Dr. B has launched a new toothpaste company Experience the Difference → Dismiss
A weekly podcast series where Dr. Burhenne answers your questions directly.
Each episode addresses a reader’s question through the lens of Dr. B’s root cause and evidence-based approach to dental health and dentistry.
Dr. B loves answering your questions. Record a voicemail for your chance to have it answered in a future episode.
One of the most widely known recommendations for women while pregnant is to avoid eating fish due to the mercury content. But what about amalgam fillings? Today’s question is posed by Emily, a concerned mother who wants to know if her breast milk is safe for her baby to drink because of the metal fillings…
Following the removal of braces, many orthodontists place a fixed retainer to ensure there is no relapse movement of your teeth. However, as Dr. B explains today, teeth are a dynamic tissue, and permanently fixing them in place can cause a multitude of oral health issues such as gum recession, gum disease, and even bone…
Almost everyone wants that shiny, white smile… But at what cost? Many kinds of toothpaste sold throughout the USA have Relative Dentin Abrasion values well over the hardness of what our teeth are made of, resulting in tooth sensitivity and increased wear and tear. Today Dr. B dives into the makeup of common toothpaste brands,…
For thousands of years, Ayurvedic medicine used oil pulls to address oral and dental health. With the advent of Western medicine, we have shifted to using toothbrushes and toothpaste, which often contain harmful chemicals, and sterilize the oral microbiome. Today, Dr. B talks to us about why this is so bad for our oral microbiome…
Welcome to the first episode of the Ask the Dentist podcast for 2022! Dr. B is excited to share with you today the company that he has partnered with to test the oral microbiome (Bristle), and why he feels that this test is so important to our health. We move on to the weekly listener’s…
The COVID-19 pandemic was particularly hard on small businesses, including private dental practices. Many of these practices have turned to Dental Support Organizations (DSOs) to keep them afloat. Join us today as we dive into the politics of dentistry and DSOs with Dr. B! We hear the pros and cons of being part of a…
Hearing that your child has enamel hypoplasia can be incredibly distressing, for both the parent and the dentist! Today Dr. B talks to us about what enamel hypoplasia means, why dentists start sweating when they see it, and why it isn’t your fault as a parent. We hear how to identify enamel hypoplasia, and the…
As kids, many of us grew up kissing our parents on the mouth. Today’s question centers around this, with a listener querying Dr. B’s advice not to kiss kids on the mouth! Tune in to find out why Dr. B advises against this, even though our ancestors have been doing it for centuries. We find…
What do art history and functional dentistry have in common? They both require primary sources when researching a contentious question! Today’s question focuses on Sorbitol and whether or not it can cause tooth decay. Dr. B answers this question but also takes us through his methodology when investigating a chemical, so that you can apply…
With the rise of social media, there has also been a rise in so-called clinical advice and home health hacks, many of which are harmful. Today, Dr. B addresses the issue of tooth shaving, and why it’s a dangerous trend. We hear why the serrations (mamelons) at the edge of your teeth are actually a…
Did you know that a woodpecker’s tongue wraps all the way around its brain? In today’s episode, we’re talking all things tongues as Dr. B answers a listener’s question about tongue thrust! From the evolutionary reason for why a woodpecker’s tongue is like it is, to how a tongue thrust affects your face, breathing, talking,…
For thousands of years, humans lived relatively sugar-free, with refined sugars not yet produced. However, in today’s society, much of what we consume has been processed and sweetened. In this episode, Dr. B addresses the question of whether honey and maple syrup are ok to eat, and how they impact your teeth. The short answer…
Flavoring water with lemon juice has become the new rage, with people doing it for several reasons; from health benefits to making drinking water more palatable. However, lemon juice is acidic, and as we know from previous episodes with Dr. B, acid attacks in the mouth are bad for enamel! Tune in today to find…
Many people shudder when they hear the term “root canal”, so, unsurprisingly, there is an even greater fear around baby root canals. In today’s episode, Dr. B addresses this fear by answering a question about the risks involved in baby root canals, and how they work. From his position of expertise, Dr. B talks us…
Welcome back to Ask The Dentist, your dose of dental advice in a bite-sized podcast! Today Dr. B covers all things porcelain veneers: from what they are, to how they work, to whether or not they are necessary, and so much more! Tune in to hear Dr. B’s favorite story about giving a patient veneers,…
One of the first rituals a child is taught is to brush their teeth after breakfast. And up until 10 years ago, Dr. B was giving this same advice to patients. However, with the discovery of the oral microbiome, science is no longer pointing to this as best practice. Today Dr. B addresses the question…
When NASA noticed astronauts were losing essential minerals in space, they started prescribing hydroxyapatite supplementation. A Japanese company picked up on this, and in the 1970s released a commercial toothpaste containing hydroxyapatite. Recently, a toothpaste brand in the USA has also jumped on the bandwagon, and today Dr. B answers two questions about why this…
As a functional dentist, Dr. B is used to being asked what functional dentistry is. However, this week, this question comes with a twist as fans ask Dr. B what he is most excited about in functional dentistry. Tune in to discover Dr. B’s journey to functional dentistry, from sleuthing as a child to setting…
While many of us have experienced tooth pain, it seldom becomes fatal. This was not the case in the past, and world history would probably be vastly different if we had 21st-century dental care readily accessible across the ages. Welcome back to Ask the Dentist podcast, where today we ask Dr. Burhenne “what fixes pulpitis”?…
Approximately eight percent of the annual USA dentistry budget is spent on Fluoride treatments for children. Tune in today to hear why Dr. B feels this isn’t worth the cost, and what you can do to avoid your kid needing one! We hear what fluoride is, what products it’s found in, and how we are…
If you could raise your kid’s IQ by a couple of points, would you? In this episode, Dr. B reflects on how humanity is so focused on changing the future that we don’t consider how modifying our past and present behavior might have the same outcome. By using a hydroxyapatite-based toothpaste, you can prevent neurotoxicity…
Forming good dental habits with kids can be like pulling teeth. To address this issue, today Dr. B answers the question, “What’s a good protocol, products, and tools for kids aged four-12?” Surprisingly, the products and tools are less important than the protocol, however, Dr. B still gives some good recommendations for all three! Tune…
Most of us have been taught to brush, spit, and rinse after meals. Tune in today to find out why this is not necessarily what Dr. B recommends! From the time of day to the type of toothpaste (fluoride or hydroxyapatite-based), to your age, Dr. B explains how each of these aspects can impact your…
As the parent of a young child, there is a lot of internal and external pressure to give them the best possible start in life. But what if it’s not always clear whether something will have a positive or negative impact? Our question this week comes from Anna, a lactation consultant who is concerned over…
Dr. B loves answering your questions. Record a voicemail for your chance to have it answered in a future episode.
Welcome to the website of Mark Burhenne, DDS, functional dentist. Learn how to prevent and heal dental health issues.
