By office
on Tuesday, March, 24th, 2020 in General Health & Wellness No Comments
As you might already know, as part of the effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 our office in Edmonds is closed right now except for dental emergencies. As we continue to monitor the phones and email, we wanted to share some tips for connecting with loved ones in this time of social distancing. Introvert, […]
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on Tuesday, March, 17th, 2020 in Airway No Comments
For some people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), CPAP therapy can be a lifesaver. But not everyone is a fan. Up to 83% of users don’t use it as their doctor tells them to, sometimes giving up on it completely. They find the mask uncomfortable or claustrophobic. They find it a pain to have to […]
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on Tuesday, March, 10th, 2020 in General Health & Wellness No Comments
The recent outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) has been complicated by what the World Health Organization is calling a massive ‘infodemic’ due to an over-abundance of information – some accurate and some not – that makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it. We agree. In fact, there […]
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on Tuesday, March, 3rd, 2020 in Fluoride No Comments
While the CDC and ADA “celebrate” the 75th anniversary of community water fluoridation in 2020 as a public health success story, research showing the negative effects of this toxin on brain development continues to pile up. One of the most recent scientific reviews updates a review and meta-analysis first published in Environmental Health Perspectives in […]
By office
on Tuesday, February, 25th, 2020 in Oral Health & Hygiene No Comments
This week, we’re featuring a guest post by Green City Dental’s own Queen of Dental Hygiene – and recipient of the 2019 the Hu-Friedy/ADHA Master Clinician Award – Barbara Tritz. (Patients also know her as our resident specialist in myofunctional therapy.) Below, Barbara will school you on the value of some of the key services […]
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on Tuesday, February, 18th, 2020 in Airway No Comments
Mouth breathing is common in children. In fact, more than half of kids under 9 mouth breathe, studies show. Sometimes it’s due to habits such as thumbsucking, pacifier use, or poor diet. Other familiar culprits include allergies and enlarged tonsils or adenoids. Often, it’s a combination of factors. Whatever the cause, the effects are serious. […]
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on Tuesday, February, 11th, 2020 in General Health & Wellness No Comments
Nearly every holiday has some version of a guilty pleasure, whether it’s ice cream on the Fourth of July, a flood of candy on Halloween, or all that pie on Thanksgiving. Valentine’s is no different, from heart-shaped lollipops to heart-shaped peanut butter cups to heart-shaped boxes filled with all kinds of tempting, sugary treats. A […]
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on Tuesday, February, 4th, 2020 in Airway No Comments
Whether bragging about pulling an all-nighter before finals or hanging with friends into the wee hours binge-watching or club-hopping, younger adults tend to take pride in pushing the envelope when it comes to getting enough sleep. After all, they’re adults now, and “everyone” knows adults don’t need as much sleep as kids. Actually, sleep […]
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on Tuesday, January, 28th, 2020 in Airway No Comments
Biological dentistry takes a minimally invasive approach, where the best dentistry is the least dentistry. That’s why prevention is key – and also why it’s crucial to find the source of any disease or dysfunction as soon as possible. This is certainly true for dysfunction in the temporomandibular joints (TMJ), those all-important hinges that open […]
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on Tuesday, January, 21st, 2020 in Airway No Comments
Breathing is something you don’t think about a lot until it’s hard to do. This is especially true if you or a loved one – especially a loved one you share a bedroom with – has airway issues. But enduring the rattle of someone snoring next to you – or being regularly startled awake through […]
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on Tuesday, January, 14th, 2020 in Oral Health & Hygiene No Comments
Would you believe there’s a New Year’s resolution you can make that takes less than 10 minutes a day, yet could not only extend your life but your quality of life for years to come? If you guessed “brushing and cleaning between your teeth,” a gold star for you! It’s not much: just two minutes […]
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on Tuesday, December, 17th, 2019 in General Health & Wellness No Comments
A Gift-Giving Guide as Unique as You When it comes to holiday gift-giving, maybe it’s time to reduce, reuse, and recycle! (And that doesn’t mean wrapping that ugly chip and dip set you got two years ago to give to your grandma who gushes over everything anyhow.) Nope, maybe this year you can find gifts […]
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on Tuesday, December, 10th, 2019 in Mercury 1 Comment
