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...
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...
“Without sugars,” say the authors of a 2015 paper on the relationship between diet and tooth decay, the chain of causation is broken, so the disease [dental caries] does not occur (Sheiham 1967). So, it is clear that sugars start the process and set off a causal...
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...
Is there anyone - cranky contrarians aside - who wasn’t ready to bid “good riddance” to 2021 this past weekend? Before we close the door on yet another strange and often challenging year, though, we want to take one last look back on what transpired on this blog...
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...
Early on in the pandemic, we saw a good amount of research on how certain oral hygiene practices, such as tongue cleaning and the use of various rinses, might slow the spread of COVID or offer some protection from the virus. Since then, science has offered...
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...
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...
Why do we make such a big deal about gum disease and periodontal health? For one, almost everyone is affected by it. According to one study, 93.8% of all adults were found to have some degree of gingivitis, or early stage gum disease that is largely reversible....
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...
If you’re using a conventional over-the-counter mouthwash on a regular basis, you could be raising your risk of diabetes – or so research suggests. Consider, for instance, the 2017 study in the journal Nitric Oxide. For it, researchers tracked health data from 1206...