Last week, we talked about oil pulling for healthy teeth and gums – a practice for which coconut oil is especially well-suited. Why? Evidence continues to mount with respect to its antimicrobial effects, particularly with respect to oral pathogens. For instance, a 2012 study by scientists at the Athlone Institute of Technology found that enzyme-modified […]
The Integrative Health Blog
Oiling Pulling: Magical or Mythical?
It seems everyone’s talking about oil pulling these days – from mommy bloggers to fashionistas to the Huffington Post and plenty more in between. But what is it? And why is it? And why have Dr. Glaros and many of us here in the office happily taken up this ancient Ayurvedic practice? What Is Oil […]
Fluoride Is “Your Friend”? No Way!
You don’t really expect to see a defense of fluoride on a website devoted to a healthy, green lifestyle. But there it was, in all its glory: Yet the very day this piece claimed that fluoride “causes people to have fewer and less severe cavities and suffer less pain associated with tooth decay,” this story […]
The Bluetooth Toothbrush Blues
Cleaning your teeth isn’t rocket science. You don’t need a lot of fancy technology. A simple brush and floss will do. Some people even use small sticks. (Yes, even in this day and age!) You don’t even need toothpaste to get the job done, since it’s the mechanical action of brushing that matters most. A […]
Obesity & Gum Disease
The good news: The obesity epidemic seems to be easing among kids. According to data just published in JAMA, the obesity rate among 2 to 5 year olds dropped from 14% to 8% over the past 10 years. The meh news: Add teens to the mix, and the overall youth obesity rate hasn’t changed much […]
Dental Mercury: Indefensible
Though more and more dentists are saying no to mercury amalgam fillings, the material still has plenty of defenders. It’s sad. And frustrating. And understandable. After all, we humans can be extraordinarily resistant to change, and going mercury-free requires a lot of it. Swapping out one material for another is just the beginning. Composite is […]
From GMOs to Mercury, Change Is Change
Like many, we were really pleased to hear the news earlier this year that General Mills was going GMO-free with Cheerios – one of its top brands. The difference-maker? Consumer pressure, especially through social media – people just like us voicing their opposition to genetically engineered food, demanding better. Of course, it’s only original Cheerios […]
Health, Goals & Following Through
If you’re like the average American, you made some resolutions for the new year. Over 2/3 of us do – at least sometimes. And the hard truth is this: When we do, many of us have already broken them by now. According to a University of Scranton/Journal of Clinical Psychology survey, only 64% of resolution-makers […]