Here are a couple of quick videos with David Wolfe interviewing Dr. Mark Merriman, who is an MD and NOT a dentist.

After you watch these videos, please see my comments below, for some further, important clarification – from a dental professional’s perspective…

Here’s Part 2:

Ok, so now you have some scientific proof as to why flossing is so important to your overall health.

Now, here are some of my additional inputs for your benefit:

1.  If you have tight contacts and have difficulty getting floss between your teeth, DON’T use the floss that this doctor recommends.  He recommends using waxed floss, but that is BAD ADVISE.

If you use a waxed floss – even with a natural wax like beeswax – you will be leaving a deposit of wax between your teeth.  This wax can actually provide a “matrix” for bacteria to adhere to, eat, grow and do you harm!

Instead, use one of the new varieties of floss made from synthetic fibers.  Something like “Glide Floss” will do just that – glide in between your teeth very easily.

Not only will the floss easily and painlessly slide between your teeth, but it won’t leave any deposits behind.  After all, the purpose of flossing is to mechanically remove bacteria-laden plaque and other food debris.

2.  Plaque takes around 24-72 hours to harden into tartar, or calculus, as the pros call it.  Once it’s hardened, flossing just isn’t going to work to remove it.  And when hardened, it too provides a perfect matrix for MORE plaque to adhere to.  Thus, it’s a vicious cycle of bacterial accumulation that can, and most likely will, lead to disease.

So, it’s best to floss at least once every 24 hours, in order to prevent that calcification of plaque into calculus.

3.  40% of your total tooth surfaces are between the teeth, where even the most high-tech toothbrush can’t reach.  So, if you’re not a big flosser now, just consider that nearly half of your tooth surfaces are being missed if all you do is brush.

Think about all that nasty bacteria living and breeding in between your teeth.  How much is getting into your bloodstream?  And how’s your breath, by the way?  Have you had any compliments about your fresh breath lately?  Or maybe you haven’t consciously noticed that people actually back away from you when you are talking?

4.  Finally, David makes a good point when he mentions that he uses essential oils to brush his teeth. It takes a while to get used to using a liquid to brush with, if you’ve used a thick toothpaste throughout your life.  But the benefits are worth the adjustment.

You can either mix up your own blend or look online for the few available oil-based products, like OraMD, that are currently available.  If you mix your own, just be sure to use high-quality oils and also to dilute them with some type of carrier oil, as they are super strong if used alone.

The truth is, you don’t need ANY toothpaste to clean your teeth.  It’s really just another commercial ploy to make you think it’s better than brushing alone.  But here’s the deal: plaque is removed from mechanical disruption – period!  In other words, you have to physically remove it, and toothpaste is only marginally effective in doing that, if at all.

In fact,  since most commercial toothpastes contain both fluoride and glycerin, they probably do you more harm than good.

Fluoride is toxic and should not be put into your body for any reason – including in your tap water.  And glycerin leaves a film on your teeth, which acts much like the wax on floss.

This film actually prevents your saliva from actively contacting and re-mineralizing your enamel, which should ideally be an active and ongoing process.

Ok, well, I hope this helps to add a little more value to the videos.  Happy flossing!

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The act of keeping your smile healthy with daily oral hygiene is important.

It is not enough to visit the dentist regularly and get dental treatment, you need to have a daily routine.

That means brushing your teeth at least twice a day, floss regularly, and use a mouth rinse. It also includes using a fluoride enriched toothpaste, and one that helps improve tooth enamel. You can find these kinds of toothpastes quite easily at almost any retailer.

But it’s not enough to do daily oral hygiene, you also have to do it properly.

One of the popular mistakes that many people make is not taking enough time to brush their teeth properly. You have to brush for at least five minutes per session, and make sure that you are brushing properly, not just the front of the teeth.

The back of your teeth have to be included, as well as gums, and tongue. Flossing has to be performed carefully, so you don’t damage the gum line, or miss some spots between your teeth.

There are many problems that can arise from not performing regular oral hygiene.

