In response to an overwhelming number of concerned York Region citizens contacting the Fluoride Action Network, York University biology student Audrey Swartz has agreed to organize a “Fluoride Free Vaughan” working group to have fluoride removed from the municipal water supply.

If anyone is concerned or even interested in this issue please consider:

• Reading my previous blog posts on the dangers of water fluoridation (you can easily find my posts on fluoride by searching the category section here in the sidebar on the right).
• Researching the following sites:

http://www.fluoridealert.org/

http://www.fluoridation.com/

http://www.facebook.com/fluoridefreevaughan

• Consider attending the following meeting

When: Sunday, January 29th 2012 @2pm-4pm

Where: Bubble Tea & Me (Yonge St. & Clark Ave. Sounthwest corner plaza). We will be in the larger private room in the back, reservation under “Audrey”

Who: Anyone is welcome, so yourself and any friends/family/colleagues you can convince to come

What: General introduction, sharing of ideas concerning fluoride issue/meeting considerations/plans for action etc.

Why: To get this toxic bi-product out of our water supply!

If you cannot attend this meeting, it’s okay – meetings will be once monthly and meetings will be recorded. If you would like the mp3 file, send me an e-mail. However, you will miss out on putting in your input on issues, so if it is possible for you to attend it would be best, even for an hour.

I’d love your feedback. Here on this blog, you’ll get commentluv. This is a great opportunity to leave a link back to your own blog when you leave a comment.

Until next time,

Kathleen

The difference between the two became very clear to me as I began to read “Anatomy of the Spirit, the Seven Stages of Power and Healing” by Caroline Myss, PH.D.  during the recent holidays.

According to Caroline, an intuitive energy healer:

“Healing and Curing are not the same thing.

 A “cure” occurs when one has successfully controlled or abated the physical progression of an illness.  Curing a physical illness, however, does not necessarily mean that the emotional and psychological stresses that were a part of the illness were also alleviated.  In this case, it is highly possible, and often probable, that an illness will recur.

The process of curing is passive; that is, the patient is inclined to give his or her authority over to the physician and prescribed treatment instead of actively challenging the illness and reclaiming health.

Healing, on the other hand, is an active and internal process that includes investigating one’s attitudes, memories and beliefs with the desire to release all negative patterns that prevent one’s full emotional and spiritual recovery.

When a person is passive—with an attitude of “just do it to me”—he does not fully heal; he may recover, but he may never deal fully with the source of his illness”.

Therefore, a healer as I see it, is someone who facilitates the process of healing which a patient/client has undertaken.

I am committed to facilitating this process with all of my clients at Woodland Dental Hygiene in the upcoming year, as we look for new and not-so-new answers to help you on your journey towards vibrant health.

I would love your feedback. Here on my blog, you’ll get commentluv. This is a wonderful opportunity to leave a link back to your own blog when you leave a comment.

Until next time,

Kathleen

• assure that their professional responsibility to the client prevails;
• apply the CDHO Dental Hygiene Standards of Practice, CDHO Code of Ethics and CDHO regulations and bylaws to their dental hygiene practice;
• maintain and improve their level of competence through the continuous upgrading of knowledge, skills and judgment; and
• be accountable for their actions.

With these standards in mind, I take very seriously, the education of the clients that I see in my practice, Woodland Dental Hygiene, as well as the general public through this blog.

Care and concern for my clients must supersede all else and it is for this reason that I am “duty bound” to speak out on oral health issues  that I feel may be affecting their general health and well-being and that they have a right to know about!

Topics such as mercury fillings, root canal treatments and fluoridation can be quite controversial but there is valid scientific information that needs to be obtained, researched and studied if one is to make informed choices regarding one’s health care.  This truly needs to be the basis of “informed consent” and “consent to treatment”.

I would love your feedback. Here on my blog, you’ll get commentluv. This is a great opportunity to leave a link back to your own blog when you leave a comment.

Until next time,

Kathleen

Last month, members of the York Region Dental Hygiene Society, of which I am a member, had the privilege of listening to a presentation by Dr. Hardy Limeback on; Fluorides in Dentistry: Are They Helpful or Hazardous?

For those of you who might not be familiar with Dr. Limeback PhD DDS, he is the head of Preventive Dentistry at the University of Toronto and has been an outspoken opponent to water fluoridation for a number of years now.

