Mouthy Matters: Oral Health and How Your Gums Affect Your Whole Body

12. His A1C Dropped After This "Dental Deep Cleaning," Here's Why

You've been sitting in the chair, heard the words "you need a deep cleaning," and felt your stomach drop. No real explanation, just a diagnosis and a bill. You're not alone, and you're not imagining that something about that conversation feels incomplete. Why this episode matters "Deep cleaning" is one of the most misunderstood terms in dentistry. It sounds like a procedure for a dirty mouth. It's actually the treatment for an infection. Tosha and Lisa Charles break down why that language gap causes so much confusion, so much blindsided frustration, and honestly, so much unnecessary shame for patients who have been doing everything right at home. What you'll learn in this episode Why "deep cleaning" is the wrong word for what's actually happening in your mouth, and what it should be called instead The three tier approach to gum tissue therapy: in office care, home care, and immune support Why bleeding gums are never normal, even just one spot How salivary diagnostics and phase contrast microscopy show practitioners exactly what bacteria they're dealing with The real story of how treating a gum infection helped drop a patient's A1C and improve his quality of life, without a major diet change Key moments Tosha unpacks why "deep cleaning" was never the right term, and why gum disease is an infection issue, not a hygiene issue. She and Lisa talk through the primary ways people actually pick up the bacteria that cause gum infections, parents, partners, pets, shared food and drinks, and why "you must not be brushing enough" is often the wrong conclusion. Lisa shares her dad's experience with Microbelink DX salivary testing and the A1C drop that followed once his gum infection was under control. Tosha's take If there's an infection in the gum tissue, no amount of really good cleaning gets rid of it on its own. Full mouth bacteria reduction, consistent home care, and immune support are what actually change the outcome, and patients deserve to understand why each piece matters before they say yes to treatment. Ready to bring this into your practice? Want the exact patient communication script Tosha uses to explain a gum infection diagnosis?  👉 DM SCRIPT to @toshardh on Instagram. Ready to bring the three tier approach and microscopy into your hygiene department? Schedule a call with Tosha: tosh.care [https://www.tosh.care/] Ready for healthier home care? Grab the free 6-Minute Mouth Reset guide at mouthymatters.com [https://www.mouthymatters.com/] Connect with Tosha: tosh.care [https://www.tosh.care/] | @toshardh | @mouthymatters  Stay Awesome! -Tosha, RDH Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only.  Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner.  Opinions from guests are their own.  This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.

11. Her Dental Patient's Bone Grew Back. Here's How. With Sarah Wright, RDH

It's Not a Buildup Problem, It's a Bacteria Problem You did everything right. You scaled thoroughly, you educated your patient, you believed them when they said they were flossing at home. And six weeks later, they're bleeding again, and you're left wondering what you missed. Sarah Wright, RDH, spent 15 years in that exact spot before one course completely changed how she saw periodontal disease. In this episode, she and Tosha walk through two real case studies that reveal why bleeding gums persist even in patients doing everything they're told, and what actually happens when you stop treating it as a buildup problem and start treating it as a bacteria problem. Why this episode matters If you've ever felt like a good clinician who somehow can't get certain patients healthy, this episode gives you the missing piece. Sarah didn't have expensive equipment or a biologic dream practice when she started applying this. She was working in a Medicaid setting with a microscope and a salivary test, and the results still spoke for themselves. What you'll learn The diabetes and periodontal connection, in real numbers. A 32 year old patient with an A1C of 12 dropped to 10 in just eight weeks after targeted periodontal therapy, and her own doctor asked what she'd changed. Why bone regeneration doesn't require lasers. A 29 year old with a nine millimeter pocket and active bone loss regenerated bone using non-surgical therapy and a water flosser at home, no surgery involved. What a plaque sample under the microscope actually reveals. Sarah describes seeing a slide "wall to wall" with white blood cells, a sign the immune system was actively fighting an infection that hadn't shown up clinically yet. Why "everybody bleeds" was never true. Tosha and Sarah both admit to believing this early in their careers, and unpack why that belief kept them from finding the real cause for years. The three Ps practitioners often forget to ask about. Parents, partners, and pets can all be sources of reinfection, and Sarah explains why that matters for long-term case success. Key moments Sarah's "Red Pill Day," the course that reignited her perio passion and changed her clinical approach for good  The diabetic patient case study, from A1C of 12 down to 10 in eight weeks  The 29 year old's bone regeneration case, including exact pocket depth measurements  The cobweb and force field analogy for biofilm disruption  Why immune system differences mean two people with similar bacteria can have very different outcomes Tosha's take This episode is proof that the shift toward oral-systemic care isn't reserved for high-end biologic practices. Sarah did this work in a Medicaid office. The tools matter, but the mindset shift, seeing bacteria as the actual disease, is what changes outcomes. Connect and take the next step Ready to bring this into your own hygiene chair? Book a call with Tosha at tosh.care, or grab the Bleeding Gums Script to start the diabetes and gum disease conversation with your own patients.  Ready for healthier home care? Grab the free 6-Minute Mouth Reset guide at mouthymatters.com [https://www.mouthymatters.com/] Connect with Tosha: tosh.care [https://www.tosh.care/] | @toshardh | mouthymatters.com [https://www.mouthymatters.com/] Stay Awesome! -Tosha, RDH Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only.  Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner.  Opinions from guests are their own.  This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.

