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An t i - Ag i ng DENTISTRY MONTHLY NEWS
MARCH/APRIL 2021
Say Goodbye to Traditional Oral Care Products And Hello to the Next Generation of Home Dental Care
At-home oral care is often more confusing than it needs to be. Over 70 years of research in dentistry says we should be focused on killing bacteria in the mouth. For a long time, all the oral care products on store shelves — toothpastes, mouthwashes, etc. — were focused on “killing harmful bacteria,” but the problem is, these products actually kill all bacteria in the mouth (or 99.9% of bacteria to be precise). This was a problem and one of the primary reasons that I wanted to develop a line of oral care products, which became Oral Essentials. The bottom line was that if these traditional oral care products worked and killed all the bacteria, people would not be suffering from cavities, gum disease, or bad breath. While these products destroy a lot of bacteria, at-home oral care isn’t that comprehensive. There are still other issues that need to be addressed. One huge issue that often gets overlooked is that when you kill bacteria, they release toxins into their environment. Just as they release toxins while they are alive as a waste product of consuming sugars and starches, when their cell walls are destroyed by harsh chemicals in toothpastes and mouthwashes, they continue to release harmful toxins. So, you have to neutralize the bad bacteria without necessarily destroying them. This was a problem we had to figure out. It’s like going into a neighborhood filled with gang members. If I take away all of their knives and bullets, the gang members are still going to be there, but in a way, they’ve been neutralized. In a sense, with Oral Essentials, I’m taking away the “knives and bullets” of the bacteria. They can still live in their environment, but they cause significantly less damage. Of course, to say we’ve taken away the knives and bullets is one thing — to confirm it is something else entirely. In developing a line of oral care products that fits my approach to overall oral care, I wanted to make sure the science stacked up. This is why we collaborated with the University of Southern California for dozens of clinical studies. (You can find more information at OralEssentials.com/blogs/scientific-studies.)
mouth’s microbiome. But we also learned several other important things, as well. We found that when patients used Oral Essential toothpaste and mouthwash twice a day (as you would any ordinary oral care product) within 3–6 months, 90% of the harmful toxins were neutralized. And yet, the bacteria were present. They just couldn’t function as they once did. The end result was a cleaner mouth less susceptible to inflammation and infection, such as cavity development. That said, we found that when you stop using these specially formulated products, within 1–2 weeks, the harmful bacteria resume production of the toxins. This is because the bacteria in your mouth go through their lifecycle every 20 minutes or so. Over time, and if allowed, they simply return to normal. Like many things in life, consistency is key. This cannot be stressed enough when it comes to oral care. When you brush, floss, and rinse consistently, you’ll be left with consistent results — that is, a healthier mouth and healthier gums and teeth. This consistency has become more important than ever. Over the last year, for instance, we’ve been seeing a new trend. Because mask-wearing has become a normal part of our everyday lives, so have the hidden side effects of wearing a mask. In this case, I’m talking about “mask mouth.” We’ve seen more patients with inflamed gums and cavities. Why is this? A big part of it can be traced to dry mouth, which some people experience after wearing a mask for an extended period of time. Dry mouth allows bacteria to survive longer and multiply faster. To combat this, I’ve been encouraging my patients to use Oral Essentials more than ever because they’re formulated not only to reduce harmful toxins in the mouth but also to address dry mouth. This way, you can continue to protect your overall health with a mask while protecting the microbiome in your mouth — which in turn, helps strengthen your immune system. One good thing leads to another.
-Dr. Maddahi
The studies confirmed the products work. We successfully developed products that didn’t destroy bacteria but instead worked with the
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And Avoid Dehydration An Easy Way to Drink More Water Dehydration is a big problem. Many people don’t drink enough water each day — some reports show that 75% of adults in the United States don’t drink enough water, and over a quarter are dehydrated. Though those statistics aren’t widely agreed upon, it’s obvious that most people need more fluids. Even if it feels like you’re drinking a lot of water, remember that water leaves your body every time you sweat, go to the bathroom, and even breathe. Not keeping up with proper water intake can lead to dehydration. Even mild dehydration can cause health problems and impact your brain, heart, skin, and other organs, which can lead to headaches, confusion, fatigue, and gastrointestinal distress. We all know the solution to dehydration is to drink more water, but exactly how much water do we need each day? The amount will differ depending on the person, but one simple way to approximate your necessary daily intake is by dividing your body weight in half and drinking that much water (in fluid ounces) each day. For example, if you weigh 175 pounds, you’d need to drink 87.5 fluid ounces — over half a gallon — of water per day.
