Get ready to revolutionize your oral health! We've got a wealth of wisdom to share that will empower you to take control of your smile. This episode of Ask the Dentist is all about oral health, hydration, and the powerful role of minerals and electrolytes. We dive into why staying hydrated is more than just good for your body—it's key to maintaining a vibrant smile.Key Points From This Episode:0:00:00 - Importance of Electrolytes for Oral Health0:09:33 - Saliva and Minerals for Tooth Health0:13:...
Aug 02, 2023•27 min
On the first episode of my "Small Bites" series, I am going to share with you how to clean your oral appliances effectively without harming your oral microbiome. Did you ever stop to think that your oral appliance might be contributing to an imbalance in your mouth’s microbiome? That's the startling realization I came to after noticing recurring issues with my oral health. In today's episode, we're venturing into the often-neglected realm of oral appliance care, exploring how improper cleaning r...
Jul 25, 2023•16 min
Prepare to broaden your dental knowledge as we delve into the world of Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) in dentistry. I'll guide you through the intricacies of SDF, discussing its components, FDA approval and off-label uses. We'll also evaluate the role of silver and fluoride in SDF and their potential benefits against dental hypersensitivity and tooth decay, arming you with the knowledge to make an informed decision about using this product. I also confront potential risks and concerns with SDF tr...
Jul 18, 2023•38 min
Get ready to untangle the mysteries around children's dental care woes. In this episode, we're tackling a surprisingly common issue - loose baby teeth. We offer kid-friendly practical advice that's easy to understand and use. We also dive into a more complex case of our friend Calhoun, who's experiencing tooth decay due to low saliva count post-surgery and radiation therapy. We demystify why Calhoun has been prescribed a potent fluoride rinse and even explore potential alternatives.Key Points Fr...
Jul 04, 2023•24 min
Did you know that the oral microbiome plays a crucial role in not only oral health but also in systemic health, cardiovascular disease, colon cancer, and even Alzheimer's disease? Join us as we dive into this fascinating topic with Dr. David Lin, PhD, the Chief Scientific Officer at Bristle, to understand the importance of testing and interpreting our oral microbiome for better overall health.Key Points From This Episode:0:00:41 - Interpreting Oral Microbiome Test Results 0:04:33 - The Importanc...
Jun 20, 2023•58 min
Discover how to combat recurrent decay and protect your teeth from cavities that lurk beneath fillings and dental restorations. Join me, Dr. B as I share over 36 years of functional dentistry knowledge and dive into the fascinating world of artificial intelligence in dentistry.Learn about the variety of fillings available, their lifespans, and the risks of polymerization shrinkage – all crucial factors in preventing recurrent decay. We'll also discuss the game-changing potential of AI in detecti...
Jun 13, 2023•30 min
Our Instagram page has seen a recent influx of questions about cavities, so today; Dr. B answers some of those questions to help you gain a better understanding of how cavities are formed and what you can do to prevent them. It seems that dentistry is caught in a tunnel-vision cycle of cavity re-restoration, but to end this cycle, we need to first understand that cavities are an ongoing disease process and also still the world’s number one disease. After laying out the differences between demine...
May 22, 2023•38 min
Today we are joined by Dr. David Perlmutter to discuss how oral health (and health in general) relates to brain health. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Dr. Perlmutter’s illustrious career, what prompted him to study the brain microbiome, and how your overall health affects the health of your brain. Dr. Perlmutter has discovered that there are two primary issues causing leaky gut and in this episode, he explains what they are and how they are treated/worsened. We even delve into how the brain wo...
May 08, 2023•58 min
In today’s episode, Dr. Staci joins Dr. B to discuss the misinformation about flossing spread online by social media influencers. They explain why social media algorithms can be incredibly harmful, the destructive nature of clickbait and fearmongering, how studies against flossing measure up to the truth, and the positive results Dr. Staci has witnessed in her own patients who floss regularly. Our doctors then explore exactly what social media influencers say about flossing, the vital informatio...
Apr 17, 2023•23 min
In a slight detour from our usual undertaking, today’s episode is a somewhat negative review of a patented anti-tartar toothpaste that has been brought to Dr. B’s attention (thank you, Leonard, for the question). After giving a brief background on TartarEnd®, Dr. B lays out the claims of the product and how they measure up to the truth, as well as why the information on its website seems too good to believe. We discuss how to properly check the ingredient list of a product, what you’ll find in T...
