Tips for Healthy Living

Sore throat may cause bad breath

As you know I treat bad breath patients every day. I am able to get individual readings of all the different bad breath gases. The most difficult gas to treat is Dimethyl Sulphide. This gas comes from proteins caught at the back of the throat or on the gag reflex line of the tongue.

This means in times of an acute sore throat, there would be an extreme increase in the activity of these bacteria. I am starting however to see a trend where people report a sore throat occurring as the start of their bad breath problems.

This means that some bacteria that may cause issues are able to remain at the throat/tongue interface and make a new home. Generally the patient can smell the Dimethyl Sulphide all day, but the actual amounts of gas are so small that there is not enough escaping for the public to smell. So people around the sufferer tell them they so not have bad breath.

These patients are called Halitophobics. And up until we used our Halicheck Gas Chromogrpah they were unable to be diagnosed and properly treated. But now I am able to clearly identify these people and treat them. Please call me for more information about how we do this.

Also please post your stories if you feel this is the type of bad breath you suffer from. I would love to add your data to our evolving science.
Source from: http://massnutrition.org

Bad Breath and Heart Disease

Results from our online Quiz reveal that over 80% of people have some form of gum disease and do not clean regularly!!!

Well now studies are showing that apart from this laziness causing bad breath, the bacteria you are allowing to grow in your gums can be more sinister.

A large study published in the British Medical Journal showed a 70 percent increase in risk of cardiovascular disease in people who neglect to brush twice a day (De Olivera C, 2010). People with inflammation in their gums and gum disease have been shown to have systemic inflammation and an increased risk of heart disease. People who get treatments for their gums, get a reduction in the systemic inflammation. The same bugs found in the inflamed gums are found in plaques that plug up the coronary arteries of the heart causing heart attack.

It is now widely accepted that bacteria from your mouth can travel into your blood stream, and cause a multitude of issues. Do you need more motivation to brush and floss.

Does Insurance Cover Teeth Whitening Gel Costs?

Questions involving teeth whitening gels and insurance covering them come up very often through potential whitening patients. The fact is, most people cannot afford extra cosmetic type procedures done to them in the hopes that their physical appearance will be changed for the better. This is especially true of those who are living in today’s rough economy, as many people are feeling the sting of the unfortunate financial crisis occurring at the moment. Due to this, there are many people were wondering if the dental insurance covers teeth whitening procedures, allowing them to get the results they desire in their mouth without paying through the nose.

Unfortunately, the answer is in most cases, no. The simple and quick answer is no, your dental plan isn’t likely to cover whitening procedures, and the reason for that is because insurance typically only covers the “needs” of your body, and enhancing your physical appearance is simply a “want.” For instance, if you had a cavity and were in pain, your insurance would likely cover that cost for the most part. But when you only want too whiten your teeth as a way to look better in public, they classify that as a “want” and will decline it.




There are some cases where you can get certain “cosmetic” type dental procedures covered by insurance, but only with the caveat that they are lumped into the restoration category which can help prolong or maintain the health of your teeth or dental area. This includes certain types of braces, as well as special types of porcelain veneers, but very, very rarely will they include a straight whitening session for your teeth.

However, there are certain exceptions that can be made into the dental coverage aspect of insurance. For instance, there are certain dental plans which provide financial assistance for these cosmetic procedures, allowing you to receive money off the whitening process despite the fact it is cosmetic and not an emergency health operation. There are some plans that will allow you to receive discounts and percentages off of routine cleaning, as well as some types of x-rays and checkups, etc.

When it comes to finding out whether or not your insurance plan will cover a teeth whitening procedure, it is in your best interest and highly recommended that you speak personally with your insurance provider in an effort to find out specifically what you are covered for. It is highly recommended that if you were looking to purchase an insurance plan specifically for dental, you ask many questions specifically about why tuning and other dental procedures before committing to that particular plan. There are many different variables and facets which come into play, making this a tricky subject. It is best that you talk specifically with your current or potential insurance companies to receive a specific answer immediately.

