Dear Dr. Ellie
We put our son on the Ellie system last Sept. We were very proud of the fact that at 14 he still had no cavities, largely because we had closely monitored his flossing and brushing up to that point. However, he had gone through several 2- or 3-month periods on his own at summer camps where, even with a mouth full of braces, he had managed well enough.
We got the exact name-brand rinses and toothpaste you specify, and a toothbrush sterilizer, and put up a chart on the order in which to use them. We periodically watched to see that he was following the plan, and could tell from the use of materials that he was at least going through the motions. He gets powdered xylitol after breakfast and Zellie candies after lunch.
At his most recent cleaning last week we were dumbfounded to hear that he has four small cavities. The dentist said it appeared that those areas weren't getting brushed properly. That's certainly credible, but what is so astonishing is that the xylitol, Closys, Listerine, and ACT didn't prevent the damage.
We will, very reluctantly, get these cavities filled. We'd like to believe that the fluoride rinse etc will renew the enamel as you have described in your book, but that flies in the face of logic since he got the cavities while using that whole system.
Pretty disappointed.
Hi there,
I am sorry you wrote your "disappointed" message - because this kind of comment makes me feel quite fed up about the work I provide for free and what I try to do to help people. It makes me think how ungrateful people can be.
It is the gratitude that I get from thankful people that keeps me giving of my time and my knowledge, year after year. I love to help people that I never get to meet and improve their lives.
I wish I could talk with you, because I am not much for having a "discussion" by email.
I thought about ignoring your message - but I felt it was important to point out some basic facts about mouth health and your son's mouth.
The outcome for teeth is always a balance between damage and repair. There cannot be damage, without damage having occurred.
Plaque must have been in your son's mouth - otherwise these teeth could not decay. This in itself indicates insufficient xylitol. Acidity must have been around his teeth for too long - I have no idea if that was dietary ( drinks, candies, foods etc).
Repair WILL occur when you use adequate amounts of xylitol and my rinse system twice every day.
If you end up with worse teeth at the end of a 6 months period it means there must have been more damage than repair during this time. I have no idea what the damage was - but it is always connected with acidity ( juice, soda, sports drinks, acidic foods, candies etc. ) or dry mouth ( braces, nasal allergies, sinus etc).
Even now, I encourage you to use this system - but with more vigilance. I would make sure you have the correct products, add more xylitol to his day, and have him understand he has to control drinks and problem foods for 6 months to reverse these "early cavities" . Obviously you won't get any reversal with the way he is doing things now - I agree.
Maybe get your son to book a consultation with me on the phone - so we can ensure her "understands" the importance of doing this correctly and use this method to protect his teeth. If you don't stop this "cavity disease" now - it will go on and on - there is no reason for cavities to be the last of his cavities.
Cavities are an infectious, bacterial problem - that will probably attack more teeth in the years ahead.
Best wishes,
Ellie
www.DrEllie.com
More information can be found on this topic and more at:
www.drellie.com 
We put our son on the Ellie system last Sept. We were very proud of the fact that at 14 he still had no cavities, largely because we had closely monitored his flossing and brushing up to that point. However, he had gone through several 2- or 3-month periods on his own at summer camps where, even with a mouth full of braces, he had managed well enough.
We got the exact name-brand rinses and toothpaste you specify, and a toothbrush sterilizer, and put up a chart on the order in which to use them. We periodically watched to see that he was following the plan, and could tell from the use of materials that he was at least going through the motions. He gets powdered xylitol after breakfast and Zellie candies after lunch.
At his most recent cleaning last week we were dumbfounded to hear that he has four small cavities. The dentist said it appeared that those areas weren't getting brushed properly. That's certainly credible, but what is so astonishing is that the xylitol, Closys, Listerine, and ACT didn't prevent the damage.
We will, very reluctantly, get these cavities filled. We'd like to believe that the fluoride rinse etc will renew the enamel as you have described in your book, but that flies in the face of logic since he got the cavities while using that whole system.
Pretty disappointed.
Hi there,
I am sorry you wrote your "disappointed" message - because this kind of comment makes me feel quite fed up about the work I provide for free and what I try to do to help people. It makes me think how ungrateful people can be.
It is the gratitude that I get from thankful people that keeps me giving of my time and my knowledge, year after year. I love to help people that I never get to meet and improve their lives.
I wish I could talk with you, because I am not much for having a "discussion" by email.
I thought about ignoring your message - but I felt it was important to point out some basic facts about mouth health and your son's mouth.
The outcome for teeth is always a balance between damage and repair. There cannot be damage, without damage having occurred.
Plaque must have been in your son's mouth - otherwise these teeth could not decay. This in itself indicates insufficient xylitol. Acidity must have been around his teeth for too long - I have no idea if that was dietary ( drinks, candies, foods etc).
Repair WILL occur when you use adequate amounts of xylitol and my rinse system twice every day.
If you end up with worse teeth at the end of a 6 months period it means there must have been more damage than repair during this time. I have no idea what the damage was - but it is always connected with acidity ( juice, soda, sports drinks, acidic foods, candies etc. ) or dry mouth ( braces, nasal allergies, sinus etc).
Even now, I encourage you to use this system - but with more vigilance. I would make sure you have the correct products, add more xylitol to his day, and have him understand he has to control drinks and problem foods for 6 months to reverse these "early cavities" . Obviously you won't get any reversal with the way he is doing things now - I agree.
Maybe get your son to book a consultation with me on the phone - so we can ensure her "understands" the importance of doing this correctly and use this method to protect his teeth. If you don't stop this "cavity disease" now - it will go on and on - there is no reason for cavities to be the last of his cavities.
Cavities are an infectious, bacterial problem - that will probably attack more teeth in the years ahead.
Best wishes,
Ellie
www.DrEllie.com
More information can be found on this topic and more at: www.drellie.com