Appendix D: Resources and Further Reading¶

For those who want to explore the science more deeply, this appendix provides curated resources—key scientific papers, books, organizations, and practical sources for the ingredients discussed in this book.

Key Scientific Papers¶

Enamel Chemistry and Remineralization¶

Featherstone JDB. "The science and practice of caries prevention." Journal of the American Dental Association 131(7):887-899, 2000.

Foundational review of the demineralization/remineralization process. Explains critical pH, the role of saliva, and fluoride mechanisms. Essential reading.

ten Cate JM, Duijsters PPE. "Alternating demineralization and remineralization of artificial enamel lesions." Caries Research 16:201-210, 1982.

Classic study demonstrating that enamel can remineralize between acid attacks. Established the scientific basis for remineralization interventions.

Amaechi BT, Higham SM. "In vitro remineralization of eroded enamel lesions by saliva." Journal of Dentistry 29(5):371-376, 2001.

Demonstrates saliva's remarkable capacity to remineralize even erosive lesions.

The Oral Microbiome and Ecological Approach¶

Marsh PD. "Microbial ecology of dental plaque and its significance in health and disease." Advances in Dental Research 8(2):263-271, 1994.

The paper that introduced the ecological plaque hypothesis. Changed how we think about oral disease.

Marsh PD. "Are dental diseases examples of ecological catastrophes?" Microbiology 149:279-294, 2003.

Expanded discussion of the ecological model. Argues for managing the ecosystem rather than targeting specific pathogens.

Dewhirst FE, Chen T, et al. "The human oral microbiome." Journal of Bacteriology 192(19):5002-5017, 2010.

Comprehensive characterization of the oral microbiome. Identified ~700 species.

Kolenbrander PE. "Oral microbial communities: biofilms, interactions, and genetic systems." Annual Review of Microbiology 54:413-437, 2000.

How oral bacteria interact with each other to form complex biofilm communities.

The Mouthwash-Blood Pressure Connection¶

Bondonno CP, Liu AH, et al. "Antibacterial mouthwash blunts oral nitrate reduction and increases blood pressure in treated hypertensive men and women." American Journal of Hypertension 28(5):572-575, 2015.

Demonstrated that chlorhexidine mouthwash use blunts the blood pressure-lowering effect of dietary nitrate.

Tribble GD, Angelov N, et al. "Frequency of tongue cleaning impacts the human tongue microbiome composition and enterosalivary circulation of nitrate." Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology 9:39, 2019.

Links oral bacteria, nitrate reduction, and systemic health.

Nano-Hydroxyapatite¶

Amaechi BT, AbdulAzees PA, et al. "Remineralization of eroded enamel lesions by a nanohydroxyapatite toothpaste." Journal of Clinical Dentistry 30(4):178-187, 2019.

Clinical evidence for n-HAp remineralization efficacy.

Epple M. "Review of potential health risks associated with nanoscopic calcium phosphate." Acta Biomaterialia 77:1-14, 2018.

Safety evaluation of nano-hydroxyapatite; concludes it is safe for dental use.

Niwa M, Sato T, et al. "Polishing and whitening properties of toothpaste containing hydroxyapatite." Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine 12:277-281, 2001.

Early Japanese research on n-HAp toothpaste efficacy.

Miswak and Salvadora persica¶

Almas K, Al-Zeid Z. "The immediate antimicrobial effect of a toothbrush and miswak on cariogenic bacteria: a clinical study." Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice 5(1):105-114, 2004.

Comparative clinical study showing miswak equivalence to toothbrushing.

Wu CD, Darout IA, Skaug N. "Chewing sticks: timeless natural toothbrushes for oral cleansing." Journal of Periodontal Research 36(5):275-284, 2001.

Comprehensive review of chew stick use globally, including chemical analysis.

Sofrata A, Lingström P, et al. "Strong antibacterial effect of miswak against oral microorganisms associated with periodontitis and caries." Journal of Periodontology 79(8):1474-1479, 2008.

In vitro demonstration of miswak antimicrobial activity.

Xylitol¶

Mäkinen KK. "Sugar alcohols, caries incidence, and remineralization of caries lesions: a literature review." International Journal of Dentistry 2010:981072.