Can You Mix Whitening Gel Into Invisalign Braces?

10+ Tips on How to Eat Carbs

First οf аƖƖ, carbs аrе nοt necessarily thе enemy. Thеу саn actually bе уουr best fаt burning
friends – IF уου usе thеm strategically.
Anԁ, іf уοu really want tο control fаt loss once аnԁ fοr аƖƖ, іt’s crucial fοr уου tο understand
thе pros аnԁ cons οf carb intake. Trust mе, іt саn bе a Ɩονе-hаtе relationship.

Thе Pros οf Carbs

1. Carbs аrе muscle sparing. In οthеr words, thеу preserve аnԁ prevent thе breakdown οf lean
calorie burning muscle tissue.
2. Thеу provide energy tο thе brain аnԁ thе body.
3. Thеу hеƖр spark ουr metabolism аnԁ keep іt elevated tο prevent metabolic slowdown аnԁ keep
hormones іn check.
4. Thеу stimulate insulin, whісh leads tο a very a nabolic/muscle building environment (thіѕ іѕ
kind οf a catch 22 аѕ уοu’ll read іn a second).

Thе Cons οf Carbs

5. Carbs spike insulin levels аnԁ elevate blood sugar. It’s аƖmοѕt impossible tο burn body fаt іn
thе presence οf high insulin levels. (hence – thе catch 22 above)
6. Consuming tοο many carbs over lengthy periods οf time саn lead tο a lot οf fаt spillover, whісh
leads tο excess fаt storage. Thіnk obesity, heart disease, diabetes, etc.
7. Carbs (especially processed carbs) аrе thе mοѕt abused nutrient frοm both a health аnԁ fаt
loss perspective.
8. Excess carb intake сrеаtеѕ a lot οf water retention, whісh leads tο a soft look ѕο іt mаkеѕ
уοu look аnԁ feel bloated.
9. Processed carbs hіԁе nasty fillers аnԁ chemicals thаt саn potentially lead tο severe
health challenges. Wе call thеѕе obesity additives.
10. Additionally, processed carbs Ɩіkе grains contain “anti-nutrients” аnԁ gluten thаt саn block
fаt-loss аnԁ potentially cause various types οf autoimmune diseases.
Now уοu саn see whу people thіnk уοu саn јuѕt сut out carbs tο lose weight. But thеrе’s obviously a
lot more tο іt bесаυѕе wе need carbs tο stay healthy аnԁ keep ουr metabolism hарру аnԁ burning
fаt.
11. Additionally, low carb diets οnƖу work fοr 4 tο 7 days аt a time before уουr thyroid аnԁ leptin
levels react negatively tο ѕƖοw metabolic rate аnԁ suppress fаt burning hormones.
Now уοu саn see thе crux οf carb intake. It саn bе a double-edged sword.
Thаt’s whу уοu gotta ɡеt “sneaky” аnԁ cycle уουr carb intake tο maximize both уουr health аnԁ long
term fаt-loss.

Is Filing Medical Bankruptcy My Only Choice?

The American Journal of Medicine recently published a study on bankruptcy and medical bills. The study’s major points were:
- Approximately 75% of people filing medical bankruptcy are have health care coverage.
- Medical bills are a major factor in over 60% of bankruptcies.
- The majority of people facing bankruptcy and medical bills are middle class individuals who own their homes.