10. Dental Implants, Infections, Inflammation & Solutions

Here's something most people never get told before they sit in the implant chair: implants are not a set it and forget it fix. Nearly half of all implants currently in someone's mouth have some level of infection brewing around them right now, and most of those people have no idea. In this episode, Tosha sits down with Lisa Charles to break down exactly what's happening underneath the surface of a dental implant, and what to do about it. Why this episode matters Implant placement is at an all time high, but the conversation almost never includes the infection risk that comes with it. The bone around an infected implant can dissolve away with very little warning, and the bar for what's considered a "successful" implant is lower than most patients would ever guess. What you'll learn Tosha walks through the real difference between peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis, why a water flosser belongs at the top of every implant home care routine, why flossing around implants is now considered a no, the early warning signs of infection most people miss, and the questions every patient should ask before they ever get one placed. Key moments The conversation moves through the daily care that protects an implant long term, the warning signs that mean it's time to call the dentist immediately, and the added complexity of implant supported dentures and full arch cases, where infection can hide completely out of sight underneath the appliance. Tosha's perspective If it's in the mouth, it's in the body. An infected implant doesn't stay contained, and the same bacteria that causes gum disease around natural teeth is just as capable of breaking down the foundation around an implant. The fix isn't fear, it's foundation first thinking, proactive home care, and asking the right questions before treatment ever begins. Ready for healthier home care? Grab the free 6-Minute Mouth Reset guide at mouthymatters.com [https://www.mouthymatters.com/] Connect with Tosha: tosh.care [https://www.tosh.care/] | @toshardh | mouthymatters.com [https://www.mouthymatters.com/] Stay Awesome! -Tosha, RDH Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only.  Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner.  Opinions from guests are their own.  This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.

9. Your Dental Hygienist Might Save Your Life. Here's How with Jen Sieder, RDH

What if your dental appointment could do more than leave your teeth feeling clean and smooth? What if it could actually save your life? In this episode of Mouthy Matters, Tosha sits down with Jennifer P. Sieder, RDH, a dental hygienist with nearly 30 years of experience, to pull back the curtain on what dental hygienists are really doing in that chair. Because most patients have no idea. They come in, get their polish, and leave without understanding the level of assessment, diagnostics, and whole-body awareness their hygienist was running the entire time. Tosha shares the story of a patient whose dental appointment led to a cardiology referral that uncovered severe blockage. The surgeon sent a letter to the practice saying the team had saved her life. That is not a fluke. That is what happens when a hygienist is trained to listen, look, and connect the dots between what is happening in the mouth and what might be happening in the rest of the body. Jennifer and Tosha talk about how they both found their way into dental hygiene, why the profession draws people who genuinely want to make a difference in healthcare, and what it looks like to go from a routine cleaning appointment to a full oral health assessment that checks gum tissue, blood pressure, lymph nodes, thyroid, airway, and oral cancer screening all in one visit. If you have ever wondered what your hygienist is actually doing, or if you are someone who just shows up and hopes for the no cavity club, this episode is for you. What you will hear in this episode: -How Tosha and Jennifer each found their way into dental hygiene and why the profession drew them in -Why your dental appointment is far more than a cleaning, and what hygienists are actually trained to assess -The real story of a patient whose dental hygienist helped save her life by connecting oral and systemic health -What oral cancer screening, airway evaluation, and blood pressure monitoring have to do with your teeth cleaning -Why Jennifer goes into middle schools to teach kids about dental hygiene, and what questions they actually ask -How to find a great dental practice and what to ask your hygienist at your next visit Connect with Jennifer P. Sieder, RDH: Instagram: @microbelinkdx Facebook: facebook.com/microbelinkdx Website: microbelinkdx.com [https://microbelinkdx.com/] Connect with Tosha: tosh.care [https://www.tosh.care/] | @toshardh | mouthymatters.com [https://www.mouthymatters.com/] Stay Awesome! -Tosha, RDH Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only.  Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner.  Opinions from guests are their own.  This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.

