Let’s face it, on the surface oral health can seem like a bit of a boring topic, however, in reality it can be one of the most important aspects of a daily routine.  Current trends (yea for current trends) have (finally) confirmed that oral health is the gateway to overall health.  Yet most of the adult population suffers with gum disease or cavities.

In fact, did you know that gingivitis (reversible) and gum disease (non reversible but treatable) are now thought to be one of the major contributing factors to diabetes, stroke, Alzheimer’s and arthritis (just to name a few)?  Why?  Because when the gums are inflamed, the lining of the gums opens up like a cut, and allows all of the nasty inflammatory bacteria into your bloodstream.  Plaque that has been in the mouth for more than 8 days is the main contributor to both gum disease and cavities.  On the average, people get their teeth cleaned somewhere between every 90 to 180 days…and that is only the people that visit the dentist regularly.  Inflammation begins once plaque remains on a surface for 8 days.  Meaning if you don’t clean every nook and cranny of the gum “pocket” every 8 days, infection begins.

There is Hope

Now this post isn’t meant to be all about doom and gloom and have you running for the hills or even to the dental office to “cure” you from disease, instead what I would like to share with you is that in fact, you, yourself can take care of this disease landslide yourself, in the privacy of your own home. 

Yes, I said it; both gingivitis and periodontal disease can be dealt with at home, if, and only if you have the right tools and the right understanding on how to use them.  You see, “cleanings”, whether they be every 3 or 6 months are really only effective for the first week, so essentially if you are relying on “cleanings”  in order to keep yourself “healthy”,  you would need to schedule far more cleanings and open your wallet more often than you care to think about.

A History Into Dental Cleaning Frequency

As you read this, you may be getting skeptical and thinking “well has my dentist/hygienist recommended that I come in every _ months, and why do advertisements follow this ideology”?  The truth behind the frequency for cleanings is linked back to a radio advertisement in 1929 for Pepsodent recommending that you brush and see your dentist 2 times a year.  Prior to that, people did not see the dentist for preventative maintenance.  As you can imagine, the dental community was thrilled to see people coming in for checkups so they jumped on the bandwagon, and when dental insurance came into existence, they too followed suit.

Oral Disease and Whole Body Disease are Completely Related

As the understanding on the relationship between oral health and many if not most chronic diseases continues to grow, it becomes more important that we focus on the daily rituals that keep the mouth healthy.  Here is where my position differs from the mainstream.  As a dental professional of nearly 20 years (acting as a dental assistant, front office/insurance coordinator and dental hygienist), I see the same people coming in with the same disease time and time again.  I know the business inside and out, and understand how each factor plays a part.

Dentistry as a whole is based around treating disease, not preventing it.  Truth be told, when you are effective in your daily home care, you don’t “NEED” to see the dentist every few months to have them assist you in controlling your disease.  Instead, you are able to see them for your regular exams ensuring that the teeth are not breaking down, and you are free from diseases like oral cancer, and hopefully get a good pat on the back.

So Here’s What You Really Need To Do

So here’s my suggestion, get used to REALLY taking care of your mouth,  if you have any buildup, bleeding or sensitivity at all, it means that something is not right.  Understand WHAT products to use and equally important, HOW to use them.  Do not rely on mainstream media to tell you what products are effective, and do not rely on someone telling you what to do.

Instead what you need is a clear understanding of your mouth, what looks healthy and what does not.  What areas are inflamed and what areas are receiving enough oxygen and nutrients.  A good magnification mirror is a great tool, and products that balance the good and bad bacteria are imperative.  Most importantly learn HOW to use the products that you invest in, instead of just thinking that deep cleanings, cavities and buildup are a normal part of life.

One Last thing, we need to really understand how we as family members and care givers infect each other by common things like kissing, blowing on food to cool it down and sharing utensils.  Technically, I SHOULD have the worst teeth in the world.  Both of my parents have dental issues, I am married to a Brit (and you know what they say about British teeth and dental care), and as a child I had horrible hygiene and cavities in nearly every tooth.  Trust me, if I can figure out a way to not have a cleaning in 4 years, anyone can.  And, I promise I don’t spend 10 minutes a day cleaning my mouth in a typical type “A” personality fashion that many hygienists do.

There is Help that Makes it Easy and Understandable

Sometimes it takes the help of an Oral Health Coach (what I now am and highly recommend), because someone that can teach you true prevention and oral health is worth every penny if it adds years to your life and decreases time and money spent in the dental chair, and helps control so many of the diseases we face today. 