That might seem like a lot of liquid, but you can easily drink it without trying too hard. All you have to do is be proactive: Start keeping water any place you frequent during the day. Keep a bottle in your car, at your desk, by your favorite chair, near your workout equipment, etc. Having water easily available in the places you spend the most time each day helps increase your chances of actually drinking it. An alternative approach is to purchase a giant jug that can hold all the water you need to drink in a day. Seeing it all in one place might be intimidating at first, but this method makes things very simple. Keep the jug close, and your water intake will likely increase without too much additional effort. And if you’re just not motivated to drink plain water, you can always add sugar-free flavoring or lemon to make it more enticing.
AND HOW TO FIX THEM The Leading Causes of Bad Breath Most of us have experienced bad breath at one time or another. Sometimes it’s bad breath as the result of eating a dish with garlic or onion. Other times, however, bad breath is the result of something more sinister, such as tooth decay. Every year, millions of people experience bad breath, also known as halitosis. The good news is, bad breath is often easy to treat and eliminate. You just have to know the source of it. cover article, masks can cause dry mouth and stimulate the growth of harmful bacteria if not addressed. When the mouth is unable to produce adequate saliva, food particles are not properly broken down. On top of that, bacteria can bloom because the microbiome in the mouth is thrown out of balance. Saliva is a crucial part of maintaining balance.
Finally, the other major cause of bad breath is infection. This may be tooth decay, infected gums, or any infected oral tissue. It’s not uncommon for patients to experience an infection after oral surgery, such as wisdom tooth removal. Again, the bacteria in the infection run rampant and the toxins they produce contribute to the unpleasant odor. What can you do? Nearly every instance of bad breath, particularly bad breath lasting several days or longer, is a sign that balance within the mouth has been disrupted. It may be a result of improper brushing, decreased saliva production, or the presence of an infection. Regardless, bad breath can be treated. If twice-daily brushing, flossing, and rinsing are not helping, it’s time to call a professional.
While you may want to blame the garlic sauce, food-based bad breath is typically short-lived and fixed with brushing and flossing. However, the majority of bad breath cases are a result of poor or improper brushing, flossing, and rinsing. Food particles can get lodged in the space between teeth, and if they are not removed, bacteria consume the sugars and starches and produce toxins. These toxins then generate the odor we associate with bad breath. Another common source of bad breath is dry mouth. If you’ve followed this newsletter, you know that dry mouth is a big oral health issue. It can be caused by stress or may be a side effect of taking certain medications. Additionally, and as mentioned in the
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The Lip Balm Problem DOES IT DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD?
You may have heard the myth that using lip balm regularly increases your dependence on it. That is, over time, your lips are unable to properly moisturize themselves, leading to increasingly chapped and dry lips, which then require more lip balm. Some myths even suggest that lip balm is addictive. Is there any truth to this? These myths originated from the idea that using lip balm for an extended period of time reduces your lips’ ability to produce their own moisture. Healthy skin, including your lips, produce oils to avoid drying out. In other words, the more we use lip balm, the more necessary it becomes to use it. Over the last year, as more people have worn masks, dry facial skin and lips have become a major issue. As a result, an increasing number of people are turning to daily moisturizers and lip balm. Is this creating a bigger problem? Are people becoming addicted to lip balm? Fundamentally, lip balms do not contain any ingredients that are considered “addictive” or that cause any sort of dependence. Using lip balm is more of a habit than anything else. Some people might call it a
Refer a friend, get a brighter smile! That’s right, every time you refer a friend to Dr. Maddahi, you get one FREE teeth cleaning! Thankfully, due to concerns over potentially harmful ingredients, there are several all-natural brands on the market. It’s easy to find a lip balm that will suit your needs while keeping your lips healthy. Ingredients such as beeswax, cocoa butter, coconut oil, jojoba, and vitamin E, just to name a few, can be beneficial. bad habit, but it is habitual all the same. Science and practicality say if your lips are not noticeably chapped or dry, yes, it is a good idea to avoid using lip balm. When it isn’t necessary, let your lips’ natural moisturizers do their job. But sometimes it is necessary to supplement these moisturizers. In these instances, one very important thing to keep in mind is that not all lip balms are created equal. Some can be detrimental to the health of your lips. Don’t use lip balms that contain sugars or highly processed or artificial ingredients. This includes any balms with ingredients like artificial flavoring, artificial sweeteners (saccharine), mineral oil, parabens, or petrolatum (derived from petroleum, which is considered safe).
