Articles in: Dental Health

Learn Ayurvedic techniques for dental health and hygiene. A holistic perspective of dental health encompasses lifestyle, diet and herbal support for optimally healthy teeth and gums.

3 Steps to a Healthy Mouth, Heart & Immunity

by John Douillard on June 22, 2017 | 11 Comments

Your dentist will tell you that the primary reason for regular brushing and flossing is to prevent cavities and maintain healthy gums, but what they often don’t tell you about is the direct link between poor gum health and cardiovascular health concerns. (1) With more than 75 percent of adults in America having poor gum […]

Pesticides Kill Beneficial Mouth Bacteria

by John Douillard on January 26, 2017 | 2 Comments

Average Reading Time: 2 minutes and 48 seconds The mouth is home to numerous naturally-occurring beneficial bacteria, which are our first line of defense when it comes to maintaining good health. Weak links in this defense, such as bacterial imbalance and/or poor oral hygiene, may contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular concerns, cognitive issues […]

The Truth About Oil Pulling

by John Douillard on October 13, 2016 | 26 Comments

Average Reading Time: 3 minutes and 16 seconds Oil pulling… have you tried it yet? Oil pulling is the ancient, time-tested practice of swishing herbalized sesame and coconut oil in the mouth for 10-15 minutes daily. This is best performed after tongue scraping, brushing and flossing, and can be done while showering. This ancient technique discussed in […]

Bleeding Gums: The Profound Dangers

by John Douillard on March 26, 2016 | 8 Comments

Average Reading Time: 1 minute and 36 seconds Researchers have known for some time that the same bacteria that are found in your mouth are also found inside arterial plaque and on the valves of the heart. (1,2) These unhealthy bacteria are thought to find their way into the bloodstream through the gums, especially when […]

Risks of Dental X-Rays and CT Scans

by John Douillard on January 7, 2016 | 11 Comments

Average Reading Time: 2 minutes and 56 seconds While we have learned to accept X-rays and CT scans as a necessary evil required to get a thorough medical exam, in some cases the risks may outweigh the benefits. Each year, a whopping 72 million CT scans are performed in the United States and, according to […]

Tongue Diagnosis Made Easy

by John Douillard on July 2, 2015 | 19 Comments

Average Reading Time: 6 minutes and 7 seconds In Ayurveda, one of the primary investigative tools of practitioners for determining the state of one’s health is tongue diagnosis or evaluation of the tongue. The tongue is the very beginning of the digestive tract, which lumbers on for another 30 feet or so. Since we cannot […]

The Miracle of Mouth Microbes

by John Douillard on June 22, 2015 | 3 Comments

Average Reading Time: 2 minutes and 21 seconds Professor John Tagg is a world renowned microbiologist at the University of Otago in New Zealand. His battles with his own throat health as a young boy inspired him to find a natural and proactive way to support the respiratory health of children and adults alike. He […]

The Science of Tongue Scraping with Copper

by John Douillard on April 16, 2015 | 10 Comments

Average Reading Time: 2 minutes and 39 seconds As the function of the microbiota of the mouth becomes more understood, ancient techniques to support oral hygiene are becoming more popular. One practice backed by numerous studies is called tongue scraping (Jihwa Prakshalana). Tongue scraping is the simple practice of scraping your tongue before brushing your […]

Smile! This Sugar Helps Your Teeth

by John Douillard on April 11, 2014 | 2 Comments

Average Reading Time: 1 minute, and 51 seconds While xylitol is one of the more popular sugar alcohols used as a sugar substitute, it is also found naturally in fruits and vegetables. Surprisingly, it is also produced by the body during carbohydrate metabolism. The average adult actually makes up to 15 grams of xylitol per […]

Oil Pulling for a Beautiful Smile and Healthy Mouth

by John Douillard on March 14, 2014 | 4 Comments

Average Reading Time: 1 minute, and 21 seconds Oil Pulling has been getting lots of press lately for its teeth-whitening and cosmetic benefits. Today, I would like to share with you the science behind this very popular topic. Oil Pulling got its name from the “pulling” or cleansing effect oils have when applied to the […]

The Magic of Sesame

by John Douillard on August 3, 2013 | Leave a Comment

Sesame seeds and sesame oil have been used as a medicine for thousands of years. According to Ayurveda, there is no better or more therapeutic oil than sesame. It has been documented as a food and medicine in ancient Egypt, Babylon, Rome and India. Almost all Ayurvedic massage oils are a blend of sesame oil […]

Healthy Sugar for Your Teeth

by John Douillard on August 8, 2012 | 3 Comments

I never thought I would be reporting on the benefits of chewing gum, as I have never been a big fan of it. That said, the research on a common sweetener found in some chewing gum and toothpaste brands is compelling! Not only has this sweetener been shown to prevent dental caries (cavities), it has also […]