Ask the Dentist with Dr. Mark Burhenne

When it comes to making dental health decisions for yourself or your children, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. There is no absolute right or wrong decision, so it is often about finding the lesser of two evils. This is why it is important to do as much research as you can, and to find credible sources that you resonate with. In today’s episode, Dr. B. talks about sealants and some of the research around these coverings. We hear about some of the potential adverse effects, when it is necessary to get sealants for your child, and what a good sealant insertion looks like. As with many areas of dentistry, this is a subject with a lot of gray areas, but the more you know, the better informed you will be, so be sure to tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:Some background on sealants, including what they are, how long they last, and their efficacyIt is difficult to get patients in at the right time if they need sealantsYou have to weigh up the good and the bad when it comes to dental decisionsSealants contain endocrine disruptors which have adverse long-term effectsWhat researchers have found about BPA exposure with sealantsHow Dr. B’s sealant insertion process worksBefore you put something in your body, you should do thorough researchHow to Submit Your Question:Record your question for Dr. B at speakpipe.com/askthedentist Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Ask the DentistAbout Dr. Mark BurhenneFollow Dr. B on Instagram @askthedentistFollow Dr. B on Twitter @askthedentistAsk Dr. B a QuestionCheck Out My NEW Line of Toothpaste and Professional Dental Varnish!! Check out Dr. B's website for more information: https://askthedentist.com Subscribe to Dr. B's newsletter Mondays with Mark: https://askthedentist.com/newsletter

This episode is all about one of the most hyped-up topics in dentistry: whitening. While Dr. B has spoken on the topic previously and there is plenty of information available on his website, today’s episode looks at whitening in the context of a new substance on the market that claims to be safer than conventional hydrogen peroxide-based methods. It’s called PAP, or phthalimidoperoxcaproic acid, and today’s question about it comes from Charlotte in the UK; is it actually a safer alternative to peroxide? You might be surprised by Dr. B’s answer!Key Points From This Episode:Some background on whitening and why there is so much hype and so little science behind itFind out what PAP is, how it works, and why the narrative that it is safe is dangerousWhy regulations regarding whitening should be stricter in the US, like they are in the EUThe importance of professional supervision when it comes to whiteningHear why Dr. B doesn’t recommend PAP as an alternative to hydrogen peroxide How overexposure to hydrogen peroxide and PAP can increase tooth sensitivityDr. B recommends waiting for further studies to be conducted on PAP before jumping on the bandwagonWhy you should be wary of any dentist that advises you to whiten your teethHow to Submit Your Question:Record your question for Dr. B at speakpipe.com/askthedentist Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Recommended Whitening ProductsAsk the DentistAbout Dr. Mark BurhenneFollow Dr. B on Instagram @askthedentistFollow Dr. B on Twitter @askthedentistAsk Dr. B a QuestionFunctional Dentist DirectoryCheck Out My NEW Line of Toothpaste and Professional Dental Varnish!! Check out Dr. B's website for more information: https://askthedentist.com Subscribe to Dr. B's newsletter Mondays with Mark: https://askthedentist.com/newsletter

In today’s episode, Dr. B answers a listener's question about whether the Epstein-Barr virus is responsible for her bleeding gums. EBV is a systemic infection with an oral manifestation meaning it acts as a great springboard to talk about the oral-systemic connection as well. EBV is more colloquially known as the ‘kissing disease’ and commonly flares up in patients who have contracted it when they are run down, causing symptoms such as bleeding gums. Dr. B takes us through the signs, symptoms, and manifestations of EBV and also gets into some of the other conditions it has been linked to. After covering the basic facts about the virus, we take a deep dive into the oral-systemic connection which EBV illustrates so well. Dr. B traces a chain of connections between outbreaks of EBV, inflammation, spikes in glucose, diet, and the immune system. We also hear tips and tricks for managing EBV involving periodontal treatments, eating to combat inflammation, and keeping a close eye on glucose levels. Key Points From This Episode:Introducing today’s question revolving around bleeding gums and the Epstein-Barr virusThe typical situations that lead to EBV and related conditions it causesHow recent studies have implicated EBV in the pathogenesis of advanced periodontal diseaseDiscussing how EBV illustrates the oral-systemic connection Other places EBV can be found such as in the tips of the rootsSeeing a periodontist and getting regular cleanings to suppress the viral loadThe connection between inflammation and episodes of EBVTips for keeping EBV under control around bolstering the oral microbiomeWearing a glucose monitor in between sessions with the periodontistMaintaining a diet that does not flare up glucose levels and weaken the immune systemHow to Submit Your Question:Record your question for Dr. B at speakpipe.com/askthedentist Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Ask the DentistAbout Dr. Mark BurhenneFollow Dr. B on Instagram @askthedentistFollow Dr. B on Twitter @askthedentistAsk Dr. B a QuestionFunctional Dentist DirectoryCheck Out My NEW Line of Toothpaste and Professional Dental Varnish!! Check out Dr. B's website for more information: https://askthedentist.com Subscribe to Dr. B's newsletter Mondays with Mark: https://askthedentist.com/newsletter

