Dental Wellness

02/09/2026

Do you know what decides whether a dental implant succeeds?
Here's a hint: it isn't the implant.
Two patients can receive exactly the same one and heal completely differently. The reason sits somewhere else entirely — and it's usually in place long before anyone picks up an instrument.
In the latest Mouth Health Natters, Dr David Cowhig speaks with a dentist who has placed more than 30,000 ceramic implants. His answer starts about six weeks before the surgery.

Tap to read 'Why the Body Matters as Much as the Implant'

In the latest episode of Mouth Health Natters, Dr David Cowhig sat down with Dr Karl Ulrich Volz, often referred to as ‘The Godfather of ceramic dental implants’. The conversation centred on one idea: that what happens in the six weeks before surgery matters as much as the implant itself.

01/07/2026

You reach for it at the first sign of a cold. Your gums have a much older claim on it.
Vitamin C's chemical name, ascorbic acid, literally means "anti-scurvy" — the deficiency disease that once showed up as soft, bleeding gums and loosening teeth in sailors far from fresh food. The mouth was where it announced itself.
That old clue still holds. The same nutrient your immune system relies on also helps build and protect your gums, and there's growing evidence it supports healing — after a tooth is removed, around an implant, or in everyday gum health.
Our latest article brings together recent research and simple, practical tips to support your oral health. Tap to read "More Than Immunity: What Vitamin C Does for Your Mouth."

Vitamin C has a fixed place in most people’s minds: the cold-and-flu vitamin, the orange juice you reach for when winter sets in. That reputation is earned, but it’s also narrow. Long before vitamin C was understood as an immune helper, it announced itself in a far more specific place — the mo...

18/06/2026

Most of us read bleeding gums as a local problem — a missed floss, a rushed brush. New research points to something less obvious.
Gum trouble and inflammation elsewhere in the body appear to be closely connected, each influencing the other. So gums that keep flaring up may not be a local problem at all, but a sign of something working away quietly inside the body.
What that means for how you read your own mouth — and the simple things that help — is in the article.
Read the full article: "Gum disease and inflammation: which comes first?" Just click through.

We've known for a while that gum disease and the body's inflammation tend to keep company — the worse the gums, the higher the inflammatory markers in the blood. What's only now coming into focus is something more surprising: which one is setting the pace? New research...

24/05/2026

Dr Duman and myself thrilled to be part of Sleep Matters 2026, bridging the gap between health disciplines. Confirming the importance of airway, sleep and jaw function in all aspects of biological dentistry.

14/05/2026

"Do you breathe through your mouth at night?"
Not the question most patients expect from their dentist. But it's often the most revealing one—especially when worn front teeth, gum problems, or unexplained decay are sitting in the chair.
Your airway and your oral health are more connected than you might think.
In my latest Mouth Health Natters podcast with breathing specialist Alana Inwood, we explore how breathing patterns can quietly shape what's happening in your mouth—and what you can do about it.

Click to watch the full episode...

“Do you breathe through your mouth at night?” It is not the question most patients expect from their dentist. But for Dr David Cowhig, it is often the most revealing one, particularly when worn front teeth, gum disease, or unexplained decay are sitting in the chair in front of him.

22/04/2026

Most dental treatments bring a sense of closure — the issue addressed, the chapter closed. But in some cases, the full picture may be more complex.
Emerging research suggests that root-canal-treated teeth may be associated with low-grade inflammatory processes — often without symptoms, and sometimes undetected on routine X-rays. The potential implications for systemic health are now being examined more closely.

It’s about seeing what may otherwise remain hidden.

Most people who've had a root canal treatment naturally assume the tooth is fixed — the infection dealt with, the problem behind them. That's a reasonable assumption. Why else would someone go through the procedure? Yet a growing number of dentists are recognising

25/02/2026

Ever wonder if an old extraction site could still be affecting your health? It's surprising to think an empty space in your jaw could be a hidden source of low-grade inflammation for years.
Two infections. Two extraction sites. One is nearly 20 years old. No pain, no obvious signs—and completely missed on standard X-rays.
In this personal case study, I share what the 3D imaging revealed, how the Tooth-Meridian chart added a confirming layer to the picture, and what the biological approach to resolving these sites actually looks like in practice.

Click to read the full story.

Many people believe that once a tooth is gone, the area is no longer a health concern. However, my own experience reveals a different reality. I recently had surgery to address two significant infections sitting deep in my jawbone where teeth had been removed—one nearly 20 years ago and the other ...

21/01/2026

The latest US dietary guidelines have introduced a fresh emphasis on nutrition with potential benefits for oral health.
This updated approach prioritises proteins and healthy fats over refined carbohydrates, which can help manage gum inflammation and protect enamel from frequent acid attacks. Read the full article to discover how these international nutritional standards can help foster a healthier oral microbiome and support long-term dental wellbeing.

Click below to read the full blog post.

Did you know that, for over 30 years, official dietary advice was based on something called the “Food Pyramid”? From nutrition schools to dietitians to the layout of your local supermarket, this single diagram shaped how entire generations thought about eating. Grains at the wide base.

06/01/2026

Can a single tooth hold clues about heart, gut, or even brain health? In Dr David Cowhig’s latest article, the mouth is explored as a mirror for the whole body, weaving modern research with traditional tooth–organ meridian charts. The piece is written for patients and curious practitioners alike. Click below to read the full article and explore the map of the mouth–body connection.

Genetic traces of mouth bacteria have been detected in arterial plaques, joint fluid and even brain tissue in people with heart disease, arthritis and Alzheimer’s. At the same time, traditional medicine systems have long described organised pathways of connection...

16/11/2025

Ever wake up with a dry mouth and scratchy throat after a night of breathing through your mouth? There's actually a fascinating connection between how we breathe and our oral health that doesn't get talked about enough.
In his latest article, Dr David breaks down how mouth breathing affects everything from saliva production to the bacteria in your mouth – and even bite alignment and gum health over time. The good news is that there are practical steps you can take at home to support better airway health.

The full article is just one tap away – click the image to read it.

Have you ever noticed how a blocked nose changes everything? Within hours, your mouth feels dry, your breath turns stale, and your throat becomes scratchy. Now imagine that discomfort stretching across months or years. For many adults living with nasal congestion or...