The information he presented was informative and enlightening but most of all it was provocative as much of what he presented contradicts what dental professionals have been taught  about water fluoridation and flies in the face of position statements issued by dental associations and regulatory bodies.

While Dr. Limeback concedes that there is a need and a place for topical fluoride application, he cautions that it must be client-centered and specifically targeted for high-risk populations.

I think the most interesting fact that my colleagues and I became aware of, is that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that “fluoride is not a mineral nutrient; it is a prescription drug” and as we all know, every prescription drug has side effects.

Even more astounding is the fact that…

Fluoride had never received FDA approval!

As I see it, fluoride is an illegal drug that is being added to our water supply, has never been approved for human use and, over which, there is no control for individual dosage!

Additionally, as a dental professional, I need to be aware of the fact that if I am administering topical fluoride treatments in a dental office as part of a preventive re-care appointment, I am administering an illegal drug!

What do you think? I love getting feedback. And here on my blog, you’ll get commentluv. This is a great opportunity to leave a link back to your own blog when you leave a comment.

Until next time,

Kathleen

In a small study recently published online in the journal GUT, the researchers suggest that levels of particular types of bacteria, some of which are found in gum disease, can be linked to the development of pancreatic cancer.

The researchers compared bacteria found in saliva of 10 pancreatic cancer patients whose cancer had not yet spread, with 10 healthy people and all participants were matched for age and sex.

They found that the cancer group had 31 additional species and 25 fewer species of bacteria in their saliva compared to the healthy group. The findings were verified by conducting the same study on 28 new participants in each group.

The researchers then went on to study samples from patients who had chronic inflammation of the pancreas, which is linked to an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. They discovered that among six suspicious species, two – Neisseria elongata and Streptococcus mitis – showed up substantially less often in the mouths of cancer patients while levels of another species – Granulicatella adjacens – were substantially higher!

While it is unclear whether the presence of these specific bacteria are the cause or the effect of pancreatic cancer, the researchers conclude by suggesting that monitoring levels of these bacteria could be used as a non-invasive and credible screen for pancreatic cancer.

I’d love your feedback. Here on this blog, you’ll get commentluv. This is a wonderful way to leave a link back to your own blog when you leave a comment.

Until next time,

Kathleen

Seanol Toothpaste is made from the extract of the raw seaweed ecklonia cava and according to recent research is one of the most complex bioflavonoids ever discovered! A powerful antioxidant, Seanol has extraordinary protective powers and is especially effective at quenching inflammation.

The biggest enemy in your mouth is “biofilm”, otherwise known as “plaque”. Biofilms are actually complex colonies of microorganisms that can be very toxic due to their unique ability to sustain and protect each other.

Eliminating plaque biofilm and its toxic byproducts is essential if one is trying to obtain optimal oral health and this product has powerful, germ-blocking, anti-bacterial properties necessary to accomplish such.

This powerful bioflavonoid also has additional synergistic actions for oral health that include anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation and improvement in gum tissue circulation.

However, Seanol Toothpaste also had the unique ability to do something that no other toothpaste can do. It directly controls bacterial growth on your toothbrush!

I have yet to see this product on our local shelves but see that it can be purchased from many on-line stores at this time and you can visit the website found by clicking here.  If anyone decides to try it, I would appreciate your feedback on what you think and how it works!  On this blog, you’ll get commentluv.  This is a great opportunity to leave a link back to your own blog when you leave a comment!

Until next time,

Kathleen

In a small study done with chlorhexidine mouthwash it was actually confirmed that its use could lead to sexual problems in men as well as high blood pressure.

We all know that the mouth is full of bacteria and that modern oral health care products aimed at providing fresh breath are very adept at trying to get rid of many of these bacteria.  However, many of these bacteria are vital to your good health and this study proved it.

When you eat foods high in nitrate such as beets and spinach, the bacteria on the back of your tongue assist in a very important metabolic process that converts the nitrate to blood-vessel dilating nitric oxide.

This nitric oxide is vital for healthy blood pressure and for men to have a healthy sex life.  In fact, medications that treat erectile dysfunction increase nitric oxide, which in turn dilate blood vessels.

So….If your mouthwash kills these bacteria it will hinder your body’s ability to create nitric oxide and prevent blood vessels from dilating.

In the study, researchers divided 7 healthy volunteers into two groups. They gave each of the participants either a chorhexidine-containing antibacterial mouthwash or a placebo.  They then gave all the participants foods that increased their nitrate load.