If this sounds like something you would like to know more about, check out this link about the 7 Secrets About Oral Health Your Dentist Won’t Tell You.  This will at least get you started on the path to amazing oral health, or as some like to call it, oral wellness.

Of course, you can always contact me and get started on the path ASAP!

Thank you for reading; I hope this helps you on your journey.  I’d love to hear what you are going through and if or how I may help.  You can reply to the blog post below, or email me at Carrie@NaturalGumption.com

All the Best,

Carrie

The post How to Take Charge of Your Oral Health appeared first on Oral Health Care | Dental Oral Health.

Here’s my confession, I am a dental hygienist who has figured out a way to help people achieve amazing oral health daily at home, and I promise, it has nothing to do with flossing.  If you like to floss, go for it, but the reality is that many of the people that do floss either damage their gums, or they are ineffective because they are rushed or using tools (flosser) that don’t adapt to the tooth and instead cut the gums.

Over the years I have enjoyed hearing people’s reaction to hearing the words oral health coaching.  When oral health is brought up in conversation (vs. inside the dental office) many people honestly feel they are “healthy enough” because they brush daily (sometimes floss) and visit their dental office 2-4 times a year for “cleanings”…..surely that should be enough, surely.

Hearing someone say that is like hearing someone say that they go to the doctor every 6 months to get a good scrubbing of their hands, but they do a quick little wash daily.  Unfortunately, it just doesn’t work that way.  The bacteria in your mouth build up daily, and unless you are using the correct tools and getting to the correct spots, you are bound to miss the most important areas.

Furthermore, if you are relying on products that line the shelves of the oral health isle, chances are you are using products that create an imbalance in bacteria, or have so many ingredients that your body is always working hard to combat the issues they are creating (sounds like the current take a pill, encounter a side effect, take another pill routine to me).

Below is a list of the top 7 things that you as a mouth owner may want to consider if you are at all interested in caring for your mouth on your own, day in and day out.  Prevention is by far the best medicine you can buy, especially because when your mouth aint happy, aint no part of you happy….you can thank momma for that one!

1. The words tooth brushing is a misnomer, you are really aiming to focus on the gums, and most importantly, the “pocket”…..gum disease is an infection of (you guessed it) the gums.
2. Plaque is super soft; all the scrubbing in the world won’t take off any more gunk than a soft polishing stoke will.  Really, you want to become fluid with your brush strokes and include each nook and cranny with your toothbrush that you possibly can, and again pay special attention to the gum line and think about polishing or massaging instead of scrubbing.
3. Toothpaste is not always necessary, but if you do enjoy using it to clean your mouth please remember that SLS Sodium Laurel Sulfate (a degreasing chemical found in most commercial toothpastes) is known to cause canker sores, dry out the tissues and is a pretty nasty chemical.  Also, sensitive toothpastes often cause tartar “build up” on teeth, and tartar control toothpaste often causes sensitivity to teeth.  I know, I know, the foaming of toothpaste really makes your mouth FEEL clean, but often it is doing more harm than good, and mint flavor numbs your tongue so that you feel less of what is left behind.  If you want a “regular” toothpaste (like one from the store shelves), Crest Cavity Protection Toothpaste (not gel) is one of the “safest”.  It contains Sodium Fluoride, and silica (still not a favorite because it contains the dreaded SLS).  If you want a natural antiseptic option Tooth and Gums Paste is great, Vita-Myr is a great non SLS foaming herbal paste and Dr Sharps is a good mint/green tea paste that is free of SLS, PABA and fluoride.
4. Xylitol is an amazing ALL NATURAL SWEETENER that helps you mouth in many ways.  Yes, I know it sounds all chemically, but it isn’t.  It is found in things like birch trees, corn, some vegetables, and our body also makes it daily.  You need 6-10 grams a day of xylitol to have it be considered a therapeutic amount, and you should have it multiple times throughout the day.  A good example of daily xylitol use is have some after every meal, and add a teaspoon to water and sip throughout the day.  Xylitol is a great for treating the symptoms of dry mouth, sensitive teeth and helps to remineralize teeth.
5. A key factor of oral health is the pH of your mouth.  Bacteria and inflammation thrive in an acidic environment.  Knowing the pH of the products you use and the foods that you eat and drinks that you drink are important, and when eating it is always a good idea to try and finish a meal with an alkalized food, or xylitol mints, candies, gums or plain granules.  A few examples of alkalized foods would be pineapple, cheese, nuts and cucumbers.
6. Mouth rinse is great for coating, conditioning and cleaning the areas that you can’t reach with your toothbrush and toothpaste.  Avoid alcohol containing mouth rinses, and know the ingredients in the rinse you use.  The inner lining of your mouth and under your tongue is delicate and chemicals can be absorbed in your system easily.  Think about sublingual vitamins and how well they work, the same can be said for chemicals and dyes; they go straight into your system.  My personal favorites are Tooth and Gums Tonic and CTX3 xylitol rinse.  Tooth and Gums Tonic is the organic and healthy version of a Listerine type rinse.  It is antiseptic and intense (but amazingly good for your mouth and breath).  The CTX3 is a xylitol rinse that contains a small amount of sodium fluoride (the most natural of fluorides).  If you are completely anti-fluoride, you can make a mouth rinse with xylitol and water but for some reason the sodium fluoride binds with the xylitol and makes it stronger.
7. Irrigation when done correctly is amazing!  There is nothing like a pulsated stream of water that gently massages your gums and floats the bacteria and food out from under your gums and in between your teeth.  The sensation of the oxygen flow and stimulation to the gums just really helps them stay healthy!  Be warned that many irrigators use too much force, which can actually damage the gums by tearing the inner lining of the gum away from the tooth when used on high speeds!!! OUCH!!!   If you have an irrigator, read the warnings and instructions and make sure it tells what power to not go above.  The WaterPik directions used to say not to use it past medium power, but who reads directions, and I’ve seen a lot of damaged gums from people using it on high power.  I can’t help but love the Hydrofloss.  The machine ionizes the water, which attracts bacteria, and the pressure regulation stops damage to the gum tissue from happening.  Randomly enough, I am a fan of both oral irrigation and nasal irrigation, and truth be told, I like adding xylitol to the water of both….I know, another xylitol plug, but if you are on board with me, you are going to hear it often.   If you suffer with allergies or sinus issues, look into a Sinupulse nasal irrigator.  You may just thank me!

