Meetinghouse Dental Care

07/28/2025

The oral probiotic we carry in our office mentioned in the last post (Great Oral Health) contains a blend of 7 different oral bacteria chosen for their specific beneficial properties and synergistic action. With three months of nightly use, it is designed to slowly shift the microbiome of the mouth to establish a more balanced / positive flora. After three months, most patients can discontinue use, maybe using 1-2 bottles a year for touch ups as needed or preventative reasons.

The strains of bacteria:

Streptococcus salivarius (BLIS K-12) – The predominant nondisease-associated colonizer of a healthy oral microbiome. Extremely effective in reducing bad breath. Helps prevent oral inflammation. Produces at least two different bacteriocins that inhibit the growth of undesirable bacteria.

Streptococcus salivarius (BLIS M-18) – BLIS stands for “bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances,” and refers to the bacteria’s ability to produce antibiotic-like compounds that inhibit the colonization and growth of less desirable bacteria, resulting in less bleeding, less plaque formation, and less cavities.

Streptococcus thermophilus – Strain that stimulates growth of other probiotics. Commonly used as a starter culture for yogurts. Works synergistically with lactobacillus strains to encourage proliferation and binding. Produces antibiotic chemicals to prevent certain infections like pneumonia and C. difficile. Can also help prevent ulcers.

Lactobacillus acidophilus – All lactobacillus strains can produce antimicrobial compounds such as hydrogen peroxide, carbon peroxide, diacetyl, bacteriocins, and adhesion inhibitors effective in controlling strep mutans and other pathogens.

Lactobacillus salivarius – Protects against bad breath. Provides a salivary pH buffering mechanism that results in an oral environment conducive to remineralization and cavity prevention. Reduces plaque formation and periodontal pockets.

Lactobacillus paracasei – Reduces acid production because it cannot ferment sucrose. Suppresses growth of strep mutans and other periodontal pathogens. Inhibits plaque formation.

Lactobacillus reuteri – Produces a compound called reuterin, a broadspectrum antimicrobial substance that is effective against multiple pathogens. Also reduces general bleeding and inflammation (gingivitis).

07/24/2025

Oral Probiotics are back in stock!

Oral home care is designed to remove food debris along with bacteria and their homes (plaque). The problem is that home care provides only a temporary (still extremely important) fix. Once bacteria are removed, it takes only 30 minutes for them to begin to repopulate. Oral probiotics can institute a long-term shift in the strains of bacteria that return to colonize, decreasing decay rates, gum disease, and bad breath. Oral probiotics fix so many issues commonly (and incorrectly) blamed on genetics.

The oral probiotics from Great Oral Health is our favorite product. The blend of 7 bacterial strains are preserved in a freeze-dried tablet. The strains activate when the tablet dissolves in saliva. The beneficial bacteria initiate a healthy colonization of your mouth. For daily use, dissolve a tablet in the mouth right after brushing and flossing at night. Don’t rinse or drink for 30 minutes.

07/23/2025

Ion Gut health (previously called Restore) is a very cool product designed specifically for leaky gut. We have carried it in office for years. Without a healthy gut and proper absorption, we cannot get the minerals we need from our food to support long term oral health. The product was developed by Dr. Zach Bush, one of the leading experts in the field of gut health, who is also one of the most intelligent and genuinely kind people I have ever met.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16bDwA9kD1/?mibextid=wwXIfr

07/14/2025

Meetinghouse Dental revamped its waiting room reading material. We were tired of the same old generic magazines. We wanted some literature that resonated with who we are as a practice.

While we can’t possibly function as a library (please return books to the shelf), Meetinghouse Dental now has the countless books our doctors have read over the years to build our knowledge base of biologic dentistry, health, and nutrition on display to share with patients as they wait for their appointments.

Dr. Anthony has even more in our new patient mini op. A few favorites: Hidden Epidemic by Thomas Levy, Uninformed Consent by Hal Huggins, It’s All In Your Head by Hal Huggins, The Fluoride Deception by Christopher Bryson, The Dental Diet by Steven Lin, Root Canal Cover-Up by George Meinig, and The Root Cause Documentary.

