So Cal Holistic Happenings

Sometimes bedtime can be a really struggle, and a bottle might seem like an easy solution. Unfortunately, putting a baby to bed with a bottle of milk or juice does more harm than good, because the easier bedtime comes at the expense of the baby’s oral health. Keeping those baby teeth healthy is crucial so that the adult teeth will have a better chance of coming in straight. In previous blogs we've highlighted the importance of limiting carbohydrate intake to meals to prevent adult teeth decay.  This idea is just as important for children as it is for adults!  Good oral health starts at a  young age, and it’s important we do everything possible to prevent tooth decay from the moment those baby teeth emerge.  What Is Bottle Rot? Prolonged exposure to the sugars in milk or juice  erodes the enamel on a baby or toddler’s teeth , particularly the central incisors. If you’ve ever heard of the phrase “baby bottle tooth decay” or the more sinister-...

In 1981, the American Dental Association dedicated February to a month-long celebration known today as National Children’s Dental Health Month.This national health observance brings together thousands of dedicated dental professionals, health care providers and others to promote the benefits of good oral health.  Last February our office offered a free community service in public health through an interactive dental presentation for Kindergarten- 3rd classrooms. We are thrilled to present a curriculum designed by Dr. Cindy tailored to provide students with fun, educational material for cavity prevention and oral health. Dr. Cindy is a home school mother who loves educating people, young or old. She has found that there is never an age limit on learning, even parents learn something new in our presentations! Inspired by the lack of children's dental education available, Dr.Cindy introduces the felt story board of "Charlie The Tooth", presenting the story o...

B eyond good oral hygiene (brushing 2 minutes both in am & pm + flossing BEFORE the bedtime tooth-brushing), these 5 things can keep you decay free! * Xylitol is a natural sweetener that tastes similar to sugar.  6-10g/day can help prevent decay by fooling decay causing bacteria into thinking it is fruit sugar, and essentially starving the bacteria.  These bacteria also become less virulent with continued use over time.   *Water (and other carbohydrate-free beverages) should be your beverage of choice between meals. Enjoy your juices, milks, and even the occasional soda pop with your meal, when your teeth are already dirty.  If you are unable to brush your teeth after a meal, you should minimally rinse your mouth with water.  * Limit your frequency of eating to 3 meals a day plus 2-3 protein snacks like nuts and cheeses; these are anti- decay foods (nuts may be raw or roasted, but not honey - or sugar coasted). * Brush with baking soda ...

Dental insurance can be very confusing and difficult to understand.  So we thought we would help shed some light on this subject and help you determine if dental insurance is really for you!  Amy Fontinelle wrote a great article about dental insurance on Investopedia that is worth the read!  In this article she helps grasp the idea of dental insurance and how it can help you.  Check out Amy Fontinelle's article titled "Should You Bit On Dental Insurance?" below!  Let us know if this helped further your knowledge, it sure helped us! To learn more check out the link below! http://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/07/dental-insurance.asp Should You Bite on Dental Insurance?   By   Amy Fontinelle   | Updated November 10, 2016 — 4:58 PM EST Read more:   Should You Bite On Dental Insurance?   http://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/07/dental-insurance.asp#ixzz4xJuZj7j1   Follow us:   Investopedia on Fa...

“I Have Soft Teeth Like My Mom” Are your teeth susceptible to tooth decay due to your genetic makeup or to your environmental influences? Let’s take a quick look at both sides: Genetics It is well known that you are made up of DNA from both of your parents, and as a result you inherit certain traits from each of them! Perhaps you have your mom’s eyes and your dad’s chin…and perhaps one of your parent’s genes dominates what your teeth are shaped like from the outside, and the other how they are constructed from the inside. But how does that really affect you? Let’s take a look at the anatomy of a tooth. Your teeth are made up of layers:  Enamel is the hard, outer shell; Dentin is the yellow, middle layer; the Pulp chamber is the pink and red inner core of your teeth where the nerve and blood supply reside. The mineral-rich enamel is the first and outer line of defense against decay, protecting your teeth from the surrounding acids. Teeth resist deca...