With a little bit of gumption and a slightly different skill set, you can take charge of your oral health, and take care of your mouth daily!  We are at a pinnacle point in healthcare, and it’s time you learn the wonderful tricks when it comes to oral health and wellness!  Natural Gumption and OralHealthCoaching.com strive to bring you the very best and most effective products that deliver great results, and more importantly, we actually teach you HOW to use the products you’ve invested in!

I have spent nearly 20 years in the dental field studying and learning about products and techniques and am thrilled to teach you this aspect of healthcare that we just for some reason overlook in the traditional model of dentistry most people practice.  In the interest of transparency, the links all go to products on our site.  I am continually adding products that work, and therefore I share my information freely with you.  I’m sure there are many other products out there that work well, these just happen to be ones that I know about.  Thanks for reading, I hope something has inspired you, or given you hope.  If so, I’d love to hear about it. Leave me a comment below, and I promise I will reply!

All The Best,

Carrie

The post 7 Secrets about Oral Health Your Dentist Won’t Tell You appeared first on Oral Health Care | Dental Oral Health.

Have you ever noticed that when you brush your teeth that you typically start in the same place each time?  Or, are you like many, and are on auto pilot while you brush and perhaps also get other things done like tidy the house, make the bed etc?

I am typically tickled when people tell me they have honestly no idea how they actually brush.  However, if you give them a toothbrush and ask them to demonstrate their technique, they usually go to the same exact spot.  The upper left outside for the right handed folk, and the upper right outside for the left handed folk.  This isn’t a bad or good place to start, but it just seems funny that most people actually start there.  So much of our habits stem from childhood, it makes me curious who actually started this trend of brushing, and why it has remained so popular for the general public.

A Few Tips That Will Help You to Be Really Effective with Your Toothbrush

• Typically, most people “build up” plaque and tarter on the tongue side (inside) of the lower teeth, if you want to be really effective with your toothbrush, you may find it beneficial to start there.  It also means that when you are rushing to finish up, you have at least gotten the hardest area first
• Also, “dry brushing” with either a dry tooth brush or one wet with water only can really help you access the areas that tend to be the site for build up, especially the lower front inside area.
• Lastly, holding your toothbrush with a Vulcan death grip will not get the plaque off any quicker or easier, honestly the only thing that it will do is perhaps brush the tooth or gum away.  Try holding your toothbrush as if it were a paintbrush and go easy on the strokes.  Plaque is soft, gum stimulation is softer and no matter how hard you try, you will not take out your aggression from yesterday’s frustration with your brush, for that you need to roll around with your little one on the ground, take a walk outside or go to a gym and punch a bag.  Those tend to be my personal favorites.