The majority of consumers take it as a given that all kinds of toothpaste from major brands are safe and effective. But as Dr. B will attest in today’s episode, this is not necessarily the case. Most toothpaste brands use harsh surfactants and chemicals to keep their manufactured batches homogenous. These act as a disinfectant that temporarily cleans our mouths, but results in the disruption of our oral microbiome. Dr. B unpacks the history of toothpaste, how the Western diet has affected our oral health, and shares his hopes for how the industry is changing. Tune in to hear his recommendations for how you can take charge of your oral health and become an empowered consumer!Key Points From This Episode:How our changing diets have affected our oral health over the past 500 yearsFor the past 100 years, the key ingredients of toothpaste have remained largely unchangedHow big brand toothpaste companies mislead consumers when they advertise their productHow manufacturing bigger batches of toothpaste require more chemicals to keep it homogenousThe oral microbiome and how it protects your oral healthHow toothpaste with harsh ingredients can damage your oral microbiomeWhy Dr. B recommends and uses products with at least 15 percent hydroxyapatite instead of fluorideHow our Western diets cause a need for toothpaste useHow to Submit Your Question:Record your question for Dr. B at speakpipe.com/askthedentist Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Flushed: How the Plumber Saved CivilizationBokaRiseWellAsk the DentistAbout Dr. Mark BurhenneFollow Dr. B on Instagram @askthedentistFollow Dr. B on Twitter @askthedentistAsk Dr. B a QuestionFunctional Dentist Directory  Email Dr. BCheck Out My NEW Line of Toothpaste and Professional Dental Varnish!! Check out Dr. B's website for more information: https://askthedentist.com Subscribe to Dr. B's newsletter Mondays with Mark: https://askthedentist.com/newsletter

Sjögren's is an autoimmune disease that wreaks havoc on your immune system. One of the major symptoms of the disease is a dry mouth, the result of attacks on your saliva glands. As saliva plays a pivotal role in speaking, swallowing, and eating, having a dry mouth can be highly problematic. This issue does not only affect those with Sjögren's, so today's episode applies to everyone. In this show, Dr. B. unpacks the issue of dry mouth and resultant oral thrush. He also provides some actionable steps you can take, along with products you can use if you suffer from these conditions. Tune in to hear it all!Key Points From This Episode:Hear about what Sjögren's syndrome isInsights into what causes a dry mouth and the adverse side effects of the conditionWhat to do about dry mouth, one major symptom of Sjögren'sThings to add to your regimen to help with the demineralization of your teethSome things to do to deal with the candida if you have itBiotene, the artificial saliva product, can help if you have extreme dry mouthHow to Submit Your Question:Record your question for Dr. B at speakpipe.com/askthedentist Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Ask the DentistAbout Dr. Mark BurhenneFollow Dr. B on Instagram @askthedentistFollow Dr. B on Twitter @askthedentistAsk Dr. B a QuestionFunctional Dentist DirectoryBioteneDry Mouth: Consequences, Causes, and TreatmentsCheck Out My NEW Line of Toothpaste and Professional Dental Varnish!! Check out Dr. B's website for more information: https://askthedentist.com Subscribe to Dr. B's newsletter Mondays with Mark: https://askthedentist.com/newsletter