8. 🔬 You Can See Your Mouth's Bacterial Ecosystem. Whole-Body Dentistry with Dr. Denning

🔬 See what's living in your patients' mouths and watch your case acceptance change. 🌐 tosh.care [https://www.tosh.care/] 🦷 Ready to reset your oral health in 6 minutes?  Start here: 🌐  www.mouthymatters.com/start-here [https://www.mouthymatters.com/start-here-public-simple] Most dental practices treat the mouth like a mechanical problem. Scale it, plane it, polish it, send the patient home with a floss lecture, and call it a cleaning. Dr. Joseph Denning, DDS, looked at that model after turning 40 and asked himself a question that changed his entire practice. Am I treating my patients the same way my doctor failed me? In this episode, Tosha sits down with Dr. Denning from Lake Hill Dental Care in Burnt Hills, New York, a dentist who has built a whole-body practice around actually seeing what is living in his patients' mouths, and then managing it like the biological ecosystem it is. Dr. Denning talks about the moment he saw oral biofilm under a microscope for the first time at a seminar and bought five microscopes for his practice before he even fully understood what he was looking at. He talks about a skeptical team that turned into true believers the moment the first microscope was plugged in. And he breaks down why he stopped having deep cleaning conversations entirely, because the terminology itself was never grounded in the actual biology of the disease. What comes through in this conversation is a dentist who has fully made the shift. He is not treating surfaces anymore. He is managing an ecology, identifying the invasive species, removing them, and coaching his patients to maintain the balance. And he has a lot to say about why patients feel sold to in dental offices, and what a genuinely patient-centered conversation looks like instead. Key Takeaways The reactive medical model fails patients and practitioners alike. Dr. Denning's turning point came when he realized he was practicing the same "your bloodwork is fine" mentality he experienced as a patient, checking a box of well or sick instead of actively optimizing health. Seeing is believing, for teams and patients. His team was skeptical until the first microscope lit up a screen. His patients were curious and engaged from day one, because co-discovering what was living in their mouth together removed the feeling of being lectured or sold to. Scaling and root planing is a concept built on the wrong assumption. The problem in a diseased mouth is not a rough surface. It is a disrupted bacterial ecology. Managing that ecology is an entirely different clinical conversation, and a far more honest one. Patients are smarter than we give them credit for. Dr. Denning has high-level conversations about oral bacteria, systemic inflammation, and whole-body health every single day in his practice, and his patients follow every word. Hygienists have been overtrained and underutilized. One of the most rewarding parts of shifting to a proactive, whole-body model has been watching his hygiene team step fully into their clinical expertise and become the stars of the practice. Connect with Dr. Joseph Denning Lake Hill Dental Care, Burnt Hills, New York  lakehilldentalcare.com [https://lakehilldentalcare.com/] On IG: 📱 @lakehilldental_ Connect With Tosha: On IG: 📱 @toshardh   🔬 See what's living in your patients' mouths and watch your case acceptance change. 🌐 tosh.care [https://www.tosh.care/] 🦷 Ready to reset your oral health in 6 minutes?  Start here: 🌐  www.mouthymatters.com/start-here [https://www.mouthymatters.com/start-here-public-simple] Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only.  Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner.  Opinions from guests are their own.  This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.