Writing
Commentary for colleagues on what works, what does not, and why.
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Can your bite affect your digestion? Discover how crooked teeth, overbites, underbites, and poor chewing may influence digestion, food choices, and gut health. Dr. Bella Shen Garnett explores the surprising science connecting your smile, diet, and overall health.
When is palatal expansion needed? Learn the best age for treatment, how RPE and MARPE work in children and adults, and whether expansion can improve breathing and airway health.
You may have seen headlines asking whether clear aligners and retainers release microplastics. Here's the calm, science-based version: yes, lab studies show tiny particles can shed — but no study has shown this harms patients, and Invisalign has actually tested lowest of all aligner brands compared.
Why age 7? By then, most kids have a mix of baby teeth and their first adult teeth — the ideal window to catch developing bite and jaw issues while there’s still time to guide them. Screening doesn’t mean braces; for most children, it simply means a plan to watch and wait. But for underbites, crossbites, severe crowding, and a few other specific issues, timing really does matter.
This became very personal for me recently.
Bella Smile ↗