The New Year is here, and for many people that usually means one thing: It’s time to recommit to better health, wellness, and happiness! As we reflect on 2014, the editor’s of the Miami Dentist Blog would like to highlight a few of our most-read articles on oral health and total body wellness. From everyone at Assure A Smile, we wish you and your family a healthy and prosperous New Year!
Since 1990, the fluoride free movement has increased education, awareness, and fought for the freedom of choice for residents of communities around the world. According to representatives at the Fluoride Action Network, 2014 marks the single best year for the fluoride free movement to date. In total, the movement has eliminated fluoride in the communities of more than 14 million people globally.
This year has been a big one for the fluoride free movement. Since 1990, dozens of communities around the world have eliminated water fluoridation programs. In that time, an estimated 14 million individuals have been freed from fluoride, according to numbers gathered by the Fluoride Action Network. In the Sunshine State, commissioners in Hernando County recently voted to go fluoride free, protecting nearly 175,000 Florida residents from the potentially toxic side effects of such programs.
As the holiday season begins, we can’t help but get excited with the joy and laughter that seems just around the corner. Family, friends, and good home cooked meals are just a few of the best things about the holidays. This time of year, it’s always nice to take a moment to reflect on all the good things in our lives, while also taking time to recommit ourselves to healthier lifestyle choices. Don’t wait until New Year’s Eve to start thinking of ways to stay healthy! From Thanksgiving through the end of December, there are plenty of opportunities to improve the health of your teeth, gums, and total body. As the gateway to the entire body, the mouth plays a vital role in holistic health. Take a moment to review this list of tips for cavity prevention during the holidays, and experience health benefits that extend far beyond the teeth and gums.
Is fluoride safe? The question is divisive, separating two main factions of health professionals that have very different opinions on the matter. Those in favor of the outdated practice say adding fluoride to public drinking water is a safe way to prevent tooth decay. Those opposed to fluoride disagree, urging Americans to consider that there is no clinical evidence that supports fluoride’s ability to reduce tooth decay. By contrast, there are countless studies that correlate fluoride consumption with severe illness, arthritis, and even death. This November, several Canadian communities will have the chance to voice their opinion on the controversial topic.
Did the United States government fail to warn the black community about their disproportionate risk of suffering from the side effects of water fluoridation? Documents show evidence of such negligence, according to a press release published by the Fluoride Action Network (FAN).
Israel has officially ended water fluoridation, stoking the controversial issue on the global scale. On one side are dentists and organizations (including the American Dental Association) that support water fluoridation, saying it is an effective way to prevent tooth decay. On the other side, a growing number of scientists and world-renowned research institutions object to the outdated practice, with some naming it a sloppy and ineffective form of medicine. Most alarming was a paper published by the Harvard School of Public Health in 2012, in which researchers issue a strong word of caution against the use of fluoride in public water systems. Read more about this breaking story, and learn 8 reasons why health experts say to stay away from fluoride.
Oil pulling is an all-natural way to improve oral health. Although oil pulling is just now enjoying positive feedback from dental patients, it is actually an age old practice that originated in India thousands of years ago. It wasn’t until the 1990s that health experts in the Western world began recommending oil pulling as a way to naturally detoxify the body, particularly the teeth and gums. Today, many holistic dentists recognize oil pulling as a safe, easy, and inexpensive way to significantly reduce the risk of tooth decay, oral infection, and gum disease.
As a Miami holistic dentistry practice, Assure A Smile helps patients achieve a healthier smile through more than just reactive dental care. We help patients develop life long healthy habits that help teeth and gums grow stronger. We believe this integrated, total body approach to dentistry is the most effective way to build Healthy Teeth and Gums for Life.
This February, Assure A Smile raises awareness for children's oral health needs. According to studies published by the Surgeon General, American children suffer from chronic tooth decay at alarming numbers, predisposing the nation's youth to serious health issues. In the short run, high rates of tooth decay can lead to gum disease, infection, and gingivitis. Long term, however, the bacteria that causes gum disease has been found to also cause heart disease and increase the risk of stroke.