🦷 Mondays (Tuesdays?) with Mark: X-rays, Oral Microbiome, and Fluoride Shaming

I’m sure many of you will get a kick out of this. I’ve decided to follow my own advice about progress being more important than perfection—and that’s why you’re getting Mondays with Mark on a Tuesday! A goal of mine is to be more consistent with this newsletter in 2023, so let’s get right to it…

1. 🩻 X-rays for kids—what do parents need to know? (Read my blog post here)
I’ve recently updated this blog post with the questions I get most often from parents who want to know if routine dental x-rays are safe for kids, especially if there are no signs of cavities or other causes for concerns. Read it and let me know if there are more questions you have afterward.

2. 🦠 Bristle’s New Nitrate Score and How It Helps You Breathe Better
I just learned that the team at Bristle has released a new Nitrate score as part of their oral microbiome test. The score measures the capacity of microbes in your oral microbiome to convert nitrate into nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide is a molecule in our bodies that is critical for regulating blood pressure and maintaining optimal cardiovascular and cognitive health. Specific bacteria in the oral microbiome are responsible for creating nitric oxide by reducing nitrate to nitrite and nitrite to nitric oxide.

I encourage everyone to get their oral microbiome tested. You can now understand not only your risk for conditions like tooth decay, gum inflammation, bad breath, and gut dysbiosis but also your body’s ability to produce nitric oxide. You’ll then receive personalized oral care and diet recommendations to balance your microbiome and improve your oral and overall health. Check out Bristle’s oral microbiome test and use code DRB for 10% off.

3. 🎧 Are you being “fluoride shamed” at the dentist? (Listen to the episode)
There is a significant gap between what the professional curriculum now teaches and recent discoveries on fluoride and its alternatives. If you’re an Ask the Dentist reader, you already know this, but what if your dentist hasn’t caught up yet?

Have a great week,

P.S. There’s an amazing new flosser that I highly recommend. This thing changes the game when it comes to flossing. I’m a fan of floss sticks in general since they eliminate the hassle of manual floss—plus, Alzheimer’s runs in my family which is my main driver for flossing (personally). This device takes it to the next level with a vibratory motion that improves plaque disruption. Use code “askthedentist10” for 10% off. Link here.