Comprehensive review of xylitol evidence by one of the pioneers of xylitol research.

Lif Holgerson P, Stecksén-Blicks C, et al. "Xylitol concentration in saliva and dental plaque after use of various xylitol-containing products." Caries Research 40(5):393-397, 2006.

Pharmacokinetics of xylitol delivery to the oral environment.

Propolis¶

Koo H, Gomes BP, et al. "In vitro antimicrobial activity of propolis and Arnica montana against oral pathogens." Archives of Oral Biology 45(2):141-148, 2000.

Early demonstration of propolis antimicrobial activity against oral pathogens.

Anauate Netto C, Marcucci MC, et al. "The effect of Brazilian propolis on the enamel microhardness reduction after an erosive challenge." Journal of Applied Oral Science 27:e20180465, 2019.

Propolis may help protect against erosion.

Oil Pulling¶

Asokan S, Rathan J, et al. "Effect of oil pulling on Streptococcus mutans count in plaque and saliva using Dentocult SM Strip mutans test: a randomized, controlled, triple-blind study." Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry 26(1):12-17, 2008.

RCT demonstrating S. mutans reduction with oil pulling.

Peedikayil FC, Sreenivasan P, Narayanan A. "Effect of coconut oil in plaque related gingivitis—a preliminary report." Nigerian Medical Journal 56(2):143-147, 2015.

Clinical evidence for coconut oil pulling benefit for gingivitis.

Fluoride¶

Marinho VCC, Higgins JPT, et al. "Fluoride toothpastes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2003;(1):CD002278.

Definitive Cochrane review on fluoride toothpaste efficacy.

ten Cate JM. "Contemporary perspective on the use of fluoride products in caries prevention." British Dental Journal 214(4):161-167, 2013.

Modern synthesis of fluoride mechanisms and clinical application.

Books for Deeper Reading¶

On Oral Ecology and the Microbiome¶

Marsh PD, Martin MV, et al. Oral Microbiology (6^th edition). Churchill Livingstone, 2016.

The standard textbook. Comprehensive but accessible to non-specialists.

Lamont RJ, Hajishengallis G, Jenkinson HF (eds). Oral Microbiology and Immunology (3^rd edition). ASM Press, 2019.

More advanced; excellent for those wanting deeper scientific detail.

On Traditional Oral Health Practices¶

Elvin-Lewis M. "Therapeutic rationale for the use of plant-derived dental products." In: Antibiotics and Chemotherapy 10:127-159, 1998.

Academic review of traditional oral health botanicals.

Petersen PE. "The World Oral Health Report 2003: continuous improvement of oral health in the 21^st century." WHO Technical Report, 2003.

WHO perspective on global oral health, including traditional practices.

On Evidence-Based Dentistry¶

Richards D, Clarkson J, et al. (eds). Evidence-Based Dentistry: An Introduction. Springer, 2003.

Primer on how to evaluate dental research.

General Science of Botanical Medicine¶

Bruneton J. Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants (2^nd edition). Lavoisier, 1999.

Comprehensive reference on plant chemistry and pharmacology.

Mills S, Bone K. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy: Modern Herbal Medicine (2^nd edition). Churchill Livingstone, 2013.

Evidence-based approach to herbal medicine.

Professional Organizations and Databases¶

Research Organizations¶

International Association for Dental Research (IADR) - iadr.org - Leading dental research organization worldwide - Publishes Journal of Dental Research

American Dental Association (ADA) - ada.org - Professional organization with research and public education resources - ADA Seal of Acceptance program evaluates products

European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) - efp.org - Resources on periodontal health and disease

Cochrane Oral Health Group - oralhealth.cochrane.org - Systematic reviews on oral health topics - Free access to many reviews

Databases¶

PubMed - pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov - Free access to biomedical literature - Tip: Add "systematic review" or "meta-analysis" to searches for highest-level evidence

Cochrane Library - cochranelibrary.com - Gold-standard systematic reviews - Many reviews available free

Google Scholar - scholar.google.com - Broader search including books, theses, and grey literature

Where to Obtain Ingredients¶

Note: I don't endorse specific brands. These are categories and suggestions for finding quality ingredients.

