Use Less Invasive Dentistry as the First Alternative

Posted on September 21, 2008 | Filed Under Dentistry 

Sometimes the cause of your tooth pain is not always indicative of a clear cut procedure. Here’s a classic example of what I mean: Let’s say you bite down too hard on something and experience pain. If the dentist is too eager to do a root canal or extract your tooth he/she might miss that you just “sprained” your tooth. Read more

An Old-Fashioned, Inexpensive Gum and Tooth Remedy

Posted on September 13, 2008 | Filed Under Teeth Tips 

Some of my patients who have been with me for a long time remember my dad, Dr. Sam Pagano, who practiced dentistry in St Louis for over fifty years. A short while ago, Dr. Sam and I were discussing long-forgotten, but effective folk remedies, when he relayed something I’d never heard mentioned in my dental studies. He told me that fifty years ago he and other dentists used tea tree oil for gum and tooth infections, swelling gums and overall gum health and that it was quite effective.

I did some research to find out more about tea tree oil. Turns out that because of its antiseptic qualities, it has many more uses than just making your gums healthy. I ordered some organic tea tree oil from Australia and will be trying it out.

I’ll keep you posted.

Is That Physical Condition Connected To A Tooth?

Posted on September 9, 2008 | Filed Under Health 

Back in the ‘80s Dr. Pete was studying the interconnection between teeth and organs, glands and vertebrae. In a recently published book called REVITALIZE YOUR HORMONES (Wiley 2005), Dr. Theresa Dale shows a chart that enables you to trace a tooth, crown or filling that is causing pain to the organ and gland it is connected with. “If you have a dental problem like an abscess, you can easily see the relationship of that particular tooth to specific parts of your body.”

Check out the chart on pg 206 of the book or call the office and we’ll send you a copy of the chart.

Hooked on Colas, Cookies or Late Night Sweets?

Posted on September 6, 2008 | Filed Under Health 

If parting you from your sugar fix is like taking candy from a baby (why do they say that’s easy? Have you ever TRIED taking candy from a baby? It’s hard!), then maybe it’s not just a harmless little “treat.” Consider the following 5 Dangers of Sugar, from a list of 76, found in the book Lick the Habit, by Nancy Appleton, PhD:

1. Sugar can cause acidic saliva, tooth decay, and periodontal disease (which often leads to tooth loss).
2. Sugar causes food allergies (food allergies cause everything from skin rashes to indigestion to asthma).
3. Sugar can make your skin age by changing the structure of collagen.
4. Sugar can increase your body’s fluid retention (Hello?? Water weight anyone?).
5. Sugar is enemy #1 of your bowel movement.