Mary Tobin is a licensed Acupuncturist located in Brea who specializes in integrating eastern and western medicine. Just like our core office values, Mary has a strong conviction to treat the root of problem, not just cover up the symptoms! Looking for the root cause of the problem helps identify and correct "symptoms of the symptoms," and once the root of the problem is healed, the body is able to reverse the pains that most people typically write off as aging. This acupuncture technique has proven successful on many health issues, including thyroid and hormone imbalance, weight, diabetes, pain, migraines, infertility, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and digestive problems.  Concentrating on individual needs, Mary offers private consultations to create a plan specific to each individual. A complete health evaluation is done using radiation-free, Bio-meridian, full-body scans to identify potential health problems; heart rate variability stress tests to detect nervous ...

When hearing the word hypnosis , one might think of a creepy-looking guy with a clock or even of someone on the stage at the fair making people cluck like chickens or sing funny songs. Rarely does a doctor come to mind. However, medical hypnosis has been found instrumental by several doctors in the treatment of chronic pain disorders, stress control, pre-surgical preparation, cancer treatment, smoking, and more! Dr. Gideon Strich, M.D. is a specialist at Orange County Hypnosis who turned his radiology practice into a medical hypnosis facility. Double majoring in both biology and psychology at Tufts University, Dr. Strich recognized the deep correlation between the two studies, and he desired to help others unlock the power of their mind in order to reach their desired goals. Dr. Strich initially began medical hypnosis for pain management, and since then, he has taken several advanced trainings in other areas of medical hypnosis through the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. A...

As holistic dental practitioners, we understand how the mouth affects the overall health of the body. However, we cannot make "medical" recommendations, since that could be considered practicing medicine without a license. We believe in adhering to the industry's standard of care and in evidence-based dentistry, yet we are open-minded to alternative treatments and are sensitive to the biocompatibility of dental materials. That being said, by showing the movie Vaxxed at our office, we are NOT recommending that you abstain from vaccinations, but rather, we are encouraging you to investigate all viewpoints so that you can make informed health decisions for yourself and your family. When we first watched Vaxxed , we were shocked to hear that vaccines are not tested as extensively as other pharmaceuticals by the Food and Drug Administration AND that their effects are not tested when administered in conjunction with other vaccines! We are not opposed to the concept of...

As a holistic dental office, we are are thrilled when others share the same passion for empowering people through education to take responsibility of their health - just like Neuro-Muscular Connection in Costa Mesa! They offer various holistic services ranging from chiropractic, massage, Zyto and Evox, decompression, and more. One of the more unique and extremely successful services that they offer is laser therapy. We have had staff members who previously worked with laser therapy and saw phenomenal results! Contrary to more traditional treatments, laser therapy focuses on healing at the cellular level and on activating the neurons where the injury actually occurs. The laser activates blood circulation and the production of cellular energy which restores damaged cells, relieves pain, and speeds up the overall healing process. This proves especially successful with bone injuries, tendinitis, contusions, fatigue and several other conditions. All lasers used at Neuro-Muscular Conne...

OC Salt Therapy is the first Salt Therapy facility established in Orange County, and their results are incredible! Salt Therapy is not extremely common, so you might be wondering what it is and how it works. Essentially, it is an alternative treatment in a salt room, which reproduces the unique microclimate found in natural salt caves. How it works is a little trickier and involves more science. Dry aerosol micro-particles of salt are dispersed by a Halo generator into the salt room during a 45- minute session. The particles, measuring below 5 microns in diameter, penetrate deep into the lungs, bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli. As the salt is inhaled it travels through the sinuses and respiratory tract - absorbing moisture, clearing mucus, killing bacteria, reducing inflammation, widening the airway passages, cleansing residual tar and foreign allergens, and improving your immune system. This treatment has been found to be extremely beneficial in the treatment of several resp...

Spring is approaching so you know what that means...Spring Cleaning! We're not talking about the typical Spring cleaning of purging your closets, drawers, and garage(s),  but rather an internal cleansing of your system in order to build a stronger foundation for health. Believe us, it feels even better than a spotless house! A cleanse doesn't need to be overwhelming and does not always require a long period of fasting or  simply surviving on juice. Instead, think of it as a temporary change of choices that will have a long term effect on the body. Often, people embark on diets or lifestyle changes without cleansing, and therefore feel little to no change in their health. Cleansing helps to rid the body of all the toxins and junk that have built up over time, so that it can properly absorb all benefits from the healthy choices you make afterward. This means improved energy, weight loss, better hormone balance etc...all from a simple three week change of routine! Wh...

