Gotta run—have a patient at 1:30. All great questions! Thanks for having me!

Make sure your grinding is not because of sleep-disordered breathing...get a sleep study to rule that out first.

I would try Vitamins A, K2 and D3 on a daily basis, which could mitigate the problem. Also, there are certain mouthwashes out there that claim to dissolve these stones...at best, a short term solution and not to be used continuously.

Get a second opinion immediately. Sounds pretty fishy to me. Your hemophilia needs to be considered in your overall bleeding scores for the assessment of gum disease. Always be suspicious of large discounts...I talk about this more here: http://askthedentist.com/how-to-not-get…

Unfortunately, there are greedy practitioners in every profession who will over treat. These are my tips for that situation: http://askthedentist.com/how-to-not-get… It’s a lot like hiring a contractor—don’t always take the first bid.

It’s a really good question and, like in any diagnostic process, there will always be a variance in the proposed treatment plan, although in some instances where you see a great disparity, then yes, it’s easy to wonder, how could this be possible. It really boils down to the philosophy of the dentist—some will look at…

Hard to say without seeing the x-rays. Our jaws have been getting smaller over the last three or four hundred years, and hence the last teeth to erupt, the wisdom teeth, have very little room to erupt properly or at the right angles. However, it is possible to have your wisdom teeth in for your whole life without any…

I discuss this further in my Complete Guide to DIY Toothpaste here: http://askthedentist.com/homemade-tooth…

Jeremy, baking soda is fine, hydrogen peroxide is a no-no (causes a free radical reaction in the mouth), coconut oil is WAY better than glycerin and is good for the microbiome in the mouth. I love the baking soda because it’s non-abrasive and increases pH in the mouth.

You’re welcome, great question!

Thank you so much! That could be a great combo, I’m going to look into it because ultrasonic waves can break up the hairs on the bacteria that allow it to stick to the biofilm.

Slowly. The best method is with custom-made trays with whitening gel, one hour per day, for a series of 2-6 weeks. It’s slow, but it has the most profound effects and the longest lasting effects. It also produces even results compared to whitening strips, which can’t really fit the 3D structure of teeth and tend to…

Very cool research and potentially viable. It’s been talked about for a long time, so I’m not sure exactly when it will come to market. They’ve even talked about cloning enamel in the mouth, and that’s been talked about for a long time, but none of this stuff seems to get to market. All this is being done in a test…

Bravo to you for considering the root causes instead of just covering up symptoms—you’re already ahead of the game for that! Typically gum recession is caused by grinding which could be due to other reasons, like sleep-disordered breathing. Rule that out with a sleep study first. Also, don’t over brush these areas.…

I like to say that cavities are a disease of diet and a disease of our time. A paleo diet is best. When you eat grains, you are reinforcing a certain bacteria in the mouth that promotes cavities. Each bite of food we take is not just feeding us—it’s feeding bacteria in the mouth. What kinds of bacteria do you want to…

It’s designed to be confusing to the customer, sadly. Best thing you can do is get a dentist who helps you with prevention of illness in the mouth. We really can’t rely on dental insurance.

You’re not alone, it’s pretty darn confusing! The key thing to know is this—dental insurance is not really “insurance.” It’s a “benefit.” Dental insurance isn’t like medical insurance. It doesn’t cover you in case of catastrophe since most plans max out at $2,000 per year (at best). If you fall on your face and knock…

Probably not strong enough. The ultrasonic motion is not strong enough to disrupt biofilm. Right now, sonic and oscillatory and pulsating are the best technologies for disrupting biofilm.

Awesome! Probably something in the gum that was irritating the oral mucosa (skin inside your mouth).

Check out Prevident 5000 if you’re using the Sensodyne to combat sensitive teeth. It does contain SLS, though, and really should be used to manage pain—it does not treat the root cause of tooth sensitivity. I see in your next comment that you grind your teeth, so I would work with your dentist to fix this. A common…