Quotations by Ellie Phillips

With healthy gums and pristine teeth, the need for X-rays to check deeper should be adequate at three- to five-year intervals. When all the crevices of molar teeth have been filled by sealants or covered with fillings or dental crowns, this prevents the dentist from being able to visually judge the health of your mouth, as the molar grooves have been eliminated. As a general rule of thumb, pristine teeth will need the fewest X-rays, and this is one reason I strongly oppose the use of sealants, as they increase the need for frequent X-ray assessment for the rest of your life. [2018] - Ellie Phillips

Those who have titanium dental implants should be wary of cleanings. With titanium in your jaw, you should be extremely judicious about the frequency of professional cleanings you receive. This is because there is a substantial risk that particles of metal can be scraped off your implant and get into your gum tissue, which could create a new health hazard. [2018] - Ellie Phillips

A few drops of mouth rinse will work just as well as a large mouthful. Most mouth rinse manufacturers encourage you to use as much as possible, but I have found no science to connect the mouth benefits with the volume of rinse used. With any mouth rinse, feel free to be economical with your rinse volume. Maximize the benefits of your final protective rinse by not eating or drinking for at least an hour after you finish the routine, and spit out the last rinse. [2018] - Ellie Phillips

I believe flossing in an infected mouth can be a health problem, and unnecessary flossing or overflossing can easily make teeth sensitive, cause gums to recede, and put people at risk for pushing plaque bacteria into the blood, with the potential to contribute to plaque in arteries or worse. If you have a healthy mouth and like to floss, I believe the best time to floss is when you have toothpaste on your teeth, so a small amount of paste will be pulled and pushed between the interproximal areas between teeth. This way of using floss to move toothpaste could also be useful if you are trying to heal interproximal cavities between your teeth, since it will ensure the toothpaste has access to help mineralize these areas on your teeth. [2018] - Ellie Phillips