The Truth About Oral “Health”

In reality, oral health isn’t that difficult to achieve and maintain, we are just conditioned in using the same products, tools and techniques that are not the most effective.  The good news is that there is someone who helps you overhaul your routine.  That someone is an oral health coach.  Working with an oral health coach helps you to learn how to effectively become your own daily hygienist and use dental visits for exams, screenings and a big pat on the back for doing such a good job at home.

So take a look when you brush, where do you start?  I dare you to pick up a tool near you and pretend to brush and tell me where you started. Leave a comment and let’s see how many people brush in different ways.

PS….Soon, in fact very soon, we will be launching a program that will help you save time and money at the dental office year round, and will have you happy about the health of your mouth!  Make sure to sign up on our email list so that you don’t miss a thing, and get ready to impress yourself with how easy a clean, fresh mouth can be had day in and day out!  The email sign up is just below the post.

The post A Brushing Technique That’ll Save You Time and Money appeared first on Oral Health Care | Dental Oral Health.

Who Really Likes to Floss Anyway?

Let’s face it, most people don’t really ENJOY flossing, they merely do it because they have been told that they should or that it is good for them.   And, of those that do floss, it’s often a quick pass through the teeth with more of a in and out fashion vs. what we in the dental field would consider actual “flossing” (check out the video below for a tutorial on what “flossing” looks like).  Finally there is a way to actually enjoy getting in between your or your children’s’ teeth and end the years of shame that you typically get at the dental office for not flossing enough.  The original design was intended for children, but the company soon learned that adults alike were over the moon about the ease of use, and how flossing actually became fun and effective!

So Much More than Just a Fun Design

GumChucks handles attach to one another via a disposable piece of floss, and when you are finished flossing, you  get to push the button at the bottom of each handle, which pops out the floss (again, see the video for a demonstration).  The makers of GumChucks have spent countless hours testing  not only floss type but floss length, and I have to say that I am one impressed hygienist and oral health coach….and if you know anything about me, you know that I am not actually the biggest fan of flossing…..well, until these gems came along!

The starter kit includes 2 handles, 10 tips, a travel case and a trading card.  The retail price is $9.95.  The refill kit contains 6 sets of 10 tips (60 tips total) and retails for $12.95.  To date there are 7 styles of “designer” handles that you can get which match each family members personality.  The designer handles retail for $9.95.  The designer handles need to be ordered by phone at 855-448-6784.

Who Is Best Suited For GumChucks?

Bottom line, these are a great addition to any oral health routine, and getting kids flossing early on will encourage a lifetime of habits that will not only benefit their oral health, but their overall health as well.  Step aside Bruce Lee, GumChucks are here to save teeth and gums, not knock em out like traditional nunchucks!!

The post GumChucks- Part Flosser, Part Toy! appeared first on Oral Health Care | Dental Oral Health.

Video Transcription

Hi, it’s Carrie with Natural Gumption.  And I just had a question come in from a client and I just wanted to kind of read this question and address it because it’s really part of what fuels my frustration with the way that patients are treated in the dental office.

So the question that came in was,

Dear Carrie,
So I have a dental question and of course you came to mind.  I am somewhat leery of my new dentist since I had to switch to an HMO.  Prior to the switch I loved my dentist and had no issues.  Fast forward.  My new place tested my pockets and said I have 4-, 5-, and 6 mm pockets that I needed ‘deep cleaning.’  Is this customary?  Also will it do anything?  Any input will be greatly appreciated.

So, here’s my thing about HMO offices.  They don’t make money by you just coming in and just having regular cleanings.  I have temped in a few – quite a few – HMO offices and I have also interviewed at a few HMO offices.  And each time what they kind of do is bring you in and do a quick dental screening on you and recommend deep cleanings because it’s a billable service.