You may wonder how this is possible – don’t we pay for health insurance to prevent filing medical bankruptcy? Unfortunately, the reality is that health insurance just doesn’t cover everything. And if you are suffering from a long term or chronic illness, you may find yourself quickly overwhelmed with medical expenses. There are a couple of reasons for this:
1. A large number of conditions and treatments fall into “coverage gaps.” Additionally, charges like coinsurance fees and copays can quickly add up. Insurance coverage is not all inclusive.
2. Illness may cause loss of income. There are some laws in place to protect your job if you are ill; however, many people still lose income due to illness. Many even lose their job, and then their health plan leading to bankruptcy and medical bills.
Before you consider filing medical bankruptcy, keep in mind that you have some options. Many health care providers and hospitals will consider working with you to get paid. For example, there are payment plans, discounted rates or free care based on income. But if your medical bills have gone to collections and you are being harassed for payment, it may be time to take the next step. A bankruptcy attorney can discuss bankruptcy and medical bills and explain the process of filing medical bankruptcy. They can also help you come up with a plan based on your specific situation.

Alta White Review

Getting whiter teeth doesn’t have to involve a trip to the dentist, it doesn’t have to be costly and it doesn’t have to take hours or require messy applicators.

At least that’s what Alta White promises when it comes to giving you whiter teeth, brighter and healthy teeth. Alta White teeth whitener is really actually a unique teeth whitener. To use this patented teeth whitener, you dip an applicator into a special teeth whitening powder and cover your teeth.

Each of the swabs that come in the kit act as the applicators and every supply comes with 24 applicators, essentially you use the treatment twice a day and use a different applicator for your top and bottom teeth (so 4 applicators a day and each box lasts 6 days). Of course if you feel like you can get by just using Alta White once a day, and many people do, you can double how long each supply lasts.



Each applicator is filled with a liquid formula specifically made to work with the powder to give you a whiter smile. The swabs come pre-made with a liquid made of glycerin, water, methylparaben, peppermint flavor and FD & C Blue 1.

The powder comes individually packaged in a jar and made with some of the best teeth whitening ingredients including Magnesium (used primarily to Whiten the teeth) and Aluminum Trihydroxide (included as a teeth polisher). This powder works to remove all kinds of stains from the teeth whether the stains come from coffee, tea or tobacco use. Alta White makers promise this is strong enough to whiten any level of discoloration and helps remove some powerful stains.

It is simple to use, but the real question people obviously care about is, does it work to whiten your teeth?
And that’s really what matters, and we’ve seen Alta White work for about 95% of those people who have used and who we tested it on. That’s a really outstanding percentage considering this is an at home teeth whitener. It’s definitely stronger than the whiteners you’ll find on your local grocery store shelves.

When we compared it to other treatments, including treatments you can only get at the dentist, Alta White is a great value. The fact that more and more people are discovering how it works and seeing that this unique applicator/powder mix can work, is only another indicator that you’ll be satisfied with Alta White after 6 days, or 12 days if you decide to use it just once a day, which will work but probably not as fast.

Alta White Pros

• Works even on tough stains
• Easy to Use
• Quick to use
• Nice peppermint flavor (afterall it does go in your mouth so you will taste it
• Works in less than a week

Alta White Cons

• Can get messy with the powder and applicator
• May take more than one supply for really yellow teeth

Vitamins That Help With Hair Growth

Lack of adequate vitamin B in the body is the main cause of hair loss or baldness. Vitamin B, as it contains B3 niacin, is considered to be very important for hair growth. Vitamin B6, containing sulfur, biotin, magnesium and zinc is also considered to be another critical vitamin for the growth of hair. If you do not have these vitamins as supplements, you run the risk of baldness in old age.


Many people are not aware of the importance of vitamin B for hair which has been proved through scientific research. Not only does it enrich the quality and quantity of hair and its growth, men who have foods rich in this vitamin, run lesser risk of growing bald.

Vitamin A is another vitamin which is good for the hair. For this, you have to consume foods rich in fatty acids, which include flaxseed oil, primrose and salmon oil. Since these foods are rich in vitamin A, your hair will gets its right nutrients, if you consume them. If hair loss is bothering you, check on your consumption of vitamin A and B.

Since the health of your hair is dependent on the level of oxygen in your body, vitamin E becomes important for hair growth too. This vitamin helps in the overall blood circulation and stimulates the oxygen intake. Since the right blood flow is important for hair growth, vitamin E should be an essential part of your diet.

