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.

The Truth About Oil Pulling

by John Douillard on January 19, 2019 | 31 Comments

In 1986, I arrived in India and remember watching a man bathe in a public fountain—something we don’t typically see in the West. Upon closer inspection, while he was quite intent on rubbing every inch of his body, he was not using soap. He was massaging oil on his body—everywhere—and then, he appeared to drink […]

Change Your Life Overnight with Mouth Tape: 20 Reasons to Nose Breathe While You Sleep

by John Douillard on January 9, 2019 | 19 Comments

Do you wake up with a dry mouth, bad breath, or a scratchy throat? Do you suffer from snoring or sleep apnea? Curious about an unorthodox technique based on ancient wisdom to stop snoring and protect your teeth and gums, while boosting your parasympathetic nervous system and putting fight-or-flight responses at ease? Read on for […]

The Ayurvedic Magic of Sesame Oil

by John Douillard on December 15, 2018 | 6 Comments

Sesame seeds and sesame oil have been used as 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 vitamin E-rich sesame […]

DIY Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis: What Your Tongue Says About Your Health

by John Douillard on November 15, 2018 | 28 Comments

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 see much beyond the mouth without some invasive […]

Bleeding Gums: The Profound Dangers

by John Douillard on February 20, 2018 | 14 Comments

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 and the brain. (1,2,9,10) These unhealthy bacteria are thought to find their way into the bloodstream through the gums, especially when you have bleeding gums. Flossing […]

The Science of Tongue Scraping with Copper

by John Douillard on January 30, 2018 | 26 Comments

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 teeth. Studies have shown that this simple technique: […]

Could Your Mouth Microbes Be Making You Sick?

by John Douillard on December 23, 2017 | 4 Comments

We’ve all been told by our dentist how important flossing and brushing are, but the case for good oral hygiene just keeps getting stronger. Oral hygiene is not a new concept by any means. In Ayurveda, swishing with herbalized sesame and/or coconut oil has been practiced for thousands of years. Neem twigs were frayed and […]

Oil Pulling: Does How Long You Do It Matter?

by John Douillard on July 18, 2017 | 24 Comments

Coconut oil is great for oral health because of its antimicrobial properties, however, the way you are using it may be holding you back from it’s most potent health benefits! Some people are brushing with with coconut oil, or trying out oil pulling for a few minutes here and there. While brushing with coconut oil […]

3 Steps to a Healthy Mouth, Heart & Immunity

by John Douillard on June 22, 2017 | 14 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 […]

Risks of Dental X-Rays and CT Scans

by John Douillard on January 7, 2016 | 13 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 […]

The Miracle of Mouth Microbes

by John Douillard on June 22, 2015 | 4 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 […]