While many of us have experienced tooth pain, it seldom becomes fatal. This was not the case in the past, and world history would probably be vastly different if we had 21st-century dental care readily accessible across the ages. Welcome back to Ask the Dentist podcast, where today we ask Dr. Burhenne “what fixes pulpitis”? Tune in to find out what pulpitis is, why the pulp of the tooth is so important, and how it can lead to serious health issues if left untreated. Find out the difference betwe...
Oct 26, 2021•28 min•Ep. 29
Approximately eight percent of the annual USA dentistry budget is spent on Fluoride treatments for children. Tune in today to hear why Dr. B feels this isn't worth the cost, and what you can do to avoid your kid needing one! We hear what fluoride is, what products it's found in, and how we are exposed to it daily. Find out how it causes fluorosis, and how you can raise kids without exposing them to it. Dr. B also discusses two of his favorite studies that show that fluoride is absorbed through t...
Oct 19, 2021•18 min•Ep. 32
If you could raise your kid’s IQ by a couple of points, would you? In this episode, Dr. B reflects on how humanity is so focused on changing the future that we don’t consider how modifying our past and present behavior might have the same outcome. By using a hydroxyapatite-based toothpaste, you can prevent neurotoxicity in your kid, raising their IQ by the same number of points that gene therapy would lead to. However, using the right tools and products is no use if your protocol is wrong. Today...
Oct 12, 2021•16 min•Ep. 31
Forming good dental habits with kids can be like pulling teeth. To address this issue, today Dr. B answers the question, "What's a good protocol, products, and tools for kids aged four-12?" Surprisingly, the products and tools are less important than the protocol, however, Dr. B still gives some good recommendations for all three! Tune in to hear why you should be using Myotape if your kid is mouth breathing, and what products to buy to ensure that if they need to brush at school, it is as easy ...
Oct 05, 2021•34 min•Ep. 30
Most of us have been taught to brush, spit, and rinse after meals. Tune in today to find out why this is not necessarily what Dr. B recommends! From the time of day to the type of toothpaste (fluoride or hydroxyapatite-based), to your age, Dr. B explains how each of these aspects can impact your dental health. We discover the molecular mechanism underlying how fluoride remineralizes teeth and why it’s dangerous for kids to swallow, but not adults. Dr. B provides a wealth of information about the...
Sep 28, 2021•17 min•Ep. 29
As the parent of a young child, there is a lot of internal and external pressure to give them the best possible start in life. But what if it’s not always clear whether something will have a positive or negative impact? Our question this week comes from Anna, a lactation consultant who is concerned over the correlation she has seen between breastfeeding moms and cavities in young children. In today’s episode, we hear from Dr. B about the benefits of breastfeeding, why it does not cause cavities,...
Sep 21, 2021•24 min•Ep. 33
One of the most flattering things is knowing that there are fellow functional dentists who listen to the show. Today's question is from an aspiring functional dentist, and Dr. B dives into the oral microbiome. We hear about an article published in the Journal of Dentistry that looked at the plaque pH of caries-free versus caries-active individuals. Despite what conventional dentistry wants us to do, we cannot isolate one bacteria as being the culprit. It is all interrelated, which is why it is s...
Sep 14, 2021•15 min•Ep. 27
Fillings are very common procedures and while they are preventable, they still happen. So, if you are getting a filling done, should you go with metal or plastic as your material of choice? Today, Dr. B outlines these two materials and weighs up the pros and cons of each. Even though plastic is not good for us, metal in our mouths is far worse. There are numerous side effects of metal fillings that Dr. B explains. We also hear which material he uses for fillings on his patients. Remember, there ...
Sep 07, 2021•18 min•Ep. 26
This week’s listener question concerns the relationship between sinus infections and tooth pain. Our skulls can often be compared to a laptop, not just because of its processing power, but also because it has so many intricate parts compressed inside a small space. For this reason, it can often be difficult to differentiate between sinus pain and tooth pain. This can lead to indecision over whether to perform a root canal as well as prolonged pain for the patient. In today’s episode, Dr. B exami...
Aug 31, 2021•16 min•Ep. 25
Geographic tongue is a common, easy-to-spot oral condition, where the tongue takes on an atlas-like appearance. There are white borders around patches on the surface of the tongue, and in some cases, the condition can be painful. So, what causes this problem? In today's episode, Dr. B gets into some of the potential factors that cause this issue and also unpacks what you can do to overcome it. Like with any medical issue, there is no silver bullet or simple solution. As such, it is important to ...
