Every article, in one place

New here? Start with the pillar guide, Oral Microbiome 101 — it covers how the mouth actually works, and the rest of these make more sense afterwards.

• Supplements

  Do oral probiotics actually work?

  Oral probiotics are not gut probiotics. Which strains have research behind them, why colonisation is usually temporary, and the five questions that separate a formulated product from a marketed one.

• Fresh breath

  What causes bad breath?

  It's almost always the back of your tongue, not your stomach. The bacteria responsible, why mints and alcohol mouthwash make things worse, and how to check your own breath honestly.

• Gum health

  The early signs of gum disease

  Bleeding gums are not normal. The difference between the reversible stage and the one that permanently costs you bone — plus a two-week test you can run yourself.

• Gum health

  What causes receding gums?

  Gums don't grow back, but recession can nearly always be stopped. Why brushing harder is the wrong instinct, how to identify your cause, and what a dentist can genuinely do.

• Whitening

  Natural teeth whitening: what actually works

  Stain removal and bleaching are different things. A method-by-method assessment, and why the lemon-juice and charcoal tricks cost you enamel you can never get back.

• Remedies

  Oil pulling: does it actually do anything?

  There's a plausible mechanism and some small supportive trials. There is also no such thing as pulling toxins out of your bloodstream with coconut oil.

More articles are in progress. If there's a dental question you've never found a straight answer to, that's exactly the sort of thing we want to cover.