If you were to bathe yet only wash from your feet to the bottom of your rib cage, would you say that you were clean? Of course not. Yet many people think they’re doing just fine by only cleaning 60% of their teeth’s total surfaces. They may brush twice daily, but that still leaves 40% covered with the sticky biofilm we call plaque. To clean that, you’ve got to floss. Every day. Most Americans don’t. Unsurprisingly, about half of all Americans struggle with gum disease, a condition that raises your risk of many systemic health problems: heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cognitive decline, cance ..read more

When you need to have teeth replaced, dental implants are the closest thing you can get to natural – especially if you opt for ceramic implants, with their excellent strength and durability, and their superior aesthetics. Unlike the standard titanium implants, as we saw last time, they’re also biocompatible. This is why we place only zirconia implants here at the Holistic Dental Center of New Jersey. (Zirconia is one specific type of ceramic.) They’re simply the best option available for patients who choose implants to restore their smiles. While there are several brands available to a biolog ..read more

In less than a year, European dentists – with very few exceptions – will no longer be allowed to fill teeth with amalgam as they join dozens of other nations in severely limiting the use of dental mercury. Despite its having been the first nation to join the global mercury reduction treaty known as the Minamata Convention, the United States is not yet among those countries. But even if all American dentists were to stop placing “silver” mercury amalgam fillings today, there would still be millions of mouths containing millions of mercury fillings for many years to come. Those fillings are a ..read more

Sure, many conventional dentists are fans of titanium implants, but more than a few patients beg to differ. For instance, there’s our own patient Seth: Fortunately, as Seth quickly discovered, metal dental implants aren’t the only game in town. In our opinion, there’s a better option: ceramic zirconia implants. The Downside of Metal Dental Implants We’ve looked before at some of the problems with titanium implants. Topping the list is the simple fact that they’re made of metal, which can cause sensitivity issues for some patients. Complicating the fact is that many titanium implants aren’t ..read more

Just as neighborhoods in a city have different types of buildings and infrastructure, the human body provides various niches and environments for different types of microbes to inhabit. Your gut is one such microbial neighborhood. Your mouth is another. We call each of these neighborhoods a microbiome, where trillions of bacteria and other microorganisms coexist in a delicate balance. Much like people in a community, microbes engage in complex interactions. They communicate, cooperate, compete for resources, and influence each other’s behavior. Some play essential roles, like trash collectors ..read more

Establishing healthy oral hygiene habits early in life is key for more than just safeguarding little ones’ smiles. Dental health impacts their overall growth and development, creating a path for long-term well-being. Protecting teeth means protecting whole body health and happiness, as dental issues can disrupt sleep, nutrition, learning, and play at key ages. With the fundamentals in place, like a balanced, nutrient-rich diet centered on whole foods, consistent brushing and flossing with the right technique, and regular dental visits, children gain confidence along with brighter, healthier s ..read more

If you’re a patient of ours, you probably already know that our approach is quite different from conventional dentistry. But it’s always good to understand exactly why we do things differently and how that benefits you. Let’s take a look at some of the key differences… Our Philosophy: The Body as an Interconnected System The core philosophy behind holistic dentistry is that the health of your mouth is intimately connected with the health of your entire body. We don’t just look at and treat your teeth and gums in isolation. Everything is interconnected, physically and energetically. Conventi ..read more

“If everyone had the same reaction to environmental toxicants like mercury,” write Dr. Jack Krall and Amanda Just for the International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology (IAOMT),   these hazardous substances would probably be banned immediately. It would be obvious to everyone, as well as their doctors, that exposure to a specific toxic material results in a definitive outcome- the exact same illness shared by all of those who come into contact with a particular dangerous substance. However, research has clearly demonstrated that individuals respond to environmental toxicants in ..read more

There’s a very human tendency to think that if something doesn’t harm you right away, it must be safe. The trouble is, many things that we’re exposed to on an ongoing basis may only reveal their danger over long periods of time.    This is the way with environmental toxins, for instance, and ultra-processed foods. One Big Mac won’t kill you, but if that’s the kind of thing you eat every day, it raises your risk of obesity, chronic inflammation, cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and more.    The tendency to overlook long-term risks is perhaps one reason why so many dentists ..read more

“Antibiotics are frequently overused and misused in dental practice,” note the authors of a recent paper in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. By one estimate, over 80% of antibiotics prescribed before dental procedures just aren’t needed. One result of this is a rise in antimicrobial resistance – including that of one bacterium that plays a big role in gum disease: Porphyromonas gingivalis, or P. gingivalis, for short. This development was recently documented by a study in the journal Antibiotics, in which P. gingivalis samples wer ..read more