Aug 24, 2021•33 min•Ep. 24
When it comes to making dental health decisions for yourself or your children, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. There is no absolute right or wrong decision, so it is often about finding the lesser of two evils. This is why it is important to do as much research as you can, and to find credible sources that you resonate with. In today’s episode, Dr. B. talks about sealants and some of the research around these coverings. We hear about some of the potential adverse effects, when it is necessary to...
Aug 17, 2021•17 min•Ep. 23
This episode is all about one of the most hyped-up topics in dentistry: whitening. While Dr. B has spoken on the topic previously and there is plenty of information available on his website, today’s episode looks at whitening in the context of a new substance on the market that claims to be safer than conventional hydrogen peroxide-based methods. It’s called PAP, or phthalimidoperoxcaproic acid, and today’s question about it comes from Charlotte in the UK; is it actually a safer alternative to p...
Aug 10, 2021•15 min•Ep. 22
In today’s episode, Dr. B answers a listener's question about whether the Epstein-Barr virus is responsible for her bleeding gums. EBV is a systemic infection with an oral manifestation meaning it acts as a great springboard to talk about the oral-systemic connection as well. EBV is more colloquially known as the ‘kissing disease’ and commonly flares up in patients who have contracted it when they are run down, causing symptoms such as bleeding gums. Dr. B takes us through the signs, symptoms, a...
Aug 03, 2021•19 min•Ep. 21
The majority of consumers take it as a given that all kinds of toothpaste from major brands are safe and effective. But as Dr. B will attest in today’s episode, this is not necessarily the case. Most toothpaste brands use harsh surfactants and chemicals to keep their manufactured batches homogenous. These act as a disinfectant that temporarily cleans our mouths, but results in the disruption of our oral microbiome. Dr. B unpacks the history of toothpaste, how the Western diet has affected our or...
Jul 27, 2021•22 min•Ep. 20
Sjögren's is an autoimmune disease that wreaks havoc on your immune system. One of the major symptoms of the disease is a dry mouth, the result of attacks on your saliva glands. As saliva plays a pivotal role in speaking, swallowing, and eating, having a dry mouth can be highly problematic. This issue does not only affect those with Sjögren's, so today's episode applies to everyone. In this show, Dr. B. unpacks the issue of dry mouth and resultant oral thrush. He also provides some actionable st...
Jul 20, 2021•14 min•Ep. 19
Today we dive into a question that has been a sensitive topic for a long time. We are talking about the dangers of fluoride and providing some advice for the best practices for parents wondering about steps to take to prevent their children from ingesting the chemical. This subject has been discussed for decades now, since the introduction of fluoride into the water supply, and its use in dental care generally, but there is more available research now than ever before, and the findings are more ...
Jul 13, 2021•18 min•Ep. 18
If you have ever been prescribed toothpaste such as PreviDent 5000, you might have wondered how they work and whether there are any non-fluoride alternatives. The good news is there are, and they are extremely safe to use. In today's episode, Dr. B shed light on hydroxyapatite toothpaste and why they are such great replacements for their conventional counterparts. We also get some product recommendations from Dr. B along with advice on how to use these kinds of toothpaste to ensure maximum effic...
Jul 06, 2021•15 min•Ep. 17
If you haven't heard of miswak, you are not alone. Despite its prevalence in many Muslim and Arab countries, it is not widely known around the world. Miswak is a tooth-cleaning twig or chewing stick made from the roots of the Arak tree, Salvadora persica. In today's episode, Dr. B sheds some light on this twig, how it works, and what studies have shown about people who use it rather than toothpaste. Although it is likely safe to use, when the ingredient is found in commercial products, it might ...
Jun 29, 2021•13 min•Ep. 16
If your child is having difficulty with anxiety or concentration it is a good idea to consider whether poor sleep is the culprit. Today on the show Dr. B responds to a question from a listener in which she asks if it is a good idea to suggest mouth taping to her 14-year-old daughter. Dr. B recommends mouth taping for anybody over three years of age and he spends this episode talking about why. Before diving into the benefits of using sleep tape our host takes a few moments to refresh listeners o...
Jun 22, 2021•13 min•Ep. 15
An issue that causes a great deal of confusion is whether or not patients need to premedicate before a dental procedure. While your physician may recommend one thing, your dentist might say another, and as a patient, this can be stressful and anxiety-inducing. In today’s episode, Dr. B sheds light on this topic and talks about why you don’t need to premedicate if you have a prosthetic joint. He also gets into why this is such a complex issue and offers advice on what you can do if you are taking...
