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I just recently returned from a holistic dental meeting and I was surprised to come across a company that has a system that measures cellular nitric oxide levels from a saliva sample. For those who don’t know, nitric oxide is a free form of gas produced by the cells in our body. It is produced when enzymes in the body break down the amino acid Arginine, and is mainly used for intra-cellular communication. Nitric oxide is required for key physiological functions within our body and travels freely from one cell to another assisting in a variety of biological functions. Depending on the requirement, nitric oxide can act as a hormone, a neurotransmitter and an intracellular messenger. It is essential that the cells produce adequate amounts of this gas within our bodies. Body builders or those who perform rigorous physical activities need a higher amount of nitric oxide, as it allows for an increase in blood flow while building muscles. Signs of nitric oxide deficiency include extreme fatigue, lethargy, physical weakness, poor circulation, weakened immunity, joint and muscle pain. The reason that this product caught my interest at the meeting is because nitric oxide production supposedly increases from a SomaEnergetics tuning fork session. Now I could validate this for myself. If you have been to our office anytime within the last decade, then no doubt that you have experienced the 2 minute tune up with the SomaEnergetics tuning forks. It is a short energy healing session (2 minutes) that instantly grounds you and puts you in a relaxed state. Well, considering that I have been exposed to this frequency regularly for the last 10 years, I would hope my nitric oxide reading would be at least normal. So off to the booth I went to get tested. I was there with about 10 other people, most who were probably at least 20 to 30 years younger than me. And guess what. Not only was my score very high (Woohoo!!!), but everyone else there was in the deficiency range. As an integrative holistic healer, I feel it is my joy and responsibility to educate patients on simple complementary options for improving health. SomaEnergetics tuning fork therapy is one such option. Personally, I already knew this. My turning point was the elimination of chronic fibromyalgia that I had endured for 12 years. It was completely gone after one weekend course in SomaEnergetics. How’s that for a miracle cure? Especially considering that conventional medicine says there is no cure for fibromyalgia. Actually when I had fibromyalgia, there were no drugs to treat it (now there are) and conventional medicine didn’t even consider it a “real” physical illness. Times have changed and fibromyalgia now actually has a billable medical diagnosis code and many medicines to treat it. So, if you are looking to improve your health in a relaxing restorative way, consider full sessions of tuning fork therapy. With regular and longer sessions, SomaEnergeticsmay also: Improve mental clarity, brain functioning and concentration Reduce or eliminate physical pain Relieve stress by drawing your body into a centered space Develop and refine your sonic abilities Enhance the healing effects of massage, acupressure, and other modalities Deepen healing through meditation Bring your nervous system into balance Integrate left and right brain thought patterns If you still aren’t convinced, come by the office and ask for your free 2 minute tune up. Feel it for yourself. We look forward to convincing you. For more information, see our webpage on SomaEnergetics. If you liked this post, you may also like: The Health Rewards of Energy Healing: Reiki Our other Blog Site: Enlightened Indigo Child

Post Hurricane Sandy has been a bit of a mess in the tri-state area. Some of us lost electricity for a few days, but others lost so much more. I was one of the lucky ones. Although I had no electric or water at my home, my office was totally operational. With no clients, but a completely functional computer, I got busy. In the week following Sandy, I was able to put together a small book My Secrets to Regaining Health. In this manual, I have shared many of the actions that I have taken to come back from the debilitating health challenges that come from chronic Lyme disease. The aspects that I discuss in the book are not common knowledge and this may explain why incurable chronic health conditions remain chronic. My opinion is that there is no reason anyone should be labeled as incurable. That is what happened to me and obviously the doctors were wrong. There are many aspects to healing, and these cures don’t always come from a medication or neatly presented from the conventional medical field. Sometimes we need to look outside “the box” and find our own way. My book does exactly that. Throughout the years, I have had a handful of patients seek me out only because they had heard about my ability to get out from under this Lyme nightmare. I have given them hope and insight when they felt lost. My Secrets to Regaining Health will do exactly the same thing. Believing is seeing.When you believe you can be healed (regardless of what “the experts” say), you will see it. A paradigm shift is necessary. Educate yourself and be proactive in your own health. It worked for me and it can for you. Dr. Brand’s second book My Secrets to Regaining Health is available directly from our office and from Amazon.com.