Again, we’re at the place in dentistry where if something is a billable service sometimes they’re going to figure out a way how to do it.  So they will come in and they will do these quick little probe readings.  Probe readings are really subjective.  It’s just somebody taking a little ruler basically and putting it in between your gums and measuring.  There’s no – let me say this carefully – it’s a great tool but you would also want to see x-rays.  You would also want, and when you see x-rays you can ask them – okay, show me where the bone loss is because on x-rays you can see bone loss.  

You can also ask them to let them see your mouth with an intraoral camera.  Because when you can see with an intraoral camera you can look at the healthy areas and notice if your gums are pink, like mine are, or if you have infected areas.  Infected areas are going to be bright red in color.  They’re also going to sometimes gray in color.  Those are some of the key factors that you’re looking for.

But this is a really big issue.  The last HMO office that I worked at  — which I will never name names but – they said, oh make sure that you irrigate on whatever patient that you can because that’s the only way we make money off of them.  And I’m like well do you have toothbrushes that you give them?  And they’re like no we don’t  give them toothbrushes because that costs us money.  

So that’s kind of the current trend in dentistry.  I’m not saying that all HMO offices are bad.  There are some great HMO offices, I’m sure.  But it is something that you have to be careful with.  Again if you are told that you need deep cleanings make sure that you ask for x-rays.  Make sure that you ask to see the bone loss.  Make sure that you get an intraoral camera in your mouth so that you can see the areas that the buildup is or the areas that the infection is.  

Once you have a deep cleaning your insurance company categorizes you differently and they pay for a different portion of your cleaning, not with an HMO, but with a PPO or indemnity play they just pay differently.  So your deductible applies, they pay 80% of your cleanings instead of 100%.  And what I recommend is that you have been told that you have deep cleanings go ahead and get that initial cleaning, that initial debridement because they kind of do have to do that, then and then go home and really focus on your home care.  

Do what you can do in order to clear the infection.  It might be that you have a lot of bacteria underneath your gums and so your gums are – similar to if you get a splinter in your finger.  If you get a splinter in your finger it gets pussy and it tries to work itself out.  That’s what happens in your mouth.  

So if you are able to effectively clean at your gum line, in between your teeth, under your gums, with the right products and the right tools you’re going to get in there and you’re going to get things to be looking more healthy.  That way when you do have to have a cleaning then what’s there is usually kind of just below the gum line or above the gum lines because the gums will kind of pull back and shrink because that inflammation will go away.

So sometimes deep cleaning as necessary, absolutely, but one of the most important things that you can do inside or outside of deep cleanings is be really aware of what areas in your mouth you’re missing.  Really focus on your home care.  Use the right products to kill the bacteria and keep the good bacteria going and then go back and see if you still need a deep cleaning.  

I know a lot of my patients that I’ve seen initially, if I would have first recommended deep cleanings for them when I first saw them, it would have been a valid thing to do.  But, the way that I kind of like to work with patients is determine the ones that are interested in getting healthy on their own and then the ones that are interested in getting healthy on their own I’m going to walk them through a whole step.  I’m going to show them the inside of their mouth with an intraoral camera.  I’m going to show them how to use specific products so that they can get to those areas.  

Most people kind of have the hardest time getting into the inside.  So focus in those areas. Focus on “flossing” surfaces, not necessarily with floss but with products that do really help.  Tooth and Gums Tonic is the way to go.  Actually, this isn’t a post about products so.

Yeah, deep cleanings sometimes necessary, sometimes not.  The biggest factor is what you’re doing and what you’re not doing at home and how to be effective with it.  So I hope that helps.  Thanks for the question and keep them coming because I love to answer them. Talk to you soon.  Bye.

The post Do I Need Deep Cleanings? appeared first on Oral Health Care | Dental Oral Health.

Video Transcript

Hi, this is Carrie with Natural Gumption and today I want to talk to you about cavity pops. It’s getting that time of year, Easter is Sunday, and what do we know about Easter? Easter baskets. Most people get candy, so we see a lot of cavities kind of starting around this time of year, and cavity pops are made with Dr. John’s candies in conjunction with UCLA.

UCLA, in the Microbiology Department, they extracted a portion of the licorice plant which inhibits the growth of the bacteria that causes cavities. It works for all ages. It doesn’t have Xylitol in it. Instead, again, it’s a licorice-based, but it’s orange flavored. What you do with these little pops – they come 22 a bag. You have two of them a day for ten days, you let it dissolve in your mouth, and it decreases the amount of cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth for three months by nearly 70%.

