Halloween can be a lot of fun for children as they dress up in costume and run from house to house. But responsible parents are often concerned about this candy-centered event, seeing it as an open invitation for cavities and toothache. Over my career I’ve witnessed dental professionals wagging witch-like fingers at kids who admit to …read more

What Happens To Your Teeth When You Eat Candy?

Wishing for a healthier mouth in 2017? Want to put an end to gum disease, cavities, and other oral health issues? Take control of your own oral health. You can achieve Ultimate Oral Health this year by understanding these 5 Oral Wellness Points. https://youtu.be/5fcWQWOfAUQ 5 Oral Wellness PointsBacteria Transfer Eating Causes Acidity Saliva is Your Best Friend The Mouth’s …read more

Have Healthier Teeth & Gums by Following These 5 Wellness Points!

Looking for a healthy sugar alternative for sweetening your beverages or for baking? Granular xylitol is the perfect solution! Granular xylitol has a low-glycemic index (7.0) and has 40% less calories and 75% fewer carbohydrates than sugar. Granular xylitol is also a simple and easy way to care for teeth, especially for those who can’t use …read more

Granular Xylitol – the Perfect Sugar Alternative

My book, Kiss Your Dentist Goodbye, was written when Dr. Richard Carmona was Surgeon General of the United States. Dr. Carmona was concerned about the state of oral health in America and he graciously gave my book a glowing testimonial and his personal support. In chapter eight I explain why “community” water fluoridation (adding fluoride …read more

Are Cavities About Zip Code?

We agree about the need to prevent cavities, but how much more important is it to prevent cavities in children? Perhaps one of the most important groups to target with prevention are children with disabilities – those with compromised health or physical disabilities. Included in this group should be kids who are adopted and or …read more

Our Priorities in Preventing Cavities

A number of my friends are dental missionaries and visit countries where problems from dental disease are intense. They see adults with many lost teeth and visible tooth damage that can be overwhelming. These dentists provide emergency extractions and care, but wish they could offer long-term help. Some take toothbrushes while others teach nurses to …read more

Global Dental Health

Pediatric sedation Pediatric sedation is a dental procedure that is rapidly becoming more common in practices around the country. Some dentists think it’s because there are more young children showing up with decay, others say it’s because we have an ADA push to get children to the dentist by their first birthday. Personally, I think …read more

Pediatric Sedation & Early Childhood Caries

Ultimate Oral Health is just around the corner…  The pathway to ultimate oral health is not a mystery. It comes down to knowing why dental problems occur (it’s not as complex as you may think) and the easy things you can do to protect, improve, and heal your teeth. In this booklet we’ve outlined the …read more

Zellies Xylitol Guidebook: How to Use Xylitol for Ultimate Oral Health

It’s unlikely a child with unhealthy teeth and serious cavities will have fun at their first dental visit. Cavities are difficult to treat in young mouths and most dentists suggest sedation or general anesthesia – a scary experience for everyone. Taking toddlers to the dentist is suggested by the ADA as an opportunity for the …read more

Taking Young Children to the Dentist

What is a dental sealant? A dental sealant is a thin plastic used to cover cracks (fissures) that naturally occur in chewing surfaces of molar teeth. The idea is to protect teeth from decay, since cavities almost always start in these grooves. Sealants were developed in the 1960s and by 1970 they were “grandfathered” into …read more

Dental Sealants for Kids

The first birthday celebrates the most important time in the entire life of your teeth. By a child’s first birthday, front incisor teeth provide a surface for plaque germs to grow and multiply. As baby molars erupt in the second year of life, grooves in their biting surfaces quickly become infected with the resident mouth …read more

A Birthday Wish

Every month Dr. Ellie Phillips will answer your oral health questions as part of the Ultimate Oral Health Guide.   ———– Q: I have a 20-month old daughter. She has an upper lip tie (which I read can lead to a greater chance of cavities) and she is still nursing at night. It seems to me that her upper …read more

Q&A with Dr. Ellie: Toddler Teeth