Earthing is a relatively new concept in the field of natural health. It is different than grounding since you actually need to connect to Earth for it to occur. Although many of us have been doing it as a natural course in feeling well, the science of how it works has really not been discovered until recently. Haven’t you noticed how wonderful you feel after spending a little time laying on the grass or swimming at the beach? There is more than an emotional relaxation going on; there is an actual physical reaction occurring to your body creating an emotional response. Here’s the simple chemistry of it. The surface of the Earth has an excess of free electrons, but you, on the other hand, have an excess of free radicals. What happens when free radicals meet free electrons? They are attracted to each other and the free radicals are neutralized. This makes Earth the most potent antioxidant in the world. And it’s FREE!!!! Sure, you could buy a bottle of antioxidant vitamins at the health food store, but it isn’t necessary. Mother Earth is waiting for you to connect and receive nurturing health at your convenience. Earth will restore the body’s natural electrical state, calm the nervous system, reduce inflammation, and improve circulation. No pill in the world can do all that. There are several things that happen when you Earth yourself. 1. Reduction of pain. 2. Reduction of anxiety. 3. Emotional and physical detoxification. 4. Reduction of cortisol levels and resynchronizing its secretion to be in alignment with the natural 24-hour circadian rhythm profile. This will create less stress and better sleep for deeper healing. 5. Increased fluidity of red blood cells allowing more oxygen transport to all parts of the body. Earthing is very simple to do and if done for 20 minutes or longer daily, you will see your whole life shift for the better. If you like this blog you may also like Earthing 2 More information on Earthing can be found in Dr. Brand's book Enlightened Indigo Child available at Amazon and other fine bookstores.

This is a follow up to my last blog on Earthing. There are a few other aspects of Earthing that you should be aware of. Earth has a background base frequency or Schumann Resonance. This refers to how quickly the Earth is vibrating, not to its speed of rotation. This number has risen dramatically in the last twenty years. The Schumann Resonance can vary in different geographical regions, but the overall measurement had been about 7.8 cycles per second (hertz) for many decades. This measurement was once thought to be a constant; global military communication was developed on this frequency. However, recent reports set the present rate at over 11 hertz, and still climbing. Science does not have a clear answer as to why this is happening, and it is believed that the escalating Schumann Resonance may be a factor in the many recent intense Earth shifts. The rate of earthquakes, tsunamis, storms, floods, and extreme weather is definitely on the rise and may be a consequence to the Earth’s rising vibration. So how does this affect our health? If a planet’s frequency is rising, then the frequency of the inhabitants of that planet must also rise. We cannot live at ease or healthily on a planet that we do not resonate with. Residing in boxes (houses, apartment buildings), driving in boxes (cars, buses) and working in boxes (office buildings) have literally kept us disconnected from earth. Even when we do go out in nature, most of the time we are wearing rubber soled shoes that further insulate us from earth. I think this simple line of reasoning illustrates how important it is to connect to the Earth as much as possible. If not, you will find yourself physically, mentally and emotionally ailing. If you make any resolutions for the New Year, let it be to reclaim your vigor. Connect daily to Earth and see how your health and life shifts. If you like this blog you may also like Earthing 1 More information on Earthing can be found in Dr. Brand's book Enlightened Indigo Child available at Amazon and other fine bookstores.

