There are many causes of bad breath (halitosis) and many people may be unaware they have it. It’s just one of those things that folks are often reluctant to talk about. Causes include poor oral hygiene, gum disease, sinus and respiratory tract infections, acid reflux and more. But by far, the most common cause is…
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Eating for dental health – Yes, you are what you eat.
When we last considered diet in my post on “Eating on the Wlid Side,” I promised some tips on eating for better dental health. Most of what I have to say is old news, like avoiding sticky and sugary snacks like caramels and the like. But it is important to understand why this matters. The…
Oral health and eating on the wild side
Recently I read a book by Jo Robinson entitled “Eating on the Wild Side”. Basically it’s a well-researched exploration of the evolution of most of the fruits and vegetables we consume. It’s a fascinating read if you have an interest in food. It describes how through decades of cross-breeding and tampering with our food to…
Olive Oil as a Gargling Agent?
The first time I heard of “oil pulling “ was a few years ago when a periodontist friend of mine suggested it for a patient of ours who was not responding to traditional therapy. I decided to write this blog about it in part because another patient asked me about it this morning. Apparently this…
Dental Savings Plan - Save on Your Dental Visits with an In-House Plan
I remember practicing in an office in Southampton in the 70’s before there was dental insurance on the East Coast. No one really knew if it was going to be a good thing or not. (Dental insurance had been available for about 10 years in California before heading east.) Well, now here we are almost…
Donated dental services – Lending a helping hand
Recently I received a letter from Donated Dental Services (DDS), the parent organization for the Dental Lifeline Network in Pennsylvania. The purpose of the letter was to congratulate all of the volunteers who have worked with this organization since its inception in 1986. To date, DDS has provided more than $250 million in services to…
Cheerleading – The Most Dangerous Sport in America
You might think football or boxing is the most dangerous sport in America, but statistics show that among the most popularly played sports in America…cheerleading is in fact the most dangerous. Yes…cheerleading! Cheerleading results in 66 to 70% of all serious sports related injuries among women in the country. There are approximately 3.6 million cheerleaders…
Sleep apnea – Do you suffer from the "silent killer"?
The first time I recall hearing anything about obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was shortly after the death of former Philadelphia Eagle and NFL great Reggie White, the famed “Minister of Defense”. Coming just a few weeks after his 43rd birthday, Reggie’s passing really affected my psyche and brought national attention to the issue. After all,…
Taste Disturbances – When "It's All a Matter of Taste!"
It doesn’t happen often, but occasionally I have a patient who complains of a change or loss of their ability to taste food. I may see cases like this a few times a year and it can be very disconcerting if it happens to you! Tasteis a very complicated issue and there is not much research…
Teeth whitening – And may all your Christmases be white!
Many people romanticize about a “white“ Christmas, myself included. The fact is, however, that few people want to see me (their dentist) around the holidays, unless of course they are having a problem! I’ve found though, that most people these days want white teeth, whether for the holidays or anytime throughout the year. So…I thought…