We also have a great slide show running on a loop covering information regarding mercury, fluoride and other various health topics.

07/03/2025

We will be keeping an eye on this research 🧐

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AtRUTpgo6/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Scientists discovered DIM (Diindolylmethane) disrupts Streptococcus mutans biofilms, potentially cutting cavities by 90%. This low-toxicity molecule could revolutionize oral care in toothpaste/mouthwash, though clinical trials are pending.

07/01/2025

There are several factors that play a role in why our teeth develop cavities. One of them is the loss of minerals (demineralization) from our enamel. The enamel is the thin, but strong outside shell around all of our teeth. It is like the armor, and it is made of the minerals calcium and phosphate. Our teeth are in contact with our saliva all day long and when that saliva becomes too acidic things start to break down. The exact "critical pH level" as the picture states is 5.5. When the saliva is below a pH of 5.5, it is forced to borrow the minerals from the enamel wall (causing demineralization). Bacteria can now burrow into the tooth much easier, using the spaces where the minerals used to be. If they break all the way through the enamel, you have a cavity that required dental intervention.

BUT! If you can catch the breakdown early, it is possible to fully reverse the starting decay, and completely rebuild the outside enamel shell of the tooth!!! This is the foundation of preventative dentistry (stopping things before they come a cavity). We need to brush and floss our teeth to remove the food debris and bacteria, decrease the sugar in our diet, but drastically increase the minerals! All of this and more is covered in depth during our new patient exams.

06/25/2025

Meetinghouse has Dr. John’s lollipops 🍭 at the desk that are made with xylitol instead of sugar. Xylitol provides an antibacterial effect to the oral bacteria who are looking for sugar consume. Plus, they are delicious!

06/25/2025

Meetinghouse Dental has Dr. John’s lollipops 🍭 at the desk that are made with xylitol instead of sugar. Xylitol provides an antibacterial effect to the oral bacteria who are looking for sugar consume. Plus, they are delicious!

06/19/2025

The sarcasm is amusing. But yes, these foods are not only incredible for health, but most would help supply the minerals your saliva needs to effectively buffer acids to prevent decay!

(Click each picture to read the fine print! 😊)

06/17/2025

I had a patient yesterday with a fairly small amalgam filling with a large piece of their medial lingual cusp broken off. She swore she was eating soft food when it happened. I explained that it was not her fault. Enamel fractures is very common in teeth with the metal dental fillings.

Dentist love to promote how amalgam fillings will last forever, claiming that the metal makes them strong. What they leave out is the the 50-52% mercury expands and contracts with temperature like a thermometer, causing microfractures in the enamel. Then one day, just like the picture shows, the wall or cusp of the tooth fractures off, often times leaving the amalgam filling “perfectly fine” in the tooth. So is it really a benefit if the metal filling lasts forever if it compromises enamel integrity and half the tooth breaks off?

There is of course no way to predict when this will happen. But it is quite common. One of the first things people will notice is dark lines stemming from the filling. Usually that is the sign of a crack forming. Sometimes addressing this before a complete fracture makes the restoration easier.

06/13/2025

I think it’s pretty well accepted by now that GUT bacteria play a myriad of important roles in overall human health, but it seems like ORAL bacteria’s beneficial role goes far beyond just good oral health!!!

A new study reveals that lower diversity of microbes in the mouth is associated with greater symptoms of depression.

06/10/2025

Nothing to do with Dentistry, but absolutely fascinating. There is plenty of research on things like music and mood and music and plant growth, but targeted anti-cancer effects? Sounds like one of those “why not” modalities.

Music might do more than move our souls—it could help fight cancer. Scientists found that Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 destroyed 20% of cancer cells in lab tests, while leaving healthy cells untouched.

Another piece, Ligeti’s “Atmosphères,” showed similar effects, hinting that certain compositions might carry healing powers science is just starting to explore.

Dr. Márcia Alves Marques Capella and her team in Rio de Janeiro are expanding their research, testing rhythms like Samba and Funk to find nature’s own soundtrack for healing.

Could music become part of future cancer treatments? It’s early days, but this work is tuning up a fascinating new chapter where sound and science meet. 🎶🔬