I am sure that the word “fluoride” popped into your head when you read the title of this post, along with flossing, brushing and avoiding sugars. These are important factors to consider, but there is another issue worth a look. Phytic acid. Phytic acid is found in grains, nuts, seeds and beans, and represents a serious problem in our diets. It is the principal storage form of phosphorus in many plant tissues, especially in the bran portion of grains and seeds. It contains the mineral phosphorus tightly bound in a snowflake-like molecule. In addition to infringing on phosphorus availability, the “arms” of the phytic acid snowflake shaped molecule readily bind with other minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc, making them unavailable as well. Phytic acid not only grabs on to (chelates) important minerals, but also inhibits enzymes that we need to digest our food, including pepsin (needed for the breakdown of proteins in the stomach), trypsin (needed for protein digestion in the small intestine) and amylase (needed for the breakdown of starch into sugar). There is a powerful anti-nutritional effect of a diet high in phytate-rich grains with many health problems as a result, including tooth decay (demineralized enamel), poor jaw development (creating tooth crowding), osteoporosis, anemia and digestive problems (the enzymes are inactivated). All resulting from the binding effect of phytic acid to our essential minerals. Although the health effects are systemic, for now I will focus specifically on teeth. When enamel is poorly formed and the diet isn't adequate in nutrients, the enamel dissolves and decay sets in. Tooth decay is an opportunistic infection that takes advantage of poorly built or maintained teeth. If the diet remains inadequate, the tooth will demineralize, forming a cavity that will need to be filled. Dr. Weston A. Price, a dentist who traveled and studied isolated populations and their native diets around theworld, was surprised to discover that many native people eating a diet devoid of modern foods had perfect dental structure and little tooth decay. Their teeth were well spaced with plenty of room, and were white and healthy. He studied people all over the world with widely different genes and found the same common factor. When these people were removed from their native environment and switched to a western diet, they would get tooth decay, bone loss and other health problems at the same rate as people already living in the western industrialized countries. Other doctors have researched this phenomenon and after years of study, it was determined that the health of tooth structure is largely determined by diet. There were three main factors: The presence of enough minerals in the diet. The presence of enough fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) in the diet. The bio-availability of these nutrients and how well the body is absorbing them. This bioavailability is largely influenced by the presence of phytic acid in the diet. It may be almost impossible to eliminate phytic acid from the diet, since it is found in many of our favorite foods. What should be considered is taking care to minimize the foods that contain the highest amounts. Some food preparation, like soaking and fermenting grains, seeds and nuts before use, can reduce the phytic acid content and should be practiced if the foods are going to be consumed; but in many cases, it is better to avoid these foods completely Nuts, for instance, have a high phytic acid content which can be greatly reduced by soaking them in salt water overnight and then rinsing and dehydrating in the oven. The same can be done with beans. While this step can be time consuming, it is easily done. However, this procedure can be difficult with grains. (The grain quinoa comes to mind, as I have heard of many digestive problems after eating, when the grain was not properly soaked before cooking.) Grains can be soaked, sprouted and fermented, if consumed at all, but this process will not completely eliminate all phytic acid. Soaking Beans Photo credit Creative Commons: adashofsass If a dietary program to heal/prevent cavities were designed, it would incorporate the successes of Dr. Price and others' research. It would look something like this: Rich in animal foods, particularly full-fat pastured dairy products. Also include meat, organs, fish, bone broths and eggs. Fat soluble vitamins A, D and K are essential. Fermented grains only; no unfermented grains such as oatmeal, breakfast cereal, crackers, etc. No breads except true sourdough (avoid lactic acid on ingredients list). Or even better, no grains at all. Limit nuts; beans in moderation, only if they're soaked overnight or longer in warm water. Starchy vegetables such as potatoes and sweet potatoes as a substitute for grains. Cooked and raw vegetables. Sunlight, high-vitamin cod liver oil or vitamin D3 supplements. A generous amount of pastured butter. No industrially processed food. A limited quantity of fruit (one piece per day or less), but no refined sweets. This diet would maximize mineral absorption while providing abundant fat-soluble vitamins. It probably isn't necessary to follow it strictly. For example, if you eat more mineral-rich foods such as dairy and bone broths, you can probably get away with more phytic acid. Or you might be able to heal cavities eating like this for only one or two meals a day, as Dr. Price had demonstrated in his research. Bottom line, it seems that the secret is to having cavity-free teeth is to have a mineral rich diet, a healthy fat supplement system and a minimal amount of phytic acid foods. This way the teeth can remineralize easily. In essence, cavities can be reversed. If you like this post, you may also like: Oil Pulling The Benefits of Bone Soup