Biological dentists and hygienists ask A LOT of questions – usually far more than your typical dentist. We do it because integrating your concerns and challenges is crucial when it comes to serving your healthcare needs. Whatever happens in or is done to the mouth can have effects throughout the body – and vice versa […]
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on Wednesday, December, 4th, 2019 in Airway No Comments
When it comes to breathing, a lot of folks focus on oxygen, which kind of makes sense. You sure can’t live without it. But have you ever thought about how you breathe? Your nose is the main route for breathing. Even when you breathe mainly through your mouth, you still take in air through your […]
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on Tuesday, November, 26th, 2019 in General Health & Wellness No Comments
There are lots of ways we express gratitude when Thanksgiving rolls around. You share a special meal. You reach out to family and loved ones. You reflect on the blessings you’ve experienced. Chances are you already know a bit about how good gratitude can be for both your physical and mental health. From articles and […]
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on Tuesday, November, 19th, 2019 in Dental Procedures No Comments
Originally posted May 15, 2019 When you look at your smile, it can be tough to realize that each tooth isn’t just some hard, lifeless mass. Each tooth is, in fact, a living organ surrounded by a coat of enamel. Underneath that enamel is a softer layer of tissue called dentin, which is made up […]
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on Tuesday, November, 12th, 2019 in Airway No Comments
Originally posted at the Queen of Dental Hygiene. by Barbara Tritz, RDH, BS, MSB Breathing. Why’s a dental hygienist writing about the airway!? Again! Because I want you to be healthy and live a life of wellness! In my biological dental office, one of the most important, if not the most important thing we do, is evaluate your […]
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on Tuesday, November, 5th, 2019 in Fluoride No Comments
Over the years, numerous studies have shed light on the neurotoxic effects of fluoride, as well as its other impacts on health. Often, these end with a note about the need for more research – sometimes to fill data gaps, sometimes for more confirmation of harm. After all, we’ve been told for decades just how […]
By Dr. Taylor
on Tuesday, October, 22nd, 2019 in Airway No Comments
By Rebecca Taylor, DDS Last week, we took at look at how orthotics can help bring relief from jaw joint dysfunction. Other benefits include Spinal and cranial stability. Reduced gum recession and tooth sensitivity. Increased lymph drainage in the head and neck. Reduced neck, shoulder, and jaw tension and pain. More room in the mouth […]
By Dr. Taylor
on Tuesday, October, 15th, 2019 in Airway No Comments
By Rebecca Taylor, DDS Many folks – including doctors – don’t realize what a huge role a person’s bite plays in musculoskeletal issues. Often, it’s a missing puzzle piece to other treatments such as chiropractic, osteopathy, physical therapy, or other body work. Your jaw is connected to your head via the TMJ (temporomandibular joint). When […]
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on Monday, October, 7th, 2019 in Airway No Comments
Sleepless nights? We’ve all had them. In the morning, you feel like the alarm went off 5 minutes after you closed your eyes. You know you’re getting out of the wrong side of the bed no matter what because you’ll be edgy and exhausted all day long. But when you have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), […]
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on Tuesday, October, 1st, 2019 in Dental Procedures No Comments
While conventional dentistry still largely depends on titanium for implants, it’s not the only option out there. Nor is it necessarily the best option. Recently, researchers reviewed more than a decade’s worth of clinical studies on the durability of zirconia implants compared to metal. Their study, published last month in Dental Materials, found “no clear […]
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on Tuesday, September, 24th, 2019 in Oral Health & Hygiene 1 Comment
Dental Hygienists aren’t usually thought of as superheroes, but sometimes the work they do can literally save lives. Barbara Kempkes Tritz can tell you all about this. A hygienist at Green City Dental in Edmonds, she once saw a patient whose gums bled profusely – a sign of advancing gum disease. Yet bacterial samples taken […]
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on Tuesday, September, 17th, 2019 in Diet & Nutrition No Comments
Recently, a group of folks who care about keeping toxins out of our food supply tried to deliver a petition to Kraft-Heinz, urging them to get phthalates out of their products. Those chemicals are plasticizers, used to make plastics flexible yet hard to break. They’re used in everything from flooring and adhesives to personal care […]
By office
on Tuesday, September, 10th, 2019 in Fluoride No Comments