It’s a great product. It’s recommended that you still use Xylitol throughout the day when you’re using these but even if you’re somebody doesn’t like Xylitol, these are great. Cavity pops by Dr. John’s Candies, they’re an herbal lollipop. They were designed with the UCLA in the Oral Microbiology Department. They’re gluten-free, they’re diabetic safe, they’re dentist recommended, they’re hygienist recommended, they’re Natural Gumption recommended.

Two of them a day for ten days, once every three months, by nearly 70% it’ll decrease the amount of cavity causing bacteria.

Thanks for stopping by, hope you have a great day, and I hope you enjoy cavity pops. Bye.

The post Dr. John’s Cavity Fighting Herbal Lollipops appeared first on Oral Health Care | Dental Oral Health.

In all honestly I’m baffled by dentistry as a whole.  Well, baffled may not be the correct term, maybe frustrated, fed up and ready to check out would be the more realistic terms that I could use.  A few years ago instead of giving up and putting down my instruments, I decided that I was ready to make a change, and make a difference in the world of oral health.  My name is Carrie and I am a Dental Hygienist turned Oral Health Coach (this is my version of a 12 step program).

Please don’t hate me for what I do, don’t run away in shame, cover your mouth in embarrassment or tell me all the things you loathe about visiting the dentist.  Well, tell me those things if you must, but if you share your feelings about the dental office, understand that I too feel the same way.  I have learned to love the art of oral health and communication, but I have learned to cringe and distrust the way that patients are in my opinion held hostage by being told that brushing twice a day, flossing daily and having your teeth cleaned is the answer to oral health.

A Unique Perspective on Dentistry

You may be thinking “whoa, this chick is crazy and on a rampage”, but here’s why my perspective differs a bit.  In the nearly 20 yrs I have spent in dental offices, nearly half of those years has been spent filling in as a substitute (temp) hygienist, assistant or front office staff.  There have been years that I have remained in a single office which has allowed me to track the progress of patients and establish wonderful relationships, and there have been years that I have worked both in an office permanently and temped as well.  I’ve even had the opportunity to work in multiple states, and visit offices in different countries.  I had no idea that my years of wanderlust and itchy feet would set me up for where I am now.

Why do I temp?  I temp because it gives me a totally different perspective than working in an office for a long period of time.  I have the unique ability to see the health (or lack thereof) of the patients that are seen in a practice outside of my own.  I have the opportunity to see what products different offices recommend and dispense to patients.  I get to see how good the dentistry is or isn’t, what materials are used, and I get paid to do “research”.  I get a quick snapshot of what life in another office is like, and how each office treats not only the patients they see, but the employees as well.  There is no way on earth that a typical person would be able to walk into an office and look into the mouths and lives of the patients that come in and out of it.  In all honesty, it’s quite fascinating!

I didn’t start temping with the thought of gaining insight and information, but through the years I have realized that it has been an amazing experience that became the foundation of my beliefs, recommendations and even frustrations.

I have worked with the best, the worst and the mediocre.  I have worked in offices that have every tool available, and ones that don’t even offer patients a toothbrush when they come in for their “cleanings”.  I have worked in offices that see new patients for a quick exam and lure them into thinking they need “deep cleanings” within the first 10 minutes, and ones that have had the same hygienist for 20 yrs where most patients have moderate to severe periodontal disease even though they come in regularly for appointments.  These are the ones that frustrate me the most.

Unfortunately, I have seen firsthand multiple cases where people had blind faithfully visited their oral health care provider (which they always LOVED by the way), only to find that their mouth is riddled with either decay or gum disease….yet they knew all about each other’s personal lives and shared photos, vacation stories and recipes.  I am not saying that relationships are not important, but if you are effective with your time, you can have great relationships and help keep patients healthy!  Thankfully, I have been also been in offices where each patient sees the inside of their mouth and is aware of their condition and has their needs met the way they see fit.  Yes, I have learned that not every patient wants to be as healthy as possible, and that too is okay with me.

