HEALTHY LIVING


SALIVA HOLDS KEY “Our own saliva is the tool that heals our teeth and our gums,” says Phillips. Saliva contains hydroxyapatite,


Easy Guide to Keeping Your Mouth Healthy


Preserve teeth and gums and reduce risk of chronic diseases. :: BY VERA TWEED


H


ealthy teeth and gums don’t just give you a confident smile. They reduce risk for chronic


conditions, from diabetes and dementia to heart disease, stroke, and arthritis. And a healthy mouth improves


your overall health for years to come. Dental care can be costly, but


a home-care system developed by dentist Ellie Phillips, author of Kiss Your Dentist Goodbye, is effective at improving and maintaining your mouth’s health. While in dental school 50 years ago, Phillips began researching and


testing ways to preserve teeth when her 45-year-old mother’s teeth were about to be extracted. She saved her mother’s teeth and continued researching and honing her system. “I’ve been on this mission like a detective,” she tells Newsmax. There are situations where


immediate dental care is necessary — if you’re in pain, for example — and Phillips’ system doesn’t replace routine cleanings. There are three aspects to the


program: An eating and drinking schedule, xylitol between meals, and a detailed cleaning regimen. Research shows that xylitol, a


natural sugar alcohol, prevents cavities and reduces harmful oral bacteria and plaque. But it needs to be pure xylitol


crystals, not gum or candies with other ingredients.


have a synergistic, healing effect. At the end of each step, spit but do not rinse your mouth with water. DAILY REGIMEN


the key mineral in teeth and bones, and helps to heal gums. But eating or drinking — even water — stops the healing. Don’t brush your teeth before


breakfast, she recommends. Start with a good breakfast and drink enough liquid, and afterward brush your teeth. Then, let a few crystals of xylitol


dissolve in your mouth, and don’t eat or drink anything for at least an hour. After lunch, let a few more xylitol


crystals dissolve in your mouth. The healing power of saliva peaks between noon and 4 p.m., so this is prime time to avoid eating or drinking. Before bedtime clean your teeth,


and again dissolve some xylitol in your mouth. And then, don’t eat or drink anything. If you get thirsty, have some more xylitol after you drink water. Xylitol is beneficial for your teeth


and gums while it’s in your mouth, so don’t chew and swallow it. During the day, aim to dissolve 6 to 10 grams of pure xylitol crystals in your mouth. Don’t use xylitol gum or candies


with other ingredients that may detract from the benefits of the xylitol. You can buy “xylitol dental mints,” or 100% pure xylitol crystals or granules, at Walmart, Amazon, and other online retailers.


Dentist Ellie Phillips found that specific products, used in the exact sequence shown,


full minute. 1 86 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | MAY 2026


Rinse with unflavored CloSYS Ultra Sensitive Mouth Rinse for a


2


Use a soft “flossing brush” between teeth, and brush with Crest


Cavity Protection Regular Paste.


3


Rinse with Original Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash or the Cool


Mint version for 30 seconds.


30 seconds. 4


Rinse with ACT Anticavity Fluoride Mouthwash for


MOUTH/ISTOCK.COM/LIUDMILA CHERNETSKA / INTERDENTAL BRUSH/ISTOCK.COM/EVGENIY SKRIPNICHENKO


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100