If you’re a biological dentist, keeping fluoride-free is a given. Fluoride, after all, has been proven neurotoxic, harmful to the brain (not to mention other vital organs and systems). Research has connected it and other industrial chemicals with neurodevelopmental disabilities in infants and children, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other cognitive impairments. A new […]
By office
on Tuesday, September, 3rd, 2019 in Dental Procedures No Comments
A lot of people get pretty freaked out about seeing the dentist, and it’s not hard to understand why, especially if they only come see us when something is wrong. By the time most dental symptoms become a burden, what’s needed to fix the problem is usually far more intensive than had the problem been […]
By office
on Tuesday, August, 27th, 2019 in Mercury No Comments
When a patient chooses to have their mercury amalgam fillings removed, protecting them – and our team – from mercury exposure is paramount. But safety doesn’t stop there. Practicing mercury-free, mercury-safe dentistry is vital for our planet’s health, as well. Because so many dentists around the world continue to fill teeth with amalgam, the industry […]
By office
on Tuesday, August, 20th, 2019 in Oral Health & Hygiene No Comments
Good health starts in the womb. So does poor health, for that matter. Whatever influences the mother – diet, exercise, stress, toxic exposures – necessarily affects the development of the child she’s carrying. That includes the child’s oral health, as well. Take the condition called enamel hypoplasia, for instance – a fancy term for defects […]
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on Wednesday, August, 14th, 2019 in Mercury No Comments
Despite mercury being one of the most toxic materials around, most dentists continue to use it for filling teeth. After all, it’s cheap, and can be placed much more quickly and easily than newer, higher quality materials. (Curious as to how it’s done? Here’s a basic demo.) But because of that toxicity, we not only […]
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on Monday, August, 5th, 2019 in Oral Health & Hygiene No Comments
Folks who tout fluoride say that it’s needed to help keep your tooth enamel strong and prevent decay. Of course, fluoride is also a known neurotoxin. (It has other effects on health, as well.) It’s also not a mineral that your teeth actually need. There’s no fluoride in natural tooth enamel. Enamel is mostly made […]
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on Tuesday, July, 30th, 2019 in Airway No Comments
The hazards of mouth breathing popped up in the news cycle recently, thanks to a celebrity performing some do-it-yourself Buteyko on Instagram. The post quickly went viral, probably because images of people with their mouths taped shut tend to be a little, well, startling. But while pictures of mouth-taping can provide the internet (and popstars) […]
By office
on Tuesday, July, 23rd, 2019 in Biological Dentistry No Comments
Checklists, protocols, even the humble honey-do list – whether they’re on our phones, on our fridges, or in a handy-dandy notebook, we’ve all got them. We know the value in making and following lists if only because the simple act of creating a list gives you a much better shot at remembering what to do, […]
By office
on Tuesday, July, 16th, 2019 in Dental Procedures No Comments
These days, dental implants are touted as THE best solution for replacing lost teeth. And why not? They look great and function just like natural teeth. But not all implants are created equal. Your basic implant typically consists of two parts. There’s the implant itself, which is surgically placed in the jaw to mimic a […]
By office
on Wednesday, July, 10th, 2019 in Airway No Comments
By internet standards, this happened ages ago – this past December – yet we just now heard about the New York woman who was scolded by her dentist as she began to breastfeed her infant during her 5-year old daughter’s appointment. As is the way these days, she shared the experience on social media: To […]
By office
on Tuesday, June, 25th, 2019 in Oral-Systemic Connections, Periodontal Health No Comments
Of course, keeping all of your natural teeth is just the most obvious reason for making sure your gums stay healthy. Equally important, though, is supporting your overall health. Several decades of scientific research has made it clear that gum disease is related to a host of systemic health problems. These include stroke, heart disease, […]
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on Tuesday, June, 11th, 2019 in Periodontal Health No Comments
What would you think if, every time you washed your hands, they started bleeding – well, once you got over the horror show aspect of it all, that is? Rush to a doctor, right? Yet when people see blood on their toothbrush or dental floss, a surprising number of them do nothing, as if blood […]
By office
on Wednesday, May, 29th, 2019 in General Health & Wellness No Comments
“Biological” dentistry is such a perfect name for what we do here at Green City Dental in Edmonds. “Bio,” after all, means life, and one of our main goals is to help our patients create their best, healthiest lives possible. Every procedure we do, every material we use is chosen for its ability to support […]
By office
on Wednesday, May, 15th, 2019 in Dental Procedures No Comments