There seems to be a mindset in conventional dentistry that wisdom teeth are superfluous. That they should be extracted at a young age before they can cause a problem. These teeth are believed to have the potential to create anterior tooth crowding and infections in the mouth. They are difficult to keep clean since they are way back in the far corners of your mouth, and you should get them out NOW, before the troubles start. This mentality is definitely not what I would call holistic thinking. It is analogous to a dentist placing fillings in the grooves of non-carious teeth, only because they have a high potential to develop a cavity. Sounds farfetched, but I have seen this done in one office I worked in many years ago. Rational thinking would show that all of your teeth are important, wisdom included. According to Chinese medicine, all teeth run through meridians in your body, affecting other organs and body parts. Wisdom teeth, specifically, are connected to the heart and intestine meridians. Is it no wonder that chronic illness in both of these organs are on the rise? Of course there may be other contributing factors to these chronic health issues, such as diet, but wisdom teeth extractions, as well as the residual cavitations at the extraction site, may also be contributing to these systemic health conditions. It is also not uncommon to have some ear issues (hearing problems, vertigo) or even nerve damage (paraesthesia) after wisdom tooth extraction. Even though your orthodontist may have advised removing these teeth, or your regular dentist said that they were coming in sideways and should be removed to prevent future problems, I would still get a second opinion. I have seen these teeth often upright over time even when they were way out of alignment. I have also placed fillings in wisdom teeth with cavities that other dentists ignored since the premise is why bother filling a tooth that should be extracted anyway. Let’s just wait until the cavity gets big enough to create a toothache and then we can just extract it. Sounds absurd but this mindset is fairly common in the dental community. Of course there are many times when wisdom teeth should be extracted for the betterment of the oral condition. But routinely removing them just because of your age, presence of small decay, or coming in crooked, is not a valid reason. At least not until an attempt is made to remedy the situation. The bottom line to all this: get a second opinion before you go and remove these “useless” wisdom teeth. The rest of your body will thank you for it. Just for the record, I still have all my wisdom teeth, even though it was highly suggested that I have them extracted. From my own experience, I have found that it is always best to keep all of your body parts, teeth included. Does Dr. Brand’s philosophy resonate? Call for an appointment 212 947-0073 If you like this post, you may also like: Choosing a Holistic Dentist

When Mother Teresa was asked many years ago if she would attend an anti-war rally, her answer was rather profound: I will not be part of an anti-war demonstration. As soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there. So when I was presented with an anti-GMO rally, I was hesitant. Not seeing a pro-organic rally coming up anytime soon, I acquiesced and went. Sometimes when we are pro-health, we need to be anti- sickness (anti-GMO). The NYC March Against Montsanto this past Saturday at Union Square in NYC had a wonderful turnout. Although the skies threatened rain that afternoon, it seems that the weather gods were on our side and the meeting went peacefully and fully. NYC- March Against Monsanto Click here for photos from the event: https/www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151644692473447.1073741832.174641788446&type=3 Genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) are a broad group of plants, animals, and bacteria that are engineered for a wide variety of applications ranging from agricultural production to scientific research. Plants and the foods made from them are often called Frankenfood (Frankenstein food) for good reason. The types of potential hazards posed by GMOs vary according to the type of organism being modified and its intended application. Most of the concern surrounding GMOs relates to their potential for negative effects on the environment and human health. Since GMOs directly affect human health and primarily enter through the food supply which goes unlabeled (I have never seen a label that says: This food is a GMO food), it is important that everyone be aware of it. To date, the only types of GMO products that have been approved for human consumption in the U.S. are genetically modified plants This is a short list of the most heavily genetically modified food crops that are grown in the USA today: Corn