The group that used the placebo mouthwash saw an increase in nitrate and nitric oxide load while the others who used the antibacterial mouthwash had a significant reduction in salivary conversion of nitrate to nitric oxide.

You can now see that strong, chemical mouthwashes may be causing more problems than they are curing.

Please remember that halitosis or bad-breath may be a side effect of a more serious health problem and that trying to mask the odor does not get to the underlying cause!

If you or someone you know has a serious breath problem, it is important to visit an oral health care professional to help determine the cause and possible solutions to the problem.

I’d love your feedback. Here on this blog, you’ll get commentluv.  This is a great opportunity to leave a link back to your own blog when you leave a comment.

Until next time,

Kathleen

I urge you to help spread the word and help educate others by sharing the following poster with your social networks. Together, we can END the use of toxic mercury in dentistry.

Until next time,

Kathleen

A new Australian study involving 3416 pregnant women has shown that periodontal disease may delay the time needed for conception an average of two months.

University of Australia researchers found that women with gum disease need an average of seven months to become pregnant while the average is around five months for women with healthy gums.

Periodontal Disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bones that support the teeth.  Previous studies have linked gum disease with a number of other health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, respiratory ailments, low birth weight/pre-term babies and impotence in men.

While the mechanisms involved in the oral/systemic relationship are still being studied, what is clear is that chronic inflammation appears to be the cause of a chain of reactions that may affect other organs such as the reproductive system.

Since Periodontal Disease is a modifiable risk factor, the scientists in the study emphasize the importance of good oral health and that dental hygiene is just a part of “a whole package of healthy lifestyle”.

Researchers further suggest that women who are considering becoming pregnant should consult with a dental professional to make sure they do not have gum disease.

Just one more reason why we need to be proactive about our entire health and well-being.

I’d love your feedback. Here on this blog, you’ll get commentluv. This is an opportunity to leave a link back to your own blog when you leave a comment.

Until next time,

Kathleen

]]> http://woodlanddental.ca/press/2011/08/23/periodontal-disease-may-delay-conception/feed/ 2 http://woodlanddental.ca/press/2011/08/10/dr-mercola-announces-fluoride-awareness-week/ http://woodlanddental.ca/press/2011/08/10/dr-mercola-announces-fluoride-awareness-week/#comments Wed, 10 Aug 2011 19:07:28 +0000 Kathleen http://woodlanddental.ca/press/?p=902

In this week’s blog I would like to present the press release announcing a special week of information on the dangers of fluoride brought to you by Dr. Mercola and The Fluoride Action Network (FAN).

Dr. Mercola Announces Fluoride Awareness Week

Dr. Joseph Mercola and the Fluoride Action Network are pairing up during this week-long event to help increase awareness of the dangers of fluoride.

It’s amazing that the United States claims to be one of the most advanced scientific countries in the world, yet we still are behind many countries in Europe, which have banned or drastically reduced their use of fluoride in public water systems.

Hoffman Estates, IL (PRWEB) August 08, 2011

During the week of August 8th-13th, Dr. Joseph Mercola is launching “Fluoride Awareness Week,” with in-depth newsletters and interactive articles on various fluoride topics.

“In a nearly unprecedented about-face, U.S. health officials recently admitted that Americans are getting too much fluoride, “ said Dr. Mercola, founder of Mercola.com, one of the most popular alternative health websites in the world. “Coupled with disturbing new studies showing the detrimental effects fluoride can have on children, we thought this would be a perfect time to help educate the public on the dangers of fluoride.”

Dr. Mercola and the Fluoride Action Network believe it’s just a matter of time before these dangers become self-evident – the CDC and the American Dental Association, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, have all publicly voiced concerns about fluoride’s toxic effects on the human body.

“It’s amazing that the United States claims to be one of the most advanced scientific countries in the world, yet we still are behind many countries in Europe, which have banned or drastically reduced their use of fluoride in public water systems,” said Dr. Mercola. “Hopefully, through our Fluoride Awareness Week, which readers can access at through Mercola.com, we’ll be able to help call attention to, and create awareness of, the many health hazards of this toxic substance.” For more information, please also visit FluorideAlert.org.

As always, I love getting feedback. And here on this blog, you’ll get commentluv. This is an opportunity to leave a link back to your own site when you leave a comment.

Until next time,

Kathleen