Dr. Sean Breen is an Anti-Aging, Functional and Regenerative Medicine Specialist located in Irvine. Not only is Dr. Breen a graduate of New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, but he also served 9 years as a Navy medical officer, receiving a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Valor in 2003. Since then, Dr. Breen has dedicated his career to research on preventative medicine, focusing primarily on anti-aging medicine. Dr. Breen's philosophy is that although we are all aging and are going to die eventually (sorry to break it to you!), we don't have to feel or look like we are! Anti aging treatment is meant to slow down the process of aging. For example, Dr. Breen explains that "if aging is less energy, declining memory, loss of sex drive, erectile dysfunction, weaker muscles, increasing body fat etc", then anti aging treatment is is meant to be the opposite and reverse those symptoms! Hormones play a huge part in that process, as Dr. Breen explains in hi...

Happy New Year! To start this year off, we are focusing on Dr. Susan Cocke, a Pediatric Allergy and Immunology specialist located in Yorba Linda at St. Jude Heritage Medical Group. Dr. Cocke's passion goes beyond simply covering up symptoms, but strongly focuses on prevention and strengthening the immune system. In her bio, Dr. Cocke states, As an Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology specialist, I'm committed to helping patients improve their health. The first step is to proactively develop a plan for each person that emphasizes prevention and promotes health, this is especially important for patients with allergies and immunodeficiency problems. I believe in taking an Integrative approach to strengthening the immune system- from nutrition and medications to acupuncture. My goal is to recognize a patient's vulnerability to a disease or illness and help them avoid related problems and maintain good health. Using alternative approaches, such as nutrition and acupuncture,...

Last month, we wrote about Dr. Steve Hyjek from the Functional Medicine Center in Irvine and raved about his procedure for mercury detoxification. This month, we are looking at another area of his expertise - pain relief from Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ). TMJ is a common disorder that often goes undetected. Symptoms include jaw pain, clicking or popping in the jaw, headaches, and/or ear pain. This disorder can occur for a variety of reasons, but it is most commonly caused from severe injury to the jaw, overuse of the jaw muscles, or emotional stress.  If you fit any of this criteria, you might be suffering from TMJ! Though it can be an extremely painful disorder, treatment is relatively simple. Dr. Hyjek undergoes a careful procedure and thorough examination to assess TMJ. First, he assesses posture and uses precise equipment to measure the movement of the jaw. Once the issue is properly diagnosed, specific treatment begins. This may include using special techniques...

Dr. Steve Hyjek is a graduate of Northwestern College of Chiropractic, of the Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice Program through the Institute for Functional Medicine, as well as of the Kalish Method for Functional Medicine. He has also completed numerous programs and certifications in Nutrition, Corrective Exercise, Applied Kinesiology, Whiplash Trauma, and various Chiropractic techniques. Dr. Steve works at the Functional Medicine Center in Irvine, CA! One of his specialties, which Kudlik Dental greatly appreciates, is mercury detoxification. In his article regarding mercury detoxification, Dr. Hyjek describes the effects that mercury has on the body, especially on the brain and hormonal system. These effects include anxiety, depression, insomnia, fatigue, and the inability to lose weight. Therefore, proper detoxification of mercury is crucial to your health!  Before detoxing mercury from the body, one must undergo an amalgam removal. It is vital to ...

Tustin Chronic Condition Center (TCCC) was founded by Dr. Corey King, a board-certified doctor of integrative medicine. TCCC focuses on helping patients who suffer from chronic health conditions. One of Dr. King's main specialties is chronic thyroid gland disorders. What sets Dr. King apart from others in his field is the fact that he conquered a chronic health issue of his own - Irritable Bowel Syndrome/Leaky Gut Syndrome - after coping with it for nearly 20 years! Plus, he helped his own father get through a severe thyroid gland problem, and Dr. King also made it possible for an immediate family member to thrive while suffering from Hashimoto's disease. So, it is safe to say that Dr. Corey King has firsthand experience in overcoming chronic illnesses. Through Tustin Chronic Condition Center, Dr. Corey King carries out his mission of improving the life of every patient that he comes into contact with. Something about this office that Kudlik Dental appreciates and ad...