Wheat Soy bean Sugar cane Bananas Rice Zucchini Strawberries Tomatoes Potatoes Pineapples Peppers Cocoa beans When one considers that this list also includes ALL the processed foods made from these plants, the repercussions on human health become staggering. Here is a partial list of how GMOs affect us: · Food Allergy- this is a rising problem for everyone especially due to the GMO crops such as wheat (gluten), corn, chocolate, etc · Increased Toxicity- immune system problems such as resistant infections, cancer, auto immune diseases. There are so many other toxins in the world (read our other blogs) that it is not good for anyone to knowingly add to the list. · Decreased Nutritional Value- unhealthy, unnatural foods(GMO) cannot provide real nutrition . Even the animals in nature won’t eat it. · Antibiotic resistance- when genes coded for antibiotic resistance enter the food chain and are taken up by human gut microflora, the effectiveness of antibiotics could be reduced and human infectious disease risk is increased. The short term solution begins in our shopping carts. This is where the power is. Cooking real organic food is a revolutionary act. In the hundreds of small food choices that we make everyday, we will topple the monolithic and toxic food industry. How to be pro-active for your health: Whenever possible, eat all natural foods. Shop at your local farmers market for fresh foods which supports your local economy. Use only organically grown fruit and vegetables. Organic crops are grown using no genetic modification nor toxic herbicides. Be careful to eat only organic varieties of popcorn and corn. Start your own organic garden. Growing your own fruit and vegetables is one of the best things you can do for your family. When you’re shopping for meat and dairy products, be sure to read the labels. Look for hormone and antibiotic-free, organic, range fed information on the label. Avoid canola oil and cottonseed oil. Use instead, organic sources of coconut oil, hempseed oil and olive oil which are available at organic and whole foods markets. Check your condiments for organic labels. You can find organic fermented sources for soy like natto (fermented soybeans), tempeh, miso, tamari, and tofu. Take action. Write your council members and grocery executives. Let them know that you want fresh foods in your stores. Ask them to stock organic and no GMO foods. As we all continue to raise the bar for our own health, it is quite apparent that GMO foods should not be on our list of edible foods. I know that it costs more to buy organic, but it may be the only way to guarantee that what you are eating is REAL food the way Mother Nature intended. And certainly do not feed GMO food to your sensitive children. The long term effect on them will even be more evident. If you like this post you may also like: Is Glyphosate Affecting My Health?

There are approximately 43 muscles in the human face. These muscles are important for showing emotions as well as speaking and eating. It is understandable that many of these can be overused contributing to tightness or underused contributing to sagging. The masseter muscle is usually the major one responsible for TMJ problems, as well as headaches, clenching or bruxism. It is found on the jaw and chin and is the primary muscle used for chewing food and every time we open and close our mouth. Facial Massage Photo credit Creative Commons: Beauty Zen While the masseter is an essential and helpful muscle, it also plays a role in conditions like - Bruxism (teeth grinding) - Teeth clenching - Tooth damage due to clenching - Temporomandibular joint syndrome or TMJ Disorder Apart from that, it is also a trigger point in the body – or an area where stubborn aches and pains usually occur, perhaps contributing to headaches and unexplained tooth pain. When the masseter is tight, there is limited blood flow, creating limited oxygen supply to all areas of the face, which in turn creates achiness of the face and reduced healing ability of the teeth and gums. A simple daily masseter massage can make a tremendous difference in your dental health, facial pain, TMJ problems, anxiety and your ability to break the clenching/bruxism habit. I have seen this work extremely well for myself and many patients, so here is how it is done. Massaging Your Masseter Massaging your masseter is easy, because you can quickly locate it. The masseter is located on both sides of the face, hanging from the underside of the cheekbones and attaching to the brow bone. Massaging The Notch One thing you can do is to massage the notch located on the underside of your cheekbone. This is around one inch in front of your ear. This is a perfect spot to press and massage. You can apply firm pressure on this spot, depending on your preference. You can do kneading circles or constant pressure to do this. Inside Out Massage Another thing you can do is to take one hand and insert your thumb in your mouth. Place the thumb against the masseter muscle from the inside of your mouth. Press, pinch and massage the masseter in between your thumb and your forefinger. You can tell if you’re massaging the right place by clenching your jaw. If your fingers are pressing a big muscle, then you’re doing it right. This massage may feel uncomfortable, but can provide excellent results. Jaw Acupressure Point Another massage trick you can do is to press the Jaw Chariot acupressure point. These are two points located on both sides of the face, right at the bottom of the masseter near the outside corner of your jaws. Press these points insert using two fingers. Pressing deep can cause you to feel a slight discomfort – but a good one at that. Here’s a good video that shows one technique. You can do these massages for five minutes daily to fully experience their effects. Relaxing and massaging the masseter daily will help keep the muscle strong, pain-free and tension-free. If painful conditions or symptoms persist, be sure to visit our office for better guidance. If you liked this post, you may also like Meridian Dentistry

