The basic toothbrush/toothbrushing techniques need a facelift. We do the same routine every time we brush. AND, no surprise, we miss the same places every time we brush. The bottom line: most folks don’t really know how to brush effectively. How can we make toothbrushing more effective and effective? What are some important tips and tricks to know to be the best brusher you can be? IS there a perfect toothbrush? How can we brush more plaque off? Let’s start with some basics and keep it simple. We can get the morning off to a great healthy start! Manul Toothbrush Tips If you are a manual toothb ..read more

I wanted to believe in the incredibleness of fluoride.  I trusted the industry leaders when they said how awesome fluoride was for preventing tooth decay.  “They” never ever mentioned its very sinister and dark side effects. From the beginning of dental hygiene school, I learned all about how “wonderful” fluoride was for dental health.  How it was the magic bullet to combat decay. That it was the be–all–end–all, and my best, most incredible tooth-saving tool.  For years and years, I relied on it exclusively. It was the only tool in my unfortunately very empty dental hygiene ..read more

Want to sleep better, deeper, dream and wake refreshed? Here’s a secret- use your nose for breathing. So simple to say, yet most folks don’t. Their mouths “fall” open at night, they snore, they stop breathing, and then, no surprise, they wake groogy and tired. Here’s a simple thing to try – tape the lips together at bedtime. Paper tape (yes, from the first aid section of the grocery store) holds the lips together and you will sleep better. More on that shortly, but first: He needs some paper taper…Sleep Sleep – we do not value it enough as an extremely important aspect of total systemic health ..read more

What makes up the perfect kiss? As an expert in the oro-facial-respiratory complex, I thought I might just delve into this fun and delightful topic. There is so much more to know about puckering up in a tree, K.I.S.S.I.N.G. >>> And guess what? Your dental hygienist and a myofunctional therapist may be your secret weapons in helping you create the best kiss of your life again and again, (with or without mistletoe). Photo by Natalie on Pexels.comKissing is Wonderful. We kiss those we love. Baby kisses on their sweet little heads, breathing in the newborn scent- can life get any better ..read more

Hello Loyal Readers! I hope you’ll join me for The Breathing and Sleep Health for Kids Summit. https://queenofdentalhygiene–healthymouthmedia.thrivecart.com/2022-summit-all-access-package-69/ I will be presenting on Tips for Parents to Safeguard their Children’s Health and Prevent Decay. Our kids and grandkids are our greatest resource. The one thing every parent wants more than anything is for their child to be healthy. As you may already realize, finding answers is not always easy… Who is this Summit for? This Summit is for parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches and all the health care p ..read more

Dental health is about so much more than just what toothbrush and toothpaste to use. Oral wellness is THE key to how healthy you are going to be into your senior years. Today’s post is dear to my heart. I want to review how oral diseases are directly connected to dementia, and what you can do NOW to change the possible trajectory of your future. Your brain health depends on it. Mind your mouth. Brain Health Starts in the Dental Hygienist’s Chair For years people have just accepted that dementia is inevitable. We have also sadly accepted that it is inherited or just a part of aging. The researc ..read more

Today’s post will talk about how your efforts at oral hygiene reach far beyond those teeth/gums.  What you do in the mouth affects your entire body and in particular, brain health. How can we use this knowledge to be our best, healthiest self? It’s time to get to know what is really going on in your mouth and mind your microbes. Chronic Disease Chronic disease sets in About ten years ago I pondered why our senior citizens all seemed to have such chronic diseases. Chronic diseases seem to have taken over. Six in 10 people have a chronic disease and four in 10 have two or more!  I furt ..read more

Happy summer! Finally, well maybe almost here in the Pacific Northwest. It usually arrives right after the 4th of July so we are right on track. Time for a little fun in the sun and easy, lazy days so thought I might share with you some yummy facts to lighten your day and make you smile big. And just in time for WORLD CHOCOLATE DAY! Chocolate is Good for Your Mouth WHOA! Chocolate not only tastes good but is good for you?!? More pointedly, it is good for your teeth and maybe even your entire body. Be still my healthy heart. Being a chocolate kind of person, I loved learning about this. (Yes, i ..read more

Hello Wonderful Readers! Over 200 folks joined Young Dental’s continuing education class last Saturday, June11th 2022 to hear my presentation “Mind Your Mouth: How the Mouth Influences Brian Health”. So many great questions after that talk. I am responding to them and may create a blog post to take a deeper dive into those answers. Meanwhile – if you are at all interested, please click on the link https://youngdental.com/continuing-education/on-demand-learning/ and listen in. This on-demand link will be available for one week only. Learn about how important treating oral diseases are and what ..read more

Hello Wonderful Readers! June 11 at 8 AM PT I will be presenting a live online continuing education course for Young Dental. It is titled Mind Your Mouth: How Oral Health Influences Brain Health. It is open to everyone. AND!! It’s FREE!!! Please click the blue highlighed words below. That will take you to the course where you can sign up. If you cannot listen on Saturday, you will still have access for a week and can listen on demand. CE – Mind Your Mouth (youngdental.com) Connect the mouth back on to the body and address chronic inflammation Dementia affect 55 mllion people worldwide. It is s ..read more