Fighting an Uphill Battle

Do you know how it feels to sit knee to knee with someone and try to find the words in letting them know that they have severe disease that needs expensive treatment, or worse that it is too late and they may lose their teeth, even though they have visited their dentist regularly?  I do, and unfortunately I have had to do it more than once.  I know there are many good dentists and amazing hygienists out there, but I also know that we as a profession carry the burden of our patients’ disease for them and stop them from owning their own health.  We are trained to treat and teach, not to listen and guide…..this is what I have learned, and this is the foundation of the difference that I make. How many times has your dentist said “oh Mrs. Jones, you don’t need that right now” or “let’s just watch it”?  Instead, how about this?   How about showing them a healthy situation in their mouth and then showing them a not so healthy situation and let them be involved in the decision making process.  You may find that patients WANT to make the effort, have the tooth fixed, or detailed cleanings.  If nothing else, you may find that they want to own up to the disease and figure out how to treat it and avoid it from happening again.  I promise you, you will be amazed at how many patients show up in regards to their health if you give them the information and freedom to do what feels good and right.

The Miracle of Gadgets

I also know that just because you are cleaning your mouth every day with the latest and greatest technological advancements in toothbrushes and toothpastes like Sonicare and Colgate Total or Crest Pro Health doesn’t mean that you are any closer to oral health than if you were using a twig, some yarn and water to clean your mouth.  Oral health doesn’t come from great products; it comes from finding balance in the products that you use and the technique in which you use it.  I am amazed at how many people proudly let me know what brand of electric toothbrush they use, but in all honesty they have no idea how to use it.  This is where temping has been most insightful because I see people for a single visit vs. being the one who they see on a regular basis.

When Will We See the Big Picture

Products like the HydroFloss oral irrigator or the Revolation electric toothbrush or Tooth and Gums Tonic are amazing, but the amazing part comes when you know why you are using said products and how they need to adapt to in order to reach the area that needs to be cleaned.  The whole purpose behind Natural Gumption is because I care enough to put myself out there and say what we as a profession are doing with people is not working!  If it were, we would have a handle on periodontal disease and decay.  U.S. Public Health Service reports that 98 out of every 100 men, women, and children in the United States suffer from some form of dental disease, and the American Dental Association figures indicate that the average American has 14 teeth decayed, filled, or missing by the time he or she reaches 20 years of age.

Sometimes I feel so alone in the dental world.  When I am out there sledging through the clinical mess and talking with fellow dental professionals I see the glaze of confusion or lack of interest when I talk about products, techniques or communication style.  I wonder if there are other people out there who care to make a difference and put down the tools they use and pick up the tools that patients use and teach them how to use them.

I can’t tell you how many times a patient says “no one has ever actually brushed my teeth for me” or, “no one has ever shown me how to do that vs. just telling me that I need to”.  And once in awhile I have a dentist tell me, “wow you are amazing at what you do; I wish all hygienists did what you did”.  This makes me happy and sad all at once.  Please fellow practitioners, tell me I’m not alone.  Tell me that you engage your patients in both the health and disease of their mouth.  Tell me I’m crazy and out of line, but please….tell me something!

A Renegade on the Front Lines

Until then I will continue with www.NaturalGumption.com and www.OralHealthCoaching.com.  I will continue to make a difference in the communities I serve.  For the non clinical world that may be reading this, I am here for you, and together we can make an amazing difference in the HEALTH of your mouth, all it takes is a phone call and or an online session.  I know it sounds too good to be true, but here is the honest reality.  A healthy mouth isn’t rocket science, but what it is, is technique sensitive.   It just takes a little time to master the technique and find the right products that work for you as an individual.

This was a long needed emotional rant.  Thank you for taking the time to read it, I hope it elicits a response for patients and practitioners’ alike.   If I can dish it out, than I should be able to take it. 

All The Best,

Carrie

The post The Great Dental Hoax: Why Twice A Year Cleanings Mean Nothing! appeared first on Oral Health Care | Dental Oral Health.

You know that we are huge fans of the Dental Herb Companies Tooth and Gums system, and that we love to get great products into the hands of our favorite customers for free!  If you haven’t given this line of products a try, or if you were wondering how effective they really are, here is your chance.

The results Tooth and Gums Tonic, Paste and Irrigant deliver are some of the most impressive I have seen in my nearly 20 years in the dental field.  Best of all, they will not stain your teeth, cause an increase of buildup or alter your taste, which many of name brand, chemical laden mouth rinses are known to do.  The lucky winner of this giveaway will have fresh breath through the holidays, and will be amazed with the results!