I had a new patient come in for a Consultation the other day to discuss her dental health. She had seen several holistic dentists in the last month and was still trying to find one she felt comfortable with. Today, it was me. As is usual, we reviewed her medical and dental history. When asked about any recent dental x-rays, she said that she was hesitant to take them as of yet, since every dental office she visited did not offer digital x-rays. She was extremely concerned about the radiation levels and she delayed having them done. One office even told her that the amount of radiation from conventional x-rays was identical to the digital x-rays. This left her feeling that something was not right with that office and so she continued her search. Digital X-rays Let me begin by saying that there is a HUGE difference between conventional and computerized digital x-rays. Besides the obvious one being that conventional film needs to be developed over time in chemicals in the dark room and the digital appears instantly on the computer screen enlarged in magnification, there is the radiation factor. Since our practice often gets questions about the amount of radiation received during routine x-rays, let’s take a look at the actual measurement of how much radiation you are getting during routine x-rays. The dose of radiation is measured in millirems or mrem. According to the American Nuclear Society, this is how much radiation you can expect from common activities: 620 mrem/year = the average level of radiation per person in the US 50000 mrem/year = the safe allowable dose for people that are exposed to radiation in their wok 1 mrem = two hours in a jet plane 7 mrem/year = from living in a brick house 10 mrem/year = cooking with natural gas 2 mrem/year = from sleeping next to someone else 36 mrem/year = from smoking one pack of cigarettes a day 42 mrem = breast mammogram per breast 700 mrem = abdominal x-ray 63 mrem/year = living in the Colorado Plateau area 0.5 mrem = one conventional dental x-ray 0.05 to 0.1 mrem = one digital dental xr-ay The amount of radiation (mrem) that a patient receives during dental x-rays is very small when compared to other sources of radiation in everyday life. In addition to using modern digital x-rays, our office also provides a lead apron with a thyroid collar protector, as well as an antioxidant and a homeopathic remedy for additional radiation protection. So, with regard to the dental x-ray radiation output, the conventional x-ray is a very low dose, but the digital dental x-ray is about 90% lower. When you consider that all radiation exposure is cumulative, it is always best to be on the safe side and choose an office that offers digital. If you like this post, you may also like Radiation everywhere. Vacations included.

For those of you who aren't aware, periodontal (gum) disease is contagious. Since it is primarily a bacterial infection, you can give it to or get it from anyone that you swap saliva with. Photo credit Creative Commons: John Matthew Smith And this doesn’t necessarily mean through kissing. You can actually “catch’ someone else’s mouth germs by sharing drinks and food. Common sense has always told us not to share food when the other person is sick with a cold or fever. But now, unless you are knowledgeable as to their periodontal health, you might want to reconsider having a sip or taste of whatever it is that they are ingesting. Personally, I have seen this in my practice. A patient has perfect gum health for years and then all of a sudden, they don’t. There could be many reasons for this (stress, change in home oral hygiene, extreme illness), but on occasion it has occurred when there is a change in who they are dating. Then when they have moved on, their gums miraculously improve. Gum disease can also be passed onto your children and vice versa. Even more interesting is the germ transfer between pets and humans. A recent study has shown that a particular mouth microbe that is specific to dogs, was found in the mouths of up to 16% of dog owners. Unfortunately, most dogs suffer from periodontitis and have plenty of saliva loaded with bad bacteria. And when they lick you, there’s a chance that the harmful bacteria can be transferred to your mouth. So for now, the safest way to avoid “catching” periodontal disease, besides daily flossing and brushing, would be to consciously be aware of all the possible ways that others’ saliva can enter your mouth. And do your best to minimize it. If you like this post, you may also like Freshen your Breath. Freshen your Life.

