Dr. Mark Burhenne | Dentist

when your child eats Goldfish or cheddar bunnies, the starches break down into sugar and coat the teeth in this sticky paste that clings into every groove. I can literally see it stuck in the deep pits of molars hours later. It’s worse than candy. And here’s the part that frustrates me — I’ve been saying this for nearly 40 years...but I still see “healthy snack lists” from schools and teachers with Goldfish right at the top. Parents are being told it’s a smart choice, when really, it’s one of the WORST offenders. The good news? There’s such a simple fix. Swap those sticky carbs for something that doesn’t GLUE itself to teeth — like parmesan crisps, or just fresh cheese cubes. 👉Follow me for more easy swaps like this, from a dentist, father, and grandpa of 40 years.

Your child’s baby teeth SHOULD have spaces between them. If they don’t, that’s not “cute”—it’s a red flag. No spacing = ❌ Jaw isn’t growing wide enough ❌ Not enough room for adult teeth (crowding is coming) ❌ Higher risk of a narrow airway ❌ Possible muscle dysfunction or mouth breathing Yes, spacing matters. Yes, this shows up early. Yes, it’s preventable if caught in time. ✅ Spaced baby teeth = a jaw that’s growing forward and wide ✅ Room for adult teeth to erupt naturally ✅ More space for the tongue and a healthier airway ✅ Better breathing, sleeping, and development You won’t hear this at most dental checkups. But airway dentists look at the whole picture—not just cavities. Want my full Airway Checklist for parents? Comment AIRWAY and I’ll DM it to you. This one’s worth saving—and sharing with anyone raising kids. -Dr. B

I'm a dentist and I would NEVER use mouthwash twice a day. Here's what a 3-year study found: 49% higher diabetes risk Nearly DOUBLE the risk of high blood pressure The reason is mouthwash kills the bacteria on your tongue that produce 50% of your body's nitric oxide—the molecule that keeps blood vessels flexible. No bacteria = no nitric oxide = your blood pressure skyrockets. @drjeremylondon (cardiothoracic surgeon) said on the @dhrupurohit podcast - if he wanted to fast-track heart disease, he'd tell people "don't brush, don't floss." I’d add mouthwash to this list as well, based on the research. 👉Comment "HEARTSAVER" for my blog post on how skipping the rinse can save your heart. -Dr. B If we neglect the mouth - it harms not only the heart but the rest of the body too…

I’m a dentist and I would NEVER use mouthwash twice a day. Here’s what a 3-year study found: 49% higher diabetes risk Nearly DOUBLE the risk of high blood pressure The reason is mouthwash kills the bacteria on your tongue that produce 50% of your body’s nitric oxide—the molecule that keeps blood vessels flexible. No bacteria = no nitric oxide = your blood pressure skyrockets. If we neglect the mouth - it harms not only the heart but the rest of the body too… 👉Comment “HEARTSAVER” for my blog post on how skipping mouthwash can save your heart. -Dr. B

I love this trick, but I wouldn’t use just any toothpaste. Researchers at the University of Texas found that Fygg toothpaste performed just as well as fluoride toothpaste. Study: PMID: 40744295 Comment TOOTHPASTE and I’ll DM you a link! Have you tried this trick yet?

when your child eats Goldfish or cheddar bunnies, the starches break down into sugar and coat the teeth in this sticky paste that clings into every groove. I can literally see it stuck in the deep pits of molars hours later. It’s worse than candy. And here’s the part that frustrates me — I’ve been saying this for nearly 40 years...but I still see “healthy snack lists” from schools and teachers with Goldfish right at the top. Parents are being told it’s a smart choice, when really, it’s one of the WORST offenders. The good news? There’s such a simple fix. Swap those sticky carbs for something that doesn’t GLUE itself to teeth — like parmesan crisps, or just fresh cheese cubes. 👉Follow me for more easy swaps like this, from a dentist, father, and grandpa of 40 years.

Your child’s baby teeth SHOULD have spaces between them. If they don’t, that’s not “cute”—it’s a red flag. No spacing = ❌ Jaw isn’t growing wide enough ❌ Not enough room for adult teeth (crowding is coming) ❌ Higher risk of a narrow airway ❌ Possible muscle dysfunction or mouth breathing Yes, spacing matters. Yes, this shows up early. Yes, it’s preventable if caught in time. ✅ Spaced baby teeth = a jaw that’s growing forward and wide ✅ Room for adult teeth to erupt naturally ✅ More space for the tongue and a healthier airway ✅ Better breathing, sleeping, and development You won’t hear this at most dental checkups. But airway dentists look at the whole picture—not just cavities. Want my full Airway Checklist for parents? Comment AIRWAY and I’ll DM it to you. This one’s worth saving—and sharing with anyone raising kids. -Dr. B

I'm a dentist and I would NEVER use mouthwash twice a day. Here's what a 3-year study found: 49% higher diabetes risk Nearly DOUBLE the risk of high blood pressure The reason is mouthwash kills the bacteria on your tongue that produce 50% of your body's nitric oxide—the molecule that keeps blood vessels flexible. No bacteria = no nitric oxide = your blood pressure skyrockets. @drjeremylondon (cardiothoracic surgeon) said on the @dhrupurohit podcast - if he wanted to fast-track heart disease, he'd tell people "don't brush, don't floss." I’d add mouthwash to this list as well, based on the research. 👉Comment "HEARTSAVER" for my blog post on how skipping the rinse can save your heart. -Dr. B If we neglect the mouth - it harms not only the heart but the rest of the body too…

I’m a dentist and I would NEVER use mouthwash twice a day. Here’s what a 3-year study found: 49% higher diabetes risk Nearly DOUBLE the risk of high blood pressure The reason is mouthwash kills the bacteria on your tongue that produce 50% of your body’s nitric oxide—the molecule that keeps blood vessels flexible. No bacteria = no nitric oxide = your blood pressure skyrockets. If we neglect the mouth - it harms not only the heart but the rest of the body too… 👉Comment “HEARTSAVER” for my blog post on how skipping mouthwash can save your heart. -Dr. B

I love this trick, but I wouldn’t use just any toothpaste. Researchers at the University of Texas found that Fygg toothpaste performed just as well as fluoride toothpaste. Study: PMID: 40744295 Comment TOOTHPASTE and I’ll DM you a link! Have you tried this trick yet?