Natural Gumption in conjunction with The Dental Herb Company have come together to offer another great giveaway this week! Here is what you will get…

• 1 Tooth and Gums Tonic
• 1 Tooth and Gums Paste
• 1 Tooth and Gums Spritz
• 1 Tooth and Gums Irrigant
• 1 Tooth and Gums Tonic Travel Size
• 1 Tooth and Gums Paste Travel Size

The retail price for these products is over $98.00, and we’ll also throw in free shipping for you.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Tooth and Gums March Giveaway appeared first on Oral Health Care | Dental Oral Health.

Video Transcription

Hi this is Carrie from Natural Gumption and today we’re talking about the Revolation Electric
Toothbrush. For a long time we only had Rotadent but now we have Revolation and I’m really excited
about this brush. I can’t say enough about it. It’s really quiet. There’s a UV sanitizer in the base so it
helps to kill the bacteria. There you go, I think you can see it. The battery life lasts a long time.

What I love about this type of toothbrush is the pointed head and this is the most important one.
There’s three different ones. There’s flat, which they call a hollow. And there’s a short pointed, which
is what I think really everyone should use almost every day, and then there’s a long pointed one as
well.

And because it rotates in a full 360 degrees, it really allows you to get in between the gums and then
the tooth itself. And then the pointed head you can also do the tops of the teeth as well.

If you hear this one, it’s actually, really, really, really quiet which is one of the things I like about it.
There’s three different speeds. There’s normal, there is a sensitive which is a little bit slower and
there is a pulsed. So sometimes if you aren’t paying attention you are actually hitting it and all of a
sudden your toothbrush starts to change sounds, it’s usually because it’s on pulsed setting.

Again, it’s the only toothbrush really that rotates in the full 360 degrees and these little bristles are silk
filaments so they’re not nylon, they’re not going to damage the gum tissue.

What I like to say about this one is this is a gum brush which is going to clean your teeth, whereas all
the other electric toothbrushes are toothbrushes that might clean your gums.

This is also really effective for whitening your teeth, because it gets down to the staining that a lot of
other toothbrushes can’t get to.

The reason that I like this one so much is because I liked the Rotadent for years, and years and years, I
think for about 15 years I recommended Rotadent and they came out with this new one called the
Rotadent Plus and they have just had issues after issue after issue. It’s really loud and the heads
continue to have issues and the battery continues to have issues.

This one was my favorite for years and I really loved this product, but I’ve been really disappointed
with the Rotadent Plus, so luckily the patent ran out on the Rotadent and another company has come
in and just made a superior product.

So, Revolation, Revolation, Revolation. It’s an amazing product and everyone would benefit from it.
Truth be told, I use the flat head for my little three year old and it’s amazing at how clean it’s kept our
entire family.

Anyone with special needs it’s a great tool because if you just have a short amount of time to get in
there, it’s really, really effective. I can’t say enough about it. I think it’s an amazing brush. Everyone
should have it. Get it, use it, try it, love it, Revolation. Thank you. Thanks for stopping by.

The post Revolation Toothbrush vs Rotadent Toothbrush appeared first on Oral Health Care | Dental Oral Health.

Video Transcription

Hi, this is Carrie with Natural Gumption and today we’re here talking about Tooth and Gums Paste by the Dental Herb Company.  

Tooth and Gums Paste is a toothpaste.  It is really concentrated.  It has amazing herbs and essential oils to help the bacteria – the bad bacteria – in the mouth and help the good bacteria proliferate.  It has tissue conditioners and the nice thing about the Tooth & Gums Paste is when you’re done using it you can add a little bit of water to your mouth and really use that to get the paste everywhere else — on the roof of your mouth, it helps to clean your tongue and you will notice really fresh breath with Tooth and Gums Paste.  You’ll notice a decrease right away in the bleeding of your gums.  There is green tea in it that acts as kind of a natural strengthener, a natural “fluoride” if you will.  

It doesn’t have any sodium lauryl sulfate in it so it isn’t going to degrease your mouth and cause over dryness.  And it’s just a great product.  It’s really, really concentrated so a tube should last you about two to three months.  And I love it.  I think it’s great.  It’s one of the products that sort of started Natural Gumption because it’s a little hard to find unless you knew a dentist that had it, and now we’re so thankful that it’s available online to everybody.

We hope you enjoy it.  If you have any questions make sure to give us a call.  855-448-6784. If not, enjoy the Tooth and Gums Paste and we’ll see you soon.  Thanks for stopping by. 

The post Tooth and Gums Paste Video Review appeared first on Oral Health Care | Dental Oral Health.