Dr. Katie To explains that routine dental cleanings leave behind substantial biofilm layers. A protein-binding dye test under a microscope reveals spirochetes, amoebas, and other microorganisms still present despite brushing and flossing. Their persistence suggests a compromised immune system and points to broader health problems beyond the mouth.
You go to the dentist and they put like that gritty prophy paste, that aggressive toothpaste on your teeth, and they spin that little rubber cup and they're like, wow, my teeth feel so clean. It's not gonna pass the test called the biofilm test where we put the dye, the protein dye on your teeth, and you can see all the biofilm left on your teeth even after you just had the cleaning done. So I have a lot of patients in my chair say, I just got my cleaning done last week. They're so proud of themselves that they take care of themselves. And then number one, they fail. The microscope test, right, they've seen spirochetes and amoebas on their slide. I just had my cleaning done and I do brush and floss, and that's just telling you that the immune system has more issues. It's not just the mouth. The mouth is a gateway to the body, so if the mouth is telling you that you're not healthy, that means the rest of the system needs to be looked at.