We’re smack in the middle of broccoli season, and fried rice is the perfect dish to celebrate it. This savory, plant-based recipe is packed with nutritious vegetables and delicious Thai flavors. Tasty Thai Fried Rice
INGREDIENTS • 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 onion, chopped •
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5 cups jasmine rice, cooked and cooled 1/2 cup peanuts, chopped
Call us today at 888.310.6771 to get started and to start earning your free cleaning!
8 oz baby bella mushrooms, sliced 4 cups broccoli, chopped to bite-size pieces
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2 tbsp soy sauce
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Toppings of choice for serving (sliced green onions, sliced cucumber, chopped peanuts, lime wedges, Sriracha, etc.)
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4 cloves garlic, minced
DIRECTIONS 1. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 2–3 minutes, until softened. 2. Add the mushrooms and broccoli. Cook for 5–7 minutes, until the broccoli is tender. 3. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant. 4. Finally, add the rice and cook, stirring constantly, for 3–4 minutes. 5. Remove skillet from the heat and stir in the peanuts and soy sauce. 6. Serve garnished with your toppings.
Inspired by OhMyVeggies.com
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One Good Thing Leads to Another
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How to Easily Increase Your Water Intake
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Bad Breath Causes and Fixes
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Are Lip Balms More Trouble Than They’re Worth?
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Tasty Thai Fried Rice
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3 Irish Travel Destinations for Your Bucket List
3 Irish Travel Destinations for Your Bucket List Don’t Miss These Historic Spots!
Traveling to Ireland might not be an option for you right now, but like a leprechaun hoarding gold, you can still fill up your bucket list with all of the pubs, rolling hills, and lucky sites you’d love to see. This month when you’re planning your trip to Dublin, Galway, or Cork, add these spots to your itinerary.
the bubonic plague and the Spanish flu, odds are good that it will make it through this, too! Soon, you’ll be able to raise a glass in the same rooms where the noblemen of nearby Athlone Castle shared drinks in the 12th century. Find more historical tidbits at SeansBar.ie.
more about its haunted priest’s house, murder hole room, and bloody chapel at LeapCastle.net and meet the many ghosts that haunt its halls.
A Famous Smugglers’ Shortcut Newcastle, County Down
Get ready to tie up your hiking boots! This roughly 2-mile hike, called Hare’s Gap, is one of the most famous and beautiful routes in Ireland. When you climb through this pass in the Mourne Mountains, you’ll be rewarded with views of glacial cliffs, boulder fields, and ancient-looking stone walls. Legend has it that the pass was part of the Brandy Pad smuggling route, used to ferry goods like soap, leather, spices, and coffee.
Ireland’s Spookiest Castle Coolderry, County Offaly
The Oldest Bar in the World Athlone, County Westmeath
If you’re a fan of thrillers and true crime podcasts, you won’t want to leave Ireland without visiting Leap Castle. This 16th-century haunt was built by the fierce O’Bannon clan, who famously ordered two brothers to throw themselves off a rocky cliff as a test of strength. The survivor was named clan chief, and later Leap Castle was built on that very site — beginning its long and bloody history. Read
When Sean’s Bar closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire country of Ireland groaned. The pub is famous for its Irish whiskey, music, and history, which stretches back to 900 A.D., far enough to earn it the title of “Oldest Bar in the World.” As of this writing, Sean’s is slated to reopen when it’s safe again, and considering it has already survived
Safe travels, and ádh mór (good luck)!
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