Salt and Baking Soda¶

Any grocery store
Fine grain dissolves better than coarse
"Pink Himalayan" is fine but not necessary; ordinary salt works identically

Essential Oils¶

Look for:

GC/MS testing (confirms purity and composition)
Botanical name specified (e.g., Thymus vulgaris, not just "thyme")
Organic certification (optional but indicates quality)

Avoid:

"Fragrance oils" (synthetic, not therapeutic)
Unusually cheap products (may be diluted or adulterated)

Reputable suppliers:

Plant Therapy
Mountain Rose Herbs
NOW Foods
Rocky Mountain Oils

Propolis¶

Available as alcohol-based tincture (most versatile)
Also available in glycerin base (alcohol-free)
Standardized products may specify flavonoid content

Sources:

Health food stores
Beekeeping suppliers
Online herb retailers

Miswak and Salvadora persica Products¶

Fresh miswak sticks:

Available from Middle Eastern grocers
Online suppliers (search "miswak sticks" or "siwak")
Best used fresh; dried sticks should be soaked before use

Peelu/Salvadora persica products:

Peelu brand gum and toothpaste (contains S. persica extract)
Various "miswak toothpastes" available online

Nano-Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste¶

Japanese brands:

Apagard (Premio, Royal, M-Plus varieties)
Available via Amazon Japan or specialty importers

Western brands:

Boka
RiseWell
Davids (some formulations)
Dr. Brite

Xylitol Products¶

Gum:

Pur Gum (100% xylitol-sweetened)
Spry
Ice Chips
Epic Dental

Mints:

Zellies
Spry mints

Bulk xylitol:

NOW Foods
Anthony's
Various online suppliers

Herbs (Fresh and Dried)¶

Growing your own:

Sage is easy to grow in most climates
Fresh is generally more potent than dried

Purchasing:

Mountain Rose Herbs (high quality, organic)
Starwest Botanicals
Local herb shops
Farmers markets

Useful Calculators and Tools¶

pH Measurement¶

pH test strips (available at aquarium shops, pool supply, Amazon)
Digital pH meters (more accurate; ~$15-50)
Useful for testing your rinse formulations or beverage acidity

Saliva Testing¶

Saliva flow rate:

Simple test: Collect saliva for 5 minutes, measure volume
Normal unstimulated: 0.3-0.5 mL/min
Below 0.1 mL/min suggests hyposalivation

Saliva buffering capacity:

Commercial kits available (GC Saliva-Check Buffer)
Useful if concerned about remineralization capacity

Staying Current¶

RSS Feeds and Alerts¶

PubMed Alerts:

Create saved searches on PubMed
Receive email alerts when new papers are published

Google Scholar Alerts:

Set up alerts for topics or authors of interest

Conferences¶

IADR/AADR Annual Meeting - Cutting-edge research, often 1-2 years before publication - Abstracts available online

Periodontology conferences (AAP, EFP) - Focus on gum health and systemic connections

Journals to Follow¶

For those who want to track primary literature:

Journal of Dental Research
Caries Research
Journal of Periodontology
Archives of Oral Biology
Journal of Clinical Periodontology

Organizations Supporting Natural Approaches¶

American Botanical Council (ABC) - herbalgram.org - Evidence-based information on herbal medicine - Publishes HerbalGram and HerbClip

European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy (ESCOP) - escop.com - Publishes monographs on herbal medicines with evidence assessment

World Health Organization (WHO) Traditional Medicine Programme - who.int/health-topics/traditional-complementary-and-integrative-medicine - Global perspective on traditional medicine integration

Disclaimer¶

The resources listed here are provided for educational purposes. Inclusion does not constitute endorsement, and exclusion does not imply criticism. The field changes rapidly; verify current information through primary sources. Nothing in this book or appendix constitutes medical or dental advice—consult qualified professionals for personal health decisions.

A Final Thought on Learning¶

I've been watching your species learn for a very long time. What I've observed is that the best learners aren't those who absorb the most facts, but those who ask the best questions.

Read widely. Follow your curiosity. Be skeptical—of claims from any source, including this book. Update your beliefs when evidence warrants. Share what you learn with others.

The resources listed here are starting points, not endings. The real learning happens when you begin to connect ideas, test them in practice, and develop your own understanding.

Your teeth—and the ecosystem that surrounds them—are worth that effort.