Happy new year everyone, or as someone said maybe we should say, “Happy Now Here.” The point being that we focus on the present moment, not what’s to come over this next year. With that I want to share a health discovery I’ve made that’s leading me into this new year.

Two weeks ago I went to the dentist for a regular cleaning. Actually I went to a dental hygiene school where a graduating student worked on me. She said, which I hadn’t heard before, that I have mild gum disease. Basically I have receding gums around a number of my teeth. While they don’t bother me, like I’m not sensitive to hot or cold, or have gums that bleed, the notion unnerved me — and it sent me deep down the rabbit hole researching how to take better care of my teeth and gums.

In this rabbit hole I discovered Dr. Ellie Phillips, a dentist who has practiced for 50 years, and recommends a very different system to gain our best oral health. Hint: it doesn’t include flossing and dental cleanings. In fact, she doesn’t believe in them. Here’s her website and she has a plethora of videos on YouTube.

I’ve learned from her the importance of mouth health, how it affects the rest of our body including our sinuses, heart, it even can influence arthritis and osteoporosis. And I’ve learned a little diligence with a particular toothbrush, toothpaste and mouth rinses can neutralize bad bacteria in your mouth and have the good bacteria flourish.

I have committed myself to follow her complete mouth care system for six months and see what results. The one hour video I just linked you to takes you through what products (all grocery products) to use and what follows what. You can quickly see what she’s advocating, her system, outlined in this free booklet. But watch some of her videos so you understand where she’s coming from.

Literally she hails from the UK where she saw her share of oral health horrors. Then, working at a dental clinic in Switzerland, she learned of a remarkable product that’s an essential part of her oral health system. It’s renown in Europe for neutralizing acidity in the mouth, which creates a hotbed for the growth of bad bacteria. It’s xylitol, yes, a sugar, but one that doesn’t act like sugar, and I can attest will not throw your blood sugar. Here’s a quick Dr. Ellie video on xylitol. The husband, who is Dutch, told me his good friend, who is Finnish, grew up chewing xylitol mints and gum. It’s part of healthcare in Finland and the Scandinavian countries.

Like many of us, Dr. Phillips is a health advocate who is bucking conventional norms and advice in an industry set up to prosper from repairs, not prevention. I’m quite excited to see how this experiment goes. I would encourage anyone who wants better oral health to give it a try.

Note about xylitol from Dr. Phillips, ‘…while xylitol, a sugar alcohol, is generally considered safe, consuming too much of it can lead to digestive issues like gas, bloating, and diarrhea for some people, so it’s important to introduce it gradually (if it bothers you) and monitor your body’s response; however, she also notes that xylitol can actually be beneficial for gut health by feeding good bacteria in the digestive system when consumed in moderation.’ You can also use xylitol crystals explained here.