When you look at your smile, it can be tough to realize that each tooth isn’t just some hard, lifeless mass. Each tooth is, in fact, a living organ surrounded by a coat of enamel. Underneath that enamel is a softer layer of tissue called dentin, which is made up of miles – yes, miles! […]
By office
on Tuesday, May, 7th, 2019 in Airway No Comments
You could survive days without water. You could last for weeks without food – terrible weeks, but weeks nonetheless. But to go without oxygen? You’d be a goner in minutes. No oxygen, no life. That’s why obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is more than just a noisy, flailing nuisance. The snoring and startling yourself awake are […]
By office
on Saturday, March, 18th, 2017 in Fluoride No Comments
Not too long ago, the government, recognizing that the threshold may have been too high quietly lowered the “safe” level of fluoride in drinking water to 0.7 parts per million. But with little awareness of where fluoride lurks and how much we are exposed to in “parts per million,” it’s impossible to gauge our level […]
By office
on Wednesday, March, 1st, 2017 in Fluoride No Comments
Seventy-one years after Grand Rapids, Michigan first released fluoride into its water supply, almost 75% of the US population is chugging the stuff. But a growing number of citizens are beginning to ask questions about the limited science that supports the administration of this ubiquitous medicament to every man, woman and child. At the same […]
By office
on Thursday, February, 16th, 2017 in Fluoride No Comments
If you still think that all those fluoride containing dental products endorsed with the American Dental Association (ADA) “seal of approval” indicate some level of product safety, you need to know, it’s a myth. The truth is that fluoride is a known neurotoxin, a chemical that is poisonous and destructive to nerve tissue. Its little […]
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on Thursday, January, 26th, 2017 in Fluoride, Oral Health & Hygiene No Comments
By now we all know that sugar spurs tooth decay. We’ve all also heard that fluoride prevents cavities. But what a lot of folks don’t know is that only part of what we think we know is actually so. Backing up the claim that sugar leads to decay, a recent Finnish study notes that, among […]
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on Thursday, December, 1st, 2016 in Oral-Systemic Connections No Comments
In his forthcoming book Six-foot Tiger, Three-foot Cage, biological dentist Dr. Felix Liao shows how a pinched airway can have serious, long-term effects on your overall health. The title describes the effect of a mouth too small to comfortably fit the tongue. The tongue is forced into the throat, where it “becomes a ‘tiger’ stressing […]
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on Wednesday, November, 16th, 2016 in Oral-Systemic Connections No Comments
You could go days without food or water. Maybe not comfortably. But you’d live. Not so with oxygen. Even just 3 minutes of deprivation starts killing brain cells. Your brain, in fact, is the biggest user of oxygen, consuming about 20% of the more than 400 liters of the stuff you inhale each and every […]
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on Wednesday, November, 2nd, 2016 in Oral-Systemic Connections 1 Comment
What do sleep apnea and tooth grinding (bruxing) have in common? They’re both signs that you’re not getting enough air. With apnea, you’re repeatedly choking and jolting awake – the body’s emergency response to a blocked airway. With bruxing, you’re often just trying to get your jaw into a position that lets you take in […]
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on Wednesday, October, 19th, 2016 in Mercury No Comments
It can be hard to ask for what you want when you know it probably won’t be covered. This can leave some folks feeling they’ve been overcharged for metal-free, biocompatible alternatives. But that hinges on you being unaware of some things your insurance company probably doesn’t want you to know. For one, they don’t care […]
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on Wednesday, October, 5th, 2016 in Mercury No Comments
As we noted last time, mercury is constantly off-gassed from so-called “silver” amalgam fillings. This vapor must go somewhere, and where it goes is into your circulation. This is how it can affect so many different body systems. (What it affects and how depends on your unique biochemistry, overall health history and current challenges.) A […]
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on Wednesday, September, 21st, 2016 in Mercury No Comments
If you’re savvy – and we suspect that you are – you may have wondered why the American Dental Association still endorses the use of mercury amalgam to fill teeth, even as other countries have banned it. You might question how the US could ratify the global mercury treaty known as the Minamata Convention, which […]
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on Thursday, June, 23rd, 2016 in Diet & Nutrition No Comments
The kind of food you eat matters. And so does the quality of that food. Research continues to show that, on the whole, organic food tends to have more of the nutrients especially needed for optimal health, including Omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants. They also carry fewer synthetic pesticide residues. Even better is organic […]