Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF): Supporting Faster, Better Healing – Biocompatibly
One of the aims in holistic dentistry is to prevent exposure to toxins. So we steer clear of things such as mercury amalgam and fluoride. At the same time, we want to support the body’s natural healing abilities. So we make tools such as ozone and PRF a regular...
How to Choose the Healthiest Options for Fish
One excellent protein source we didn’t mention last time is fish – which appears to be an increasingly popular choice. In fact, just after we published last week’s post, we stumbled upon a new survey which showed just how much more popular it’s become. Over the...
Americans Love Their Protein; They Also Don’t Quite Understand It
At least, that’s what a recent Nielsen survey found. While more than half of US households say high protein is important to them when choosing products, there are “some interesting knowledge gaps.” In fact, American consumer beliefs about protein content in common...
Guest Post: Mixed Metals in the Mouth Can Be Trouble
Our thanks to the office of Fremont, California holistic dentist Dr. Colin Yoshida for letting us share this post from their blog. The original is here. For all the amazing things modern dentistry has to offer, it still holds forth some pretty bad ideas. Filling...
A Look Back at…Thumb Suckers, Nail Biters, & the Hygiene Hypothesis
Originally posted July 14, 2016; updated It’s hardly surprising that research has found that thumb suckers and nail biters are exposed to more germs. After all, parents have lectured kids about those germs for generations. What may surprise you is that the research...
Beyond Sugar: The Trouble with Starches
You already know that sugars are bad for your teeth, but it’s not just about soda, candy, and other sweet treats. Starchy carbs are a problem, as well – bread, pasta, crackers, and other foods made with refined grains, for instance, or chips and other potato...
Oral-Systemic Links: Gum Disease & Chronic Kidney Disease
As the evidence linking gum disease to other inflammatory health conditions continues to mount, even conventional dentistry is starting to acknowledge the truth of the mouth-body connection. Cardiovascular disease. Stroke. Diabetes. Alzheimer’s. Rheumatoid...
What’s Underneath that Health Halo?
Through recent years, funky-flavored “artisanal” ice creams (candy cap mushroom, Armenian green walnut, and many, many more) have given the sweet treat a cachet of coolness - that is, unless you’re writing for the USA Today Money section, in which case Halo Top...
Mercury-Free Dentistry Not Only Protects Your Health but Our Planet’s Health, Too
Many industries are making huge strides in their efforts to go green. More and more restaurants no longer automatically provide plastic straws. Many stores no longer provide plastic bags or at least encourage the use of reusable ones. New construction often builds...
Smarter Summer (or Anytime) Snacking
Summer can be a busy time for the whole family, leading to quick meals and frequent snacks. On-the-go food is essential to making it through some days. But it’s not just a summer thing. These days, “roughly half of the eating occasions in the US are now snacks.”...
Fluoridation Isn’t Prevention. What Does Work?
Recently, Oral Health America (OHA) released its State of Decay report, which examines the state of oral health among US seniors today. Let’s just say it doesn’t deliver much good news for Texas. Our state currently ranks 46th in seniors’ oral health – a drop of...
Guest Post: Gummy Supplements: Big Business? Yes. Big Nutrition? Not So Much
Our thanks to the office of Northern California biological dentist Dr. Gary Verigin for letting us share this post from their blog. The original is here. Once upon a time, gummy and other chewable vitamins were just kid stuff. Now, they're very big business. As the...
Stuffed Full & Still Starved for Nutrition
Get invited to any party in America, and you’ll be faced with nosh that’s both delicious and a perfect reflection of the Standard American Diet (SAD): greasy chips and cheesy dips, deep-fried anything and bacon-wrapped everything, wheat bread or crackers next to a...
One Way to Kick Harmful Habits & Nurture Healthful Ones Instead
Shifting from unhealthy to healthy habits can feel like a real challenge, but it’s not impossible, as a new book we recently received reminds. The title is WILD Habits, by Tara Mackey, who follows up on her previous book, Cured by Nature, to explain how she...
A Look Back at…Building Trust in the Mind-Body Connection
Originally posted July 28, 2016; updated Our body talks to us. Got a sore back and a stiff neck? Could be your body’s way of saying, “Don’t sit hunched over the computer so long.” That stomach acid coming up your esophagus at night? Your body saying, “Hello, how...
Take Good Care of Your Tooth Enamel – It’s the Only Enamel You’ll Ever Have
Many a toothpaste ad these days tells you about the need to keep your tooth enamel strong, but how many of us know what all weakens it in the first place? Not many, according to survey results recently published in the BDJ. Participants were given a list of...
How Nuts May Boost Your Health, Oral & Systemic Alike
There was an interesting piece over at Quartz recently on foods that Americans are buying less of these days. Many of those changes – less cereal, less soda – are welcome ones. Still, there’s one trend you might find a little surprising. Except for almonds, we...
How Tea May Help Your Mouth Stay Healthy
Sure, tea is tasty, and as we noted before, at least some teas – green, in particular – may help support healthy gums. Now, new research suggests that tea may also help boost microbial diversity in the mouth. Your mouth is loaded with billions of microbes from...
The Scent of (Dental) Fear – & Ways of Dealing with That Fear
When a patient is nervous, it often shows. Even if they don’t say anything about it, the dentist or hygienist can see it in their body language, their posture, how they may grip the edges or armrests of the dental chair just a bit. And according to a new study in...
Teething Gel Trouble – and Some Natural Alternatives
Several years ago, the FDA began warning parents about using benzocaine-based gels to ease the discomfort of teething. Benzocaine is a local anesthetic that’s used in many over-the-counter remedies for not just teething but toothache, sore throat, canker sores, and...
