods that can lead to decay and gum disease, although that’s a part of it. Nor is it just about giving your teeth, gums, and bone the nutrients they need, although that’s a part of it,...
Consider this: Roughly half of all American adults have some degree of gum disease. Now consider this: Most of the top 10 causes of death these days are conditions that science has shown to be linked with gum disease. Just how much poor periodontal health raises...
If you’ve got receding gums, you’re far from alone. About half of adults under age 65 do - and 88% of seniors - usually a result of things like clenching or grinding, smoking, oral piercings, or just brushing or flossing too aggressively. But while gum recession is...
Ask any person how to keep their teeth and gums healthy, and you’re apt to hear about brushing, flossing, and limiting sugar. An answer you might not hear is “sleep.” Yet a good amount of research supports the idea, with some studies finding lack of sleep even more...
If you ever had any doubt of just how much vitamin C matters to oral and whole body health alike, check out this 16th century English surgeon’s description of scurvy, a/k/a extreme vitamin C deficiency: Their gums were rotten even to the very roots of their teeth,...
Sometimes called “Indian saffron” because of its bright yellow color, turmeric has long been known for its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory powers. In fact, it’s been used in medicine for nearly 4000 years. Science has shown that the dominant...
One of the most commonly given reasons for skipping regular dental visits is the cost. Yet there’s also a cost to forgoing care. For one, it considerably raises the risk of developing gum disease, caries (tooth decay), and other problems - problems that only get...
Prevention is the best medicine, especially when it comes to gum disease, which affects nearly all adults. For it’s not just a matter of keeping your teeth in your mouth - untreated periodontal disease ultimately means tooth loss - but also supporting your whole...
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...