Today we dive into a question that has been a sensitive topic for a long time. We are talking about the dangers of fluoride and providing some advice for the best practices for parents wondering about steps to take to prevent their children from ingesting the chemical. This subject has been discussed for decades now, since the introduction of fluoride into the water supply, and its use in dental care generally, but there is more available research now than ever before, and the findings are more emphatic for it; fluoride ingestion has been shown to negatively affect the health of children, with the most worrying results being damage to the brain. With this in mind, it is clearly worth thinking about the measures you can take to reduce these risks and protect your child as early as possible. In today's discussion, we talk about some of the steps that can be taken by parents, even before conception, and why these strategies do not have to be expensive and difficult. There is hope for changes in legislation and practice in the future, but until then these are the best ways to stay healthy and offer your children the healthiest future! Tune in to hear what you can do today!Key Points From This Episode:Today's question: What are the responsibilities of parents regarding fluoride? A brief history of the research into the effects of fluoride on babies and childrenFiltration measures to take against the ingestion of fluoride in waterRealistic prevention of exposure to fluoride The main reason to avoid fluoride ingestion: brain damage The susceptibility of younger brains to the effects of fluoride Simple and affordable ways to reduce fluoride in tap water Educating yourself through the available information and research on the subjectPossible changes in regulation and what we can hope for in the future How to Submit Your Question:Record your question for Dr. B at speakpipe.com/askthedentist Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Ask the DentistAbout Dr. Mark BurhenneFollow Dr. B on Instagram @askthedentistFollow Dr. B on Twitter @askthedentistAsk Dr. B a QuestionThe Broken Brain Podcast Episode with Dr. BFluoride Action NetworkFunctional Dentist DirectoryCheck Out My NEW Line of Toothpaste and Professional Dental Varnish!! Check out Dr. B's website for more information: https://askthedentist.com Subscribe to Dr. B's newsletter Mondays with Mark: https://askthedentist.com/newsletter

If you have ever been prescribed toothpaste such as PreviDent 5000, you might have wondered how they work and whether there are any non-fluoride alternatives. The good news is there are, and they are extremely safe to use. In today's episode, Dr. B shed light on hydroxyapatite toothpaste and why they are such great replacements for their conventional counterparts. We also get some product recommendations from Dr. B along with advice on how to use these kinds of toothpaste to ensure maximum efficacy. Tune in to hear it all!Key Points From This Episode:Dr. B's take on PreviDent 5000 and similar productsWhy products like PreviDent 5000 are only available via prescriptionThe different forms that fluoride typically takesWhat studies have shown about a 10% concentration of hydroxyapatite and the benefits it offersWhy Dr. B is so excited about hydroxyapatiteWarnings around boutique toothpaste that claim to contain hydroxyapatiteHow to use the toothpaste, Boka, Dr. B recommendsHow to Submit Your Question:Record your question for Dr. B at speakpipe.com/askthedentist Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Ask the DentistAbout Dr. Mark BurhenneFollow Dr. B on Instagram @askthedentistFollow Dr. B on Twitter @askthedentistAsk Dr. B a QuestionFunctional Dentist DirectoryHydroxyapatite ToothpasteBokaRiseWellCheck Out My NEW Line of Toothpaste and Professional Dental Varnish!! Check out Dr. B's website for more information: https://askthedentist.com Subscribe to Dr. B's newsletter Mondays with Mark: https://askthedentist.com/newsletter

If you haven't heard of miswak, you are not alone. Despite its prevalence in many Muslim and Arab countries, it is not widely known around the world. Miswak is a tooth-cleaning twig or chewing stick made from the roots of the Arak tree, Salvadora persica. In today's episode, Dr. B sheds some light on this twig, how it works, and what studies have shown about people who use it rather than toothpaste. Although it is likely safe to use, when the ingredient is found in commercial products, it might not have the same effect as the unprocessed compound itself. Tune in to hear all this and more!Key Points From This Episode:When Dr. B discovered miswak as a young dentist Many countries around the world use miswak, a tooth cleaning twig Discover what miswak is and the compound that makes it workWhat studies have shown about populations who use miswak as opposed to toothbrushes Dr. B's experience in Nigeria, where he worked with a community using chewing sticks Whatever our ancestors were doing to take care of their oral health worked The only toothpaste ingredient Dr. B wholeheartedly recommendsHow to Submit Your Question:Record your question for Dr. B at speakpipe.com/askthedentist Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Ask the DentistAbout Dr. Mark BurhenneFollow Dr. B on Instagram @askthedentistFollow Dr. B on Twitter @askthedentistAsk Dr. B a QuestionHydroxyapatite ToothpasteFunctional Dentist DirectoryCheck Out My NEW Line of Toothpaste and Professional Dental Varnish!! Check out Dr. B's website for more information: https://askthedentist.com Subscribe to Dr. B's newsletter Mondays with Mark: https://askthedentist.com/newsletter

