Decay never targets one tooth. Cavity-forming germs live all over the mouth and even in saliva. If you have recently had a cavity, or been told you have one, it means cavity-forming germs are attacking every surface of every tooth,… Read More ›
Cavities
Q&A with Dr. Ellie: Looking for Data
Every month Dr. Ellie Phillips will answer your oral health questions as part of the Ultimate Oral Health Guide. ———– Q: Hello Dr. Phillips, I’ve purchased the parts to your Complete Mouth Care System and have presented the program to my husband. He is… Read More ›
Pediatric Sedation & Early Childhood Caries
Pediatric sedation Pediatric sedation is a dental procedure that is rapidly becoming more common in practices around the country. Some dentists think it’s because there are more young children showing up with decay, others say it’s because we have an… Read More ›
3 Things You Need To Know If You Want Healthy Teeth
Brushing and flossing are not enough I know many people who value their smiles and try to look after their teeth as carefully as possible. The problem is that you can religiously brush and floss, yet end up with ongoing fillings,… Read More ›
Is Flossing the Best Way to Prevent Dental Disease?
Overview The dentist’s mantra is to “brush and floss” but is flossing useful or could other protocols keep teeth cleaner and healthier? Flossing has devotees who trust it is the only way to oral health, but where did their emphatic… Read More ›
To Floss or Not to Floss: Dr. Ellie’s interview with the BBC
Hear Dr. Ellie’s interview on the BBC World Service! From the BBC World Service: Flossing is widely recommended, but for those of us who do not floss, we might take comfort from an increasing number of dentists who believe it… Read More ›
The Fluoride Debate: Why xylitol is a better ally when it comes to preventing cavities
In the US we have an epidemic of cavities in children’s teeth, but the facts are that fluoride has no power to prevent cavities. Cavities are caused by bacteria that erode holes in teeth, and fluoride does nothing to help… Read More ›
Change Your pH and Improve Your Teeth and Gums!
Alkalize mouth and body! If you read my newsletters, blog, or books, you know a healthy mouth is a non-acidic, neutral, or alkaline mouth, with a pH 7.0 or above. Tooth roots begin to dissolve as this pH gets a… Read More ›
Dental Sealants for Kids
What is a dental sealant? A dental sealant is a thin plastic used to cover cracks (fissures) that naturally occur in chewing surfaces of molar teeth. The idea is to protect teeth from decay, since cavities almost always start in… Read More ›
Your Mouth is a Garden!
Some bacteria make us sick, but there are many friendly bacteria that are a vital to our health. These bacteria help give our bodies the nutrition it needs to maintain, repair and regenerate itself. Some bacteria break food into components… Read More ›