Biotin is another vitamin which is very important to keep hair in good condition as well as hair growth. This vitamin is found in abundance in rice, green peas, soybeans, oats, yeast, walnuts, and sunflower seeds. If you shampoo contains biotin, then it reaches the roots quicker and enhances growth. Despite the fact that you are using a shampoo which contains biotin, do not neglect the intake of necessary vitamin supplements if you wish good health and growth for your hair.

It is always wise to consult your doctor, before you start taking any vitamin or supplement, as there may be some restrictions on your intake of some of the vitamins. Your doctor can make you go through some tests, study your past history and then decide which vitamin you should be put onto. Consulting a doctor before starting on with vitamins will ensure safety in the long run, and you will be tension-free regarding any long-term side or adverse effects.

Vitamin C Facts

The Sunshine Vitamin D

What You Need to Know about Vitamin E

Teeth Whitening Products

Here are some products available at the local drugstore or supermarket that can help you whiten your teeth. 

Whitening strips are among some of the most popular items when it comes to teeth whitening products. These items can easily be purchased without a prescription and from a local supermarket or drugstore. The teeth whitening strips utilize hydrogen peroxide as their main active ingredient. This chemical actually bleaching the teeth stains and makes them appear whiter with regular use. The more expensive selection of whitening strips have a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide. This is the same active substance that dentists use for in-house procedures. These packages usually contain two types of strips: for the upper part and half for the lower one. Once applied to your teeth, they perform a deep chemical cleaning that restores and rejuvenates for a brighter smile. Bleaching strips is a common alternative name to this product. This option is great for individuals that are regular coffee and wine drinkers that cannot avoid staining their teeth. The strips work very well if you have certain dental problems. It is always important to consult a dentist.

It sounds almost like magic to be able to paint a wonder-liquid on your teeth and then notice they've become brighter. Gel teeth whitening products usually contain a hydrogen peroxide concentration of 6% or above. These gels are applied to the teeth via a customized whitening tray. Trays can be bought at the store or from a dentist. The tray is inserted for a specific period of time and then rinsed off. Results should be expected on when committing to daily use and the complete instructions. These whitening gels need to be used correctly in order to avoid the risk of harming your gums or seeing no improvement.

Most people overlook the fact that toothpaste can be a great whitener. The truth is this toothpaste is often a marketing strategy. To separate the good from the bad a consumer needs to look for the inclusion of hydrogen peroxide as an active ingredient within the formula. Peroxide is a powerful whitening agent. Some brands contain ingredients that polish gently instead of chemically bleaching. Non-peroxide formula toothpastes usually come with fewer risks but they don’t provide long-lasting results.

Hydrogen Peroxide Teeth Whitening

For the do-it-yourself tooth whitening enthusiast, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda can make a great home tooth whitener 

Whitening your teeth with a mixture baking soda and hydrogen peroxide really does work. Both products contain properties that brake down molecules that cause discoloration, and they do it without hurting the enamel of the teeth. Baking soda kills and prevents the growth of bacteria in your mouth. Be sure to use 3% hydrogen peroxide for this mixture, this is the standard percentage sold in stores for first aid.

To begin, you want to make a paste, about the consistency of toothpaste, out of the baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Use no more than a 2 (baking soda) to 1 (hydrogen peroxide) ratio. Some people say just a few drops of hydrogen peroxide is enough to make it the right consistency. Don’t overuse the hydrogen peroxide, out of the 2 items it is most likely to cause sensitivity to your gums.



Once the paste is made, brush your teeth with it for about 2 minutes. Don’t swallow the mixture, spit into a sink as needed, but it’s best to keep the mixture on your teeth for a full 2 minutes. It is not necessary to brush your gums or tongue, in fact it’s best to brush only your teeth with the whitening mixture.

