Dr. Patel managed to see places on her bucket list, including the Maldives this summer. I remember watching Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Commencement address as a dental school applicant who was hopeful (and a bit scared) about her future. In it, he spoke of three lessons he wanted to impart on the graduating class that year. The first, the one that resonated the most with me then, and continues to echo down the hallways of my life now, was about connecting the dots. In his speech, Steve said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward;
Day: December 6, 2021
Something to be thankful for
As we prepare our hearts, minds, and bellies for the season of giving thanks, I found a symbolic comparison of those English immigrants and refugees to the journey dentists face. The definition of a pilgrim is a person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons. In a sense, we are a 21st century pilgrim as we journey for a decade sacrificing our pleasures and time for the opportunity to earn our doctorate in dental medicine. The black robes we wore on graduation day is a legacy of the same cloth worn by clergy in
How Does The Epstein-Barr Virus Affect Your Gums?
> In today’s episode, Dr. B answers a listener’s question about whether the Epstein-Barr virus is responsible for her bleeding gums. EBV is a systemic infection with an oral manifestation meaning it acts as a great springboard to talk about the oral-systemic connection as well. EBV is more colloquially known as the ‘kissing disease’ and commonly flares up in patients who have contracted it when they are run down, causing symptoms such as bleeding gums. Dr. B takes us through the signs, symptoms, and manifestations of EBV and also gets into some of the other
What Is The Best Toothpaste?
> The majority of consumers take it as a given that all kinds of toothpaste from major brands are safe and effective. But as Dr. B will attest in today’s episode, this is not necessarily the case. Most toothpaste brands use harsh surfactants and chemicals to keep their manufactured batches homogenous. These act as a disinfectant that temporarily cleans our mouths, but results in the disruption of our oral microbiome. Dr. B unpacks the history of toothpaste, how the Western diet has affected our oral health, and shares his hopes for how the industry is