Welcome to this week’s edition of Mondays with Mark. Here’s what’s new this week.
1. Episode 04: How to Stop Grinding at Night 🎙
Nighttime teeth grinding, or sleep bruxism, affects many people. Traditionally dentists protect teeth with night guards or TMJ splints, but emerging research points to a link between sleep-disordered breathing and grinding. That means treating the symptom alone may not be enough.
Many patients who appear healthy are told they don’t have sleep disorders — a situation I and my wife experienced and describe in my book. Because of this, it’s important to advocate for yourself and seek a functional dentist who uses an airway-centric approach.
In this episode I argue we must rethink how we approach sleep bruxism and focus on addressing root causes rather than only protecting the teeth.
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, rate, and review — every review helps spread the word about functional dentistry.
2. Instagram Q&A: Functional Pediatric Dentistry 👩⚕️
You can watch last week’s informative Q&A with Dr. Staci, a board-certified functional and holistic pediatric dentist, on @askthedentist on Instagram. All my past Q&As are saved to Highlights so you can view them anytime.
3. My go-to snack right now 🐖
Most snacks are overly processed and high in carbs, causing blood sugar spikes and acid attacks on teeth. These Creminelli snack packs are an exception: nutrient-dense, convenient (available even at some Starbucks), and satisfying. The salami is nitrate-free and the manchego is a sheep’s milk cheese, which some dietary approaches consider preferable to cow’s milk cheese.
Thanks for reading — have a great week.
P.S. Many readers were surprised that retainers and other oral appliances should be kept moist when not in use. Storing them immersed in water prevents drying, reduces damage, and extends the device’s life. For travel, I use a watertight stainless steel container with a little water and press the lid fully closed so none spills during transit. As an extra precaution, you can place the container inside a sealable plastic bag.