Have you ever stopped to consider whether the dental floss you use is safe? Flossing is a vital part of oral hygiene, yet not all floss is created equal. Some manufacturers add ingredients that make floss easier to use or marketable—but those additives can carry risks. Is dental floss toxic? In some cases, yes—certain flosses … Read more

Although there is social stigma around missing teeth, many people experience tooth loss: studies show a large percentage of adults have lost at least one tooth by midlife. Tooth loss can result from failed root canals, accidents, gum disease, or decay, and replacing missing teeth is important for chewing, speech, and self-confidence. Dental bridges are … Read more

I used to think biofilm was the enemy. That’s what we were taught in dental school: scrub harder, rinse longer, kill the “sugar bugs.” Over time I learned that approach is misguided. When biofilm is depleted, it’s not just your gums that are at risk. You lose one of the body’s primary immune barriers. This … Read more

Q Dear Dr. B, Is all the hype about Coenzyme Q10 true? How much Coenzyme Q10 would I need to take for it to have an impact on my gum health? A Coenzyme Q10 has long been recognized in dentistry for supporting gum health, and the interest is not just hype. This molecule plays a … Read more

I put one thing in my water every single morning. And it’s not lemon or some trendy supplement like collagen. It’s electrolytes. We’ve all been told to drink more water—eight glasses a day or half your body weight in ounces—but there’s an important detail most people don’t hear: Saliva needs minerals to function, and most … Read more

Many people are surprised to learn that acidic drinks — including soda, sports drinks, and energy drinks — can erode tooth enamel and speed up tooth decay, even when some of these products are marketed as “healthy.” Every time you sip soda, a sports drink, or an energy drink, your teeth are briefly bathed in … Read more

Struggling with bulimia can cause painful and sometimes irreversible damage to the teeth and mouth. To repair dental harm, addressing the underlying eating disorder is essential. Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by cycles of binge eating followed by purging. Purging most often takes the form of self-induced vomiting but can also include fasting, … Read more

In today’s newsletter we explore an important connection between oral health and heart health. If you’re short on time, scroll to the end for concise takeaways for both patients and functional dentists. A recent study examined whether treating periodontitis—a severe, inflammatory gum disease—affects atrial fibrillation (AF), an irregular heart rhythm linked to stroke and heart … Read more

What if the bacteria in your mouth could help predict your risk of stroke? A recent study linked a common oral microbe to a roughly 20% higher risk of stroke, and its lead author suggested using an available test to identify harmful bacteria in the mouth and gut. Yet many clinicians remain unaware of this … Read more

Q I have had braces for three years and I’m getting them off in May. Problem is, I have a huge gap in my teeth. My orthodontist pulled two of my teeth three years ago and I’ve complained that I don’t like walking around with a huge gap in my teeth. Are there any other … Read more