Your gums can reveal more about your overall health than you might expect. Emerging research shows a strong connection between oral health, the immune system, and the gut — the body’s largest immune organ. Understanding these links can help prevent disease before it progresses. Recent studies highlight a close relationship between an autoimmune condition, rheumatoid … Read more

It’s not only brushing and flossing that you should discuss with your dentist — you may also want to talk about your sexual health. Oral cancer affects tens of thousands of Americans every year, and understanding risk factors can make a real difference. Each year about 40,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer, and recent … Read more

This newsletter is brought to you by BIOptimizers, an effective magnesium supplement I take daily and recommend to others. This week at our Lake Tahoe home has been lively — two of my daughters are visiting from San Francisco and Los Angeles, and my two grandchildren are enjoying the snow. We missed one daughter from … Read more

Teeth don’t develop wrinkles, but they do reveal signs of aging. About half of people report that a smile is the first facial feature they notice, so improving your teeth can make you look younger and healthier. Maintain good habits—brush after meals, floss daily, and visit your dentist for a check-up and professional cleaning every … Read more

Q Is triclosan in toothpaste safe? I use Colgate Total and am trying to separate the hype from fact. I thought the FDA was supposed to review the safety of triclosan, but that was a while ago. Is there any consensus on whether or not we should avoid triclosan? A I don’t use triclosan and … Read more

After more than a decade of chronic illness, I discovered that an overgrowth of candida played a major role in my health problems. Diagnosing it and fully eliminating the yeast from my body was difficult, but ultimately possible with persistent effort. Under normal conditions, candida is kept in check by the body’s beneficial bacteria and … Read more

It was the summer of 1982 and I hadn’t become a dentist yet. I was a twenty-something student at the University of British Columbia, studying biochemistry and art history, when I found a book on my mother’s shelf—Life Extension by Pearson and Shaw. I didn’t realize it then, but that book put me on a … Read more

I took issue with an article titled “How dentistry can win the battle against ‘Dr. Google’.” It framed patients who search online as troublemakers who question recommendations such as x-rays or topical fluoride. But rather than dismissing people for looking things up, we should welcome their curiosity. When patients arrive having already researched a topic, … Read more

My nephew Neal developed this tuna salad recipe, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Neal embraced the paleo lifestyle long before most of the family had even heard the term, so when he told me this was his go-to lunch, I had to try it. If you’re not familiar with the paleo diet, it emphasizes … Read more

About six months ago I was honored to be interviewed for a new documentary series alongside Dr. David Perlmutter, Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Jeffrey Bland and many other experts I respect deeply. After months of production, I’m excited to announce that this important series is nearly ready to air. As an oral health advocate, I’m … Read more