Jun 15, 2021•10 min•Ep. 14
For today's episode, we are focusing on clenching, looking at some of the root causes, risk factors, and links to gum recession. This is an important and complex topic that comes up a lot in dental work, with some notable progress being made in understanding it in recent decades. It is also a great proxy through which we can see the differences between a strictly academic approach to dentistry and a more functional and experienced approach. Although there are differences between clenching and gr...
Jun 08, 2021•31 min•Ep. 13
There are many factors that can attribute to cavities, many of which, play an important role in the management of oral hygiene. In today’s episode, Dr. B goes dives into an explanation behind the factors that need to be addressed when taking oral care into consideration. He shares some key points regarding the dry mouth condition, how your diet factors in, oral hygiene including toothpaste recommendations, flossing, and biofilm management, and genetics. Dr. B also reminds us that it is important...
Jun 01, 2021•14 min•Ep. 12
Cavitations are not widely recognized in the field of dentistry, despite a growing body of evidence to support their effects on the body. In today’s episode, Dr. B explains what cavitation is, how this empty space in your body - where no bone exists - links to chronic disease, and walks us through steps to take if you think you may have one. We also hear about the surgical treatment available. Remember, if you suspect you may have cavitation, you should go and see a functional dentist as they ar...
May 25, 2021•17 min•Ep. 11
Gum recession is something that affects many people of all ages. Today, Dr. B explores this common issue, what the symptoms are, and gives insights into the most common causes of the condition. These include aggressive orthodontics, food trauma, and tongue and lip-ties, among others. We also hear about ways that you can prevent your gums from receding. Importantly, this problem cannot be reserved non-surgically, which is why it is so important to take a proactive approach to stop the issue from ...
May 18, 2021•22 min•Ep. 10
Oral health is about so much more than cavities. It is linked to our overall health, and there are ties between a lack of oral health and chronic health struggles later in life. Fluoride is a controversial topic, and in today’s episode, Dr. B talks about this prevalent neurotoxin. We begin by hearing about why it is crucial to ensure that those with developing brains aren’t exposed to it. There is evidence that shows that it lowers IQ. After that, Dr. B shares the three biggest sources of fluori...
May 11, 2021•13 min•Ep. 9
Finding the right advice and navigating the system when it comes to treating sleep apnea can be frustrating. So, today, Dr. B is addressing five relevant questions related to sleep apnea. These are questions that he and his wife had and struggled to answer, even as medical professionals, when they found out about their sleep apnea diagnosis. In this episode, we hear about the factors to consider when deciding on a device to help with sleep apnea, the efficacy of surgery to treat a tongue tie, an...
May 04, 2021•14 min•Ep. 8
Most of us are familiar with Dr. Bronner's, a company that produces a host of hygiene products, including hand and body soaps, toothpaste, and hand disinfectant. You might have seen that they say that their castile soap can be used as toothpaste, but is this safe? In today's episode, Dr. B dives into what castile soap actually is and why it is better than regular, mass-produced soaps. He talks about why, when combined with essential oils, which are bactericidal, using castile soap as toothpaste ...
Apr 27, 2021•7 min•Ep. 7
There is an apparent dearth of literature and conversation on the topic of tongue-tie surgery for adults and today's listener question asks why that is. There are a few probable and possible reasons for this, and it is very relevant to ask the question in the first place, as treatment of the condition is as important for adults as it is in younger patients. One of the main reasons might be simple human bias, as well as the different approaches of parents and independent adults towards pursuing s...
Apr 20, 2021•7 min•Ep. 6
If you have ever been in a situation where your partner or a friend, who is not as careful with their oral health as you are, comes back with a clean report while you're struggling with cavities, you know how frustrating this can be. So, why do some people get more plaque than others? It is a question that confuses dentists, especially when those who are not as diligent seem to get away with murder. In this episode, Dr. B talks about why we should not disinfect the mouth but, instead, feed and n...
Apr 13, 2021•14 min•Ep. 5
Grinding your teeth at night, or sleep bruxism, is a common problem, and dentists have typically taken a teeth-protection first approach through night guards or TMJ splints. As research emerges around the topic of sleep bruxism, findings show that there is a link between sleep and nighttime grinding. In today's episode, Dr. B talks about why it is crucial to differentiate between daytime and nighttime grinding. Often healthy people are told that they do not have sleep disorders, something Dr. B ...
Apr 06, 2021•11 min•Ep. 4
