Truth About Charcoal Toothpaste
I have been asked many times about charcoal toothpaste so I have decided to give my take on this. Charcoal is a substance that has adsorption qualities in that it pulls substances into it. This is the reason it is used by emergency rooms to treat poisoning or drug overdose victims. In dentistry, companies have […]
What is Oil Pulling?
Oil pulling is an ancient Indian (not the American Indian) practice that utilizes natural remedies over proven scientific ones. It involves the use of various types of oils such as sesame, coconut, and sunflower by having individuals gargle and swish in their mouth for 15 to 20 minutes at a time and then spitting it […]
I get canker sores in my mouth two or three times a year. You recommended that I get a certain type of toothpaste that might help. Can you tell me which one and why?
Years ago, in the early 1990s a company called Den-Mat came out with a toothpaste called Rembrandt that was specifically used for whitening or bleaching teeth. One of the things that we saw was a decrease in the number of canker sore attacks in patients that were using it. After much research as to why […]
Hyperemia
Why is my tooth sometimes sensitive after a filling is placed or work is done on it? This is a normal response that can occur after any type of treatment is performed on a tooth. We call it a hyperemic response. It is basically when the inside of the live tooth, which we call the […]
What is a Phoenix Abscess/Reaction in Dentistry?
A Phoenix reaction occurs in dentistry when we have a long-term infection in the bone at the end of the root that our body has been keeping under control with minimal symptoms, if any, that suddenly bursts into a rapid pain/swelling situation. How does this happen? Well, sometimes our body loses the battle controlling the […]
What are Canker Sores?
Canker sores are also called aphthous ulcers and are characterized as white or yellowish round sores with a reddish border found inside the cheeks, lips, gums, roof of the mouth, or tongue that are painful. They are not contagious and totally different from fever blisters, which are usually seen on the outside of the mouth […]
Black Hairy Tongue?
Yes, there is a condition that we call black hairy tongue. It is when the top surface of the tongue appears dark and furry. It is the buildup of dead cells on the taste buds of our tongue as they grow too long and do not shed as quickly as they normally do. It may […]
Hey Doc, what is up with your old calculator?
As some of you know, I regularly use a Texas Instruments SR-10 calculator that I have had since 1973. It is 51 years and counting for this little piece of history. Way back in ’73, Dr. George Luther, my college chemistry professor, said we could use a calculator for lab work and homework but during […]
Tooth or Consequences ®
A few people have asked me about the newsletter we have written for years called Tooth or Consequences ®, and about the plaque in our hallway. It goes like this: years ago, when I was a youngster, my family and I would watch a TV game show called Truth or Consequences. It involved contestants responding […]
Baseball Sports Special
Going to do a sports special today regarding the postseason. My predictions for the postseason in MLB will be that the Yankees defeat the Guardians in six games and go to the World Series. The Dodgers will beat the Mets in six games as well and go on to meet the Yankees for the baseball […]