There is of course the obvious development of cavities, which are caused by bacterial buildup that produces acids. These acids then demineralize tooth enamel, causing your cavities.

But this isn’t all the damage -  plaque build-up works its way into your gums, causing periodontitis, which will eventually separate them from your teeth, causing weakening, as well as tooth loss.

There are many other problems as well, including bad breath, thrush, and trench mouth, just to name a few.

According to a study from the Academy of General Dentistry, poor daily oral health has also been linked to other health problems as well.

This can include heart disease, stroke, and in women, giving birth to pre-term or low birth weight babies is also increased.

Other research also shows a direct relation between poor oral health and other systemic diseases, such as cancer, kidney problems, leukemia, and even diabetes.

Poor daily oral hygiene can cause tooth pain, and other mouth pains. Gingivitis, the early stages of gum and mouth disease, actually effects over seventy five percent of the population of the United States.

However all of these can be prevented through a daily oral hygiene routine.

There are also other things you can do in addition to brushing and flossing on a regular basis.

Coffee contributes greatly to staining of the teeth, and should be reduced. Smoking, along with a myriad of health problems, also not only stains the teeth, but also effects gums as well. Soda and sugary sweets all contain ingredients that love to break down tooth enamel, build up plaque, and constantly bombard your teeth with contaminants.

Fortunately for you, there is a wealth of help.

Other than having a daily oral hygiene routine, there are many tips and information, both online, and from your dentist.

Your dentist can supply you with toothpaste, dental floss, and other items, all for free.

They can provide help with finding healthier foods, and snacks that are not only good for you, but in some cases can actually help keep your teeth healthy. You can find out online exactly what steps you need to take for brushing your teeth properly, how long, and in the right way.

Even people with sensitivity can find toothpaste that won’t effect nerves.

Follow these tips so you won’t have to wear full or partial dentures in the future.

As surprising as it may seem, while most mothers and fathers take their kids for medical exams througout their lives, many times they wait to see a dentist until their kid is really experiencing some type of dental problem.

Your child’s dental health is just as urgent as his physical health and practicing preventive dentistry is the simplest way to ensure that your kid has good dental health thru his life time.

Preventive dentistry for children includes correct nutrition, daily brushing and flossing, regular dental check-ups and parental steering in care of teeth, oral health education, sealants, and a number of other procedures designed to keep your child’s teeth and gums healthy.

Preventive dentistry for your child should begin when his first tooth starts to make an appearance, or at the very least by his first birthday. The earlier your kid begins getting professional dental care, the better it’ll be for his dental health as he ages.

Your dentist can not only ensure that your baby’s first teeth are coming in robust and straight, but can start to build a relationship with your youngster so that if any major dental work needs to be done in the future, there’s already a bond of trust between your youngster and the dentist.

Your dentist can also offer you pointers on how to practice good preventive dentistry at home.

They can supply you with ideas on how it is possible to get your kid to brush frequently and easier methods to teach your child how to floss.

Not only is the dentist able to fix cavities while they’re small and before they’ve a opportunity to become giant and agonizing, but they might also use sealants to prevent cavities from forming at all.

One of the finest things about preventive dentistry is that over the long haul it can save you money.

By taking your child to the dentist frequently, like every six months, the dentist will be  to diagnosis dental problems early and correct those issues before they become major issues that may lead to much more serious corrective techniques.

Preventive dentistry for your kid is not only about early diagnosis of problems.  It can basically stop problems from occurring at all in most circumstances.

By providing your child with correct mouth protection for sporting activities, your dentist can prevent damage to your child’s teeth and mouth, thus saving the requirement for caps, partials, or other more high-priced techniques.

Dental problems can influence your kid in so many different ways.

Tooth pain can make it tough to eat correctly or to concentrate in school. Poor looking teeth can make your child feel timid and affect their self confidence. They may be scared to grin or talk, not wanting anyone to find out how bad their teeth look.

Preventive dentistry can help your kid avoid all of these issues, keeping them free from pain and smiling happily.

Preventive dentistry is the best way to keep your child’s teeth healthy and their mouth pain free.