Apr 10, 2023•15 min
Opinions on oral irrigators are varied and in this episode, Dr. B explains how his has changed over time and why. In response to a listener’s question about the benefits and uses of water flossers, he dives deep into the origins of the tool, why he was previously wary of them, and how they should be used to optimize safety and effectiveness. Dr. B specifies who should use water picks and why, and shares the caveats for using them, as well as his concerns about the use of dental floss. Tune in to...
Apr 04, 2023•20 min
Microbes can create molecules that help mineralize teeth and prevent invaders from coming in and causing cavities. They can also be the cause of various different types of oral diseases including tooth decay, thrush, and burning mouth syndrome. Furthermore, Alzheimer's, adverse pregnancy outcomes, diabetes, and certain types of cancer have been found to be associated with certain microbes in our mouths. During this episode, Dr. B is joined by Dr. David Lin for a discussion around how a dysbiotic...
Mar 27, 2023•58 min
David Lin is the go-to guy for oral microbiome! During today’s conversation, we get an overview of the oral microbiome, and how it should be treated. Through our discussion about prebiotics and probiotics, feeding microbes, and researching the oral microbiome, you’ll learn what we mean by ‘weeding, feeding and seeding,’ and when to implement each strategy. We know firsthand that the prevention route can reduce pain and maximize efficiency, and today’s episode teaches listeners plenty of vital tr...
Mar 20, 2023•34 min
No matter what you eat, how much you exercise, how skinny or young or wise you are, none of it matters if you’re not breathing properly. Today’s guest has written a revolutionary book called Breath, which challenges the way that we think about breath and its implications for our overall health. In this episode, you’ll hear about James Nestor’s work as a journalist, researching, writing, and publishing the book. You’ll also hear about a tool that James has purchased which has completely changed h...
Mar 13, 2023•52 min
Flossing has been around for a long time (since the 1800s, in fact!). And today, flossing is considered to be an integral part of an effective everyday oral healthcare routine. But for a good many of us, flossing is a difficult chore that we often end up avoiding. This is due in large part to how time-consuming traditional flossing can be (especially if you’re still struggling with long loops of flosser string as you navigate those hard-to-reach sections at the back of your mouth). While there h...
Mar 06, 2023•30 min
A big part of modern dentistry is occupied by the subject and practice of teeth whitening, and while these aspirations and values do not have to be a problem per se, there are some serious things to consider when broaching the subject. Whitening has grown to be the most desirable dental procedure, and a remarkable dimension of this is the frequent requests from parents for brightening their children's teeth. As functional dentists, we have some important concerns to raise in this regard, and the...
Feb 28, 2023•38 min
Once again, we are thrilled to welcome the impeccable Dr. Staci Whitman to the show, as she and Dr. B fill you in on everything you need to know about sores in your mouth. We begin by taking a look at the differences between canker sores and cold sores, why you should reexamine your oral products, and the often overlooked harmful effects of sodium lauryl sulfate. Then, we discuss skin trauma and mouth breathing as causes of mouth sores, and we later add stress and fatigue to the list. When choos...
Feb 20, 2023•42 min
Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM) Certified Practitioners set the standard for functional medicine in their industry and today’s guest is no exception! In this episode, Dr. B is joined by Dr. Staci Whitman; an IFM-certified pediatric dentist, founder of NoPo Kids Dentistry, and a repeat visitor on the show. Tuning in, you’ll hear about Dr. Staci’s holistic approach to her practice and why she had a hard time “bootstrapping” the education she needed to become a true leader in functional dent...
Feb 13, 2023•37 min
Craze lines. Those little fractures you find on teeth could be an early indicator that something is wrong. How do you uncover the root cause and how can you nip it in the bud as early as possible?(Note that there is a difference between craze lines and cracked teeth, the latter of which is a serious issue for which you would need a root canal.) To identify craze lines, Dr. B recommends what’s called a “transillumination device” to spot them even before they become visible to the naked eye and be...
Dec 13, 2022•15 min
In this episode, Dr. B addresses the question; what are the alternatives to fluoride varnish on toddlers' teeth? He highlights the dangers it poses to the human body and the alternatives to fluoride in varnishes and toothpaste. Dr. B explains the science behind the use of varnishes, the steps being taken to ensure available alternatives to fluoride varnishes and the challenges with creating and adopting these alternatives.Key Takeaways❏ Fluoride is a neurotoxin that should not be in our mouths b...