If your child is having difficulty with anxiety or concentration it is a good idea to consider whether poor sleep is the culprit. Today on the show Dr. B responds to a question from a listener in which she asks if it is a good idea to suggest mouth taping to her 14-year-old daughter. Dr. B recommends mouth taping for anybody over three years of age and he spends this episode talking about why. Before diving into the benefits of using sleep tape our host takes a few moments to refresh listeners on the functional medicine approach and why patients would be better off choosing a healthcare practitioner that follows this framework for diagnosis and treatment. Moving onto the subject of sleep, we hear about how sleeping with the mouth open changes blood chemistry as well as respiratory rate, is indicative of developmental issues, and how these changes can have detrimental consequences on our wellbeing. Dr. B makes recommendations for the best kinds of mouth tape to use, how to breach the subject of mouth taping with teenagers, and the kinds of problems that sleep tape could clear up. Tune in today! Key Points From This Episode:How the functional medicine approach is a better choice because it treats causesThe limits of the information that is taught to healthcare providers during collegeNoelle asks Dr. B whether her 14-year-old should use sleep tapeWhy Dr. B recommends mouth taping from ages three and upRecommendations for the best types of tape to useReasons for the yellowing of the teeth including sleeping with the mouth openDiagnosing one’s children to see if they are sleeping with their mouths openThe kinds of problems sleeping with one’s mouth open indicatesThe benefits of mouth taping for better sleep and the knock-on effects of thisHow to Submit Your Question:Record your question for Dr. B at speakpipe.com/askthedentist Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Ask the DentistAbout Dr. Mark BurhenneFollow Dr. B on Instagram @askthedentistFollow Dr. B on Twitter @askthedentistAsk Dr. B a QuestionFunctional Dentist DirectoryCheck Out My NEW Line of Toothpaste and Professional Dental Varnish!! Check out Dr. B's website for more information: https://askthedentist.com Subscribe to Dr. B's newsletter Mondays with Mark: https://askthedentist.com/newsletter

An issue that causes a great deal of confusion is whether or not patients need to premedicate before a dental procedure. While your physician may recommend one thing, your dentist might say another, and as a patient, this can be stressful and anxiety-inducing. In today’s episode, Dr. B sheds light on this topic and talks about why you don’t need to premedicate if you have a prosthetic joint. He also gets into why this is such a complex issue and offers advice on what you can do if you are taking antibiotics frequently. As research continues to show, long-term antibiotic use causes more harm than good, so it is vital to be careful when taking them. Be sure to tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:There is a problem with the over-prescription of antibioticsWhy you don’t need to premedicate before a dental procedure if you have a prosthetic jointThe complications that arise around premedication protocolsIf you can, bring in the necessary documentation before you visit your dentistWhere the need for premedication comes fromAdvice for what to do if you are frequently taking antibioticsYou can take the pre-medication within two hours of the procedure you are having doneHow to Submit Your Question:Record your question for Dr. B at speakpipe.com/askthedentist Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Ask the DentistAbout Dr. Mark BurhenneFollow Dr. B on Instagram @askthedentistFollow Dr. B on Twitter @askthedentistAsk Dr. B a QuestionFunctional Dentist DirectoryCheck Out My NEW Line of Toothpaste and Professional Dental Varnish!! Check out Dr. B's website for more information: https://askthedentist.com Subscribe to Dr. B's newsletter Mondays with Mark: https://askthedentist.com/newsletter