Pregnancy is an exciting and hectic time in a woman’s life. It’s exciting because of all the expectations of having a baby. It’s hectic because of appointments and preparing for the baby’s arrival. Routine trips to the dentist can get lost in the shuffle, and it’s easy for the health of your teeth and gums to go way down on the priority list. Some women question if it’s OK to go to the dentist when they’re pregnant. For all the reasons discussed below, it is probably more important to go for routine dental checkups during pregnancy than during non-pregnancy. Healthy Dental Care is Important During Pregnancy Photo credit Creative Commons: Pam and Phil Gradwell I am sure that many of us have heard the myth that women will get more cavities during pregnancy since the baby is brazenly pulling calcium (for its own development) directly from the mother’s teeth. Some women truly believe that they will lose a tooth for every pregnancy. Having treated many pregnant women during my career and having gone through pregnancy myself, I can assure you that this idea is absolutely false. The reason women get more cavities and other dental problems during pregnancy has more to do with hormonal shifts. The main effect of these hormonal changes is swollen gums. The other effect is usually morning sickness (nausea and vomiting) which means there is less daily home dental care, as tooth brushing and flossing will exacerbate the nausea. Morning sickness exposes teeth to excess acid (due to vomiting). Women who suffer from morning sickness have an increased risk of tooth decay and acid erosion of the teeth. As the pregnancy progresses, there is also more snacking to feed cravings. So unless the mom-to-be is really on top of her daily oral hygiene, gum disease and cavities are the usual outcome. Be assured that if you’ve forgotten about your gums and teeth during pregnancy, they are going to remind you, and not in a good way. Not only is a dental visit safe while you’re pregnant, it is highly advised. The health of your gums and teeth should be monitored during this period of time because it can impact your developing child. Gum disease has already been shown to be a marker for premature births and miscarriages. Bleeding or swollen gums, usually accompanied by pain is never a good thing. If you are planning on becoming pregnant in the near future, it is best to make an appointment with your dentist now, so that all is under control during your pregnancy. Prevention is always the best medicine. Having healthy dental health is possible during pregnancy. It just takes a little planning and foresight. If your teeth and gums are in excellent shape pre-pregnancy, you should expect the same during pregnancy. Keep up your regular dental visits and call your dentist if you have any unique concerns. Let’s do our best to keep mom and baby as healthy as possible. If you like this post you may also like: Healthy Children Have Healthy Teeth

Everyone has heard the adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. In the world of dentistry, this means regular check ups, cleanings and dental xrays. We can now add one other preventative professional dental procedure to that list: dental sealants. For those who aren’t aware, dental sealants are are thin, see-through coatings painted on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, keeping out germs and food. They are painless to apply and are complete in just a few minutes. They act as an invisible coating to protect against cavities. Having sealants placed on teeth before they decay will save time, money and dental pain by avoiding fillings, crowns, or root canals used to fix decayed teeth. Conventionally, sealants were placed on the teeth of children when their permanent molars erupted. Nowadays, we routinely place sealants on the undecayed teeth of adults as additional protection from any decay in the future. Sealants are a good preventative procedure to place on any permanent tooth that has never been filled. These are the main reasons for having sealants placed. Children should get sealants on their permanent molars as soon as the teeth come in -- before decay attacks the teeth. This is usually between the age of 6 years and 12 years of age. All other permanent teeth with deep or stained pits and grooves. Teenagers and young adults who are prone to decay may also need sealants. Baby teeth that have deep pits and grooves. Although it may seem counterintuitive to place sealants on healthy teeth, it really is an excellent way to prevent cavities. My own children had sealants placed at a young age, and now as young adults, neither has developed any cavities. I definitely think that this was certainly worth the endeavor. I only wish that my own teeth had been so lucky. On a holistic note, it is important to keep in mind that not all sealants are the same. It is always a good idea to make sure that the sealant material that your dentist uses is BPA free and fluoride free. Always ask before proceeding. If you like this post, you may also like: BPA: A Real Life Case Study- Celeste's Story Healthy Children Have Healthy Teeth