Dec 12, 2022•21 min
“I have a question about fluoride varnishing on toddlers’ teeth: What would be the alternative treatment?”Fluoride varnish is a highly-concentrated form of fluoride, typically composed of 5% sodium fluoride. It is applied to the tooth’s surface after cleaning and lasts up to four hours. The problem with fluoride is not the mineral’s contact with your teeth, but the coating serving as a “glue” which ensures that the fluoride sticks to your saliva. Unfortunately, this “glue” causes the fluoride to...
Dec 07, 2022•14 min
Dr. B sits down with Natasha Beck. The mother of four is the face behind Dr. Organic Mommy, a platform created to help every family make healthy decisions for themselves, drawing on her experience as a mom and her expertise in psychology, neuroscience, and public health. She is also a board member of the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to helping you live your healthiest life. When working at LA County + USC Medical Center, Natasha saw firsthand...
Nov 03, 2022•56 min
Dr. B sits down with Dawn Winkelmann, a Speech-Language Pathologist and Pediatric Feeding Therapist specializing in infant swallowing. She is the co-author of the book Making Mealtime EZPZ, featured on The View and Shark Tank.Dawn is also the product designer for EZPZ, a company that offers developmental feeding tools to help children feed independently and meet critical milestones. Dawn provides in-home feeding therapy and online coaching through her private practice, helping parents start soli...
Oct 31, 2022•1 hr 6 min
Registered dental hygienists Sarah Hornsby and Melissa Mugno sit with Dr. B to discuss the importance of myofunctional therapy not just to one’s oral health, but to their overall health.Sarah and Melissa define myofunctional therapy as the identification and treatment of issues within the oral cavity and the head/neck that are affecting potentially any area of the body, from the airway to the stability of occlusion, to the way we speak, chew, and swallow. Myofunctional therapy consists of person...
Oct 25, 2022•1 hr 12 min
Today’s episode covers an essential aspect of healthcare that is not often discussed and just so happens to be the root cause of the majority of chronic diseases: facial development. We shed light on the ramifications of an underdeveloped lower face and what we need to keep in mind if we want to minimize this phenomenon in ourselves and our children.Lending his expertise to this vital topic is special guest Dr. Steven Park. He is a former ENT surgeon and sleep medicine doctor based on the East C...
Oct 06, 2022•1 hr 27 min
Today, Dr. B welcomes Dr. David Lin to the podcast to discuss how one company is reinventing our approach to oral health—by highlighting the foundational importance of the oral microbiome. Dr. Lin has a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology and is the Co-Founder and CSO of the startup Bristle. The newly launched company is on a mission to help people understand and improve their oral health using its non-invasive, at-home oral microbiome test. Your saliva is tested and used to measure the bacteri...
Sep 07, 2022•1 hr 2 min
On this episode of Ask the Dentist, Dr. Mark Burhenne takes a deep dive into Spermidine and the many benefits it offers not only in optimizing oral health but also supporting longevity. He explains why this critical building block – widely available and well-tested – is essential (most especially if you’re undergoing treatment for gum disease). In response to a listener’s question, Dr. B spells out exactly how Spermidine, a naturally occurring polyamine, plays a vital role in cell function and s...
Aug 22, 2022•29 min•Ep. 65
The hallmark of functional dentistry is its holistic approach, and Dr. Mark Burhenne’s guests on this episode of Ask the Dentist are Exhibit A. Dr. Kimberly Baer and Dr. Jennifer Tipograph are sharing thoughts on the many benefits associated with their integrative approach and use of non-reactive dental implant techniques. Their toxin-free, bio-friendly family practice, based just outside Washington, DC, offers the gold standard for functional dentistry. And why are those dental implants so impo...
Aug 16, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 64
On today’s episode of Ask the Dentist, Dr. B breaks down the myths and misconceptions surrounding glycerin in toothpaste. He unpacks the question:“Does glycerin in toothpaste coat the teeth and prevent absorption of minerals?” Here is the short answer: Glycerin’s solubility factor is actually quite high, and it does not seal your teeth off from all the important ingredients in saliva. Unfortunately, there is a current of misinformation surrounding glycerin, amplified especially by social media. ...
Jul 27, 2022•10 min
Midnight snacking is quite common for those with Type 1 diabetes, who need to maintain their blood sugar levels. If you do find yourself reaching for a simple source of sugar after bedtime though, should you brush your teeth afterward? Today, Dr. B answers this question by sharing his recommendations for which snacks he believes are best and how to take care of your oral hygiene in the middle of the night, from swishing with water to taping your mouth and more!Key Points From This Episode:Introd...
Jun 21, 2022•15 min•Ep. 63
