By taking a holistic approach to her personal oral health and dentistry practice, Heather Kunen, DDS, MS, co-founder of Beam Street, is giving people in the New York area reasons to smile from sunrise to sunset. Follow her lead and you, too, can keep beaming all day long.
-Rinse, rinse, rinse. I always rinse my mouth with water after meals in order to more quickly neutralize my oral pH level. Many people don’t realize that each time they eat, the pH level drops in their mouth. This drop in pH (which lasts for about 20 minutes) creates an acidic environment that makes teeth more vulnerable to decay. If you like to snack, try to limit the period of time you’re eating in order keep that drop in pH as short as possible.
-Be in the know. The term “holistic dentist” has come to be associated with trends such as charcoal toothpaste, oil pulling and the anti-fluoride movement, and with society veering away from anything artificial, important advances in modern dentistry are being unfairly stigmatized. I consider my patients’ whole health and stay current on studies on dental products and procedures, which I incorporate daily into my practice.