After 2 minutes, rinse with clear water making sure to get all of the mixture off your teeth and out of your mouth. You may want to follow up with something like mouthwash to get the taste out of your mouth.

You can keep the mixture on-hand in a container so it’s ready to use each day. Be sure to store it in a dark container, hydrogen peroxide breaks down in sunlight so keep in dark container to retain its potency. This is why it is in dark, usually brown, bottles when we buy it.
This simple make your own tooth whitening method is inexpensive and effective. Both baking soda and hydrogen peroxide can be found as ingredients in the expensive store bought tooth whitening products, but as you can see there’s really no need to spend large amounts of money to get white teeth. You should see results within 2 weeks, possibly sooner!

Vitamin H Information

Laser Teeth Whitening

Lasers have come a long way in dentistry, and now they are a popular tool to whiten teeth. 

More people than ever before are going to dentists offices or getting their own do-it-yourself teeth whitening kits to get a brighter smile. Teeth whitening is one of the easiest and most effective things a person can do to improve their appearance. There are many different whitening methods, but laser teeth whitening is quickly becoming one of the most popular ones for many reasons.

Laser teeth whitening is a relatively simple procedure that is done at a dental office. The dentist will add whitening gel to a patient's teeth, then use a special laser light to help the gel penetrate the teeth effectively. When people think of lasers, they think of painful, intense light. This is not the case with laser teeth whitening, as it is actually a simple process that is quite gentle. The only purpose of the laser during the procedure is to help speed up the whitening process that is done through the applied gel.



This type of whitening is the best option for those with sensitive teeth. Using take home kits that involve various gels and trays that need to be applied can sometimes cause those with sensitivity issues to feel pain. A dentist will be able to apply the gel correctly, and the laser will then take care of the whitening work. The places where a patient may feel pain are greatly reduced when laser whitening is chosen.

Results also come much faster during laser whitening treatments when compared to other popular treatment methods. A laser treatment typically consists of only one visit to the dentist, while at home kits or other types of whitening methods require multiple visits or applications. Laser whitening is often a bit more expensive than take home kits in terms of cost, but this additional investment is worth it for those who want faster results without the need for multiple treatments and weeks of waiting.

These are just a couple of the main benefits that come with using laser teeth whitening to get whiter, brighter looking teeth. It is the perfect whitening option for those who have sensitive teeth or want to get the best results as quickly as possible.

Natural Teeth Whitening

It is possible to whiten teeth without using chemicals. Here are some natural tooth whitening ideas. 

Teeth whitening is something that many people want to have done at one point or another. The problem with this is that most whitening solutions involve gels and other items that can cause some discomfort, and can also be quite expensive. Below are some natural teeth whitening options that anyone can do from home on their own without the use of chemicals, gels or other expensive treatments.

Eating the right foods can help teeth to naturally become more white. One of the most popular food choices to brighten teeth is strawberries. Not only are they delicious, but they contain vitamin C and an astringent. Vitamin C naturally helps to fight plaque while the astringent found within strawberries helps to diminish the stains that are often found on the surface of teeth.



Apples are another food item that can work well as a natural teeth whitening solution. Apples have been called "nature's toothbrush" because of their ability to naturally clean teeth. All that people need to do is eat an apple and the whitening action takes care of itself. Malic acid is also found in apples, which is something that is actually used in many teeth whitening gels and kits. This type of acid aids in the clearing up of surface stains on teeth.

There are many different types of home remedies for teeth whitening, all of which use every day items that can be easily found within a home. Arguably the most popular of these home remedies is the use of simple baking soda and lemon juice for teeth whitening. The two items are mixed together, and then applied to the teeth for a few minutes. Something as simple as this can have show great results over time if done consistently.

Brushing and different whitening toothpastes can only do so much, so it is important for people to understand these natural teeth whitening solutions if they do not want to use painful or expensive whitening options. Using a blend of these different natural remedies will result in a much brighter smile over time without the need for gels, visits to the dentist or expensive whitening kits.