Tooth or Dare Podcast
Tooth or Dare Podcast

Tooth or Dare Podcast

Irene Iancu @Toothlife.Irene

Overview
Episodes

Details

Hold on to your suction, it’s about to get viscous. Irene, aka @Toothlife.Irene, on social media is the first (and only) Canadian Restorative Dental Hygienist with a podcast. Sharing her story surrounding her career, practice ownership, social media and, of course, dental-related content. On Tooth or Dare, she gives mic-dropping solutions to your dental questions and problems as a dental professional. With guests like top hygienists, dentists, researchers, product developers and more, this show has something for everyone interested in oral health and personal and professional development. Peeps say the content is entertaining and educational, packaged with actionable items. a Molar of the story, this is the podcast for you if you want to feel like you’re part of a conversation from the comfort of your own... well, wherever the heck you’re listening. Peace out, peeps, catch you on the flip side.

Recent Episodes

RDH meets Yoga Therapy with Caitlin Parsons aka @thealignedhygienist
NOV 7, 2025
RDH meets Yoga Therapy with Caitlin Parsons aka @thealignedhygienist
In this episode, Caitlin Parsons talks about her journey through dental hygiene, the pain she experienced early in her career, and how stepping away from the operatory led her to study yoga therapy. She shares what it was like to return to clinical practice after three years, the parts of hygiene she missed, and the challenges she didn’t. We also discuss how yoga therapy works using breath, movement, and awareness and how simple “yoga snacks” throughout the day can help prevent stress and pain. Caitlin explains the misconceptions many people have about yoga, why small consistent habits matter, and the importance of showing up for patients while also taking care of yourself.   In this episode, we talk about: ▪️ The car accident that sparked Caitlin’s interest in health and shaped her early career ▪️ The pain and injuries she faced in her first years as a hygienist ▪️ Misconceptions about yoga and how anyone can benefit from it ▪️ Leaving hygiene and returning three years later with a new perspective ▪️ Simple routines like short yoga practices, hydration, and small adjustments that fit into a busy day   If you’ve ever wondered how to make a career in hygiene more sustainable, Caitlin’s story offers both honesty and practical ideas you can start using right away.   Connect with Caitlin: Instagram → @thealignedhygienist  _____________________________________________________ If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment.  Until next time, Peace out peeps! ✌️ _______________________________________  📦 Amazon Store with my FAV things: https://www.amazon.ca/shop/toothlife.irene?listId=YLX0271390I3 Follow on Social Media:  _______________________________________ 💁🏼‍♀️Personal Instagram @Toothlife.Irene https://www.instagram.com/toothlife.irene 🙋🏼‍♀️Facebook Irene Iancu https://www.facebook.com/irene.iancu 💃🏼TikTok @Toothlife.Irene https://www.tiktok.com/@toothlife.irene 🛒Online Store and Instagram @Toothlife https://www.instagram.com/toothlife 🥼Office Instagram @ToothlifeStudio https://www.instagram.com/ToothlifeStudio ______________________________________ 🎤Podcast @ToothorDare.Podcast https://www.instagram.com/ToothorDare.Podcast _______________________________________ 🔗🌲Cool links in my Linktree https://linktr.ee/TOOTHLIFE.IRENE
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28 MIN
RDH shortages & trends with Bethany Montoya @Humanrdh | Tooth Or Dare Podcast with Toothlife.Irene
OCT 28, 2025
RDH shortages & trends with Bethany Montoya @Humanrdh | Tooth Or Dare Podcast with Toothlife.Irene
We all know Bethany Montoya as HumanRDH on social media. Advocate for all that is right and fair in the world of dental hygiene. She holds no prisoners when it comes to her quick responses and realtalk vibes. Today, I get to sit down with her IRL and learn more about the journey that inspired her to advocate so loudly. She talks about how she found her way into dental hygiene, the challenges she faced during school, and the reality of balancing her education with everyday life. She shares honest thoughts on pay, benefits, and the culture inside dental practices, along with how mentorship and saying “yes” to opportunities shaped her career. We chat about: ▪️ Her view of patient care has grown, and the lessons she’s carried with her along the way. ▪️ The twists and challenges that shaped Bethany’s path into dental hygiene. ▪️ How she managed the balance between school, work, and personal life. ▪️ Real conversations about pay, benefits, and the culture inside dental practices. ▪️ The value of mentors and what can happen when you say “yes” to new opportunities. ▪️ How her outlook on how professional growth has changed over time.   If you’re curious about what it takes to build a meaningful career in dental hygiene or just need some encouragement to keep pushing forward this conversation is full of stories and insights worth hearing.   Connect with Bethany: Instagram → @humanrdh _____________________________________________________ If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment.  Until next time, Peace out peeps! ✌️ _______________________________________  📦 Amazon Store with my FAV things: https://www.amazon.ca/shop/toothlife.irene?listId=YLX0271390I3 Follow on Social Media:  _______________________________________ 💁🏼‍♀️Personal Instagram @Toothlife.Irene https://www.instagram.com/toothlife.irene Personal Instagram: @victoriaarmaly_ https://www.instagram.com/victoriaarmaly_ 🙋🏼‍♀️Facebook Irene Iancu https://www.facebook.com/irene.iancu 💃🏼TikTok @Toothlife.Irene https://www.tiktok.com/@toothlife.irene 🛒Online Store and Instagram @Toothlife https://www.instagram.com/toothlife 🥼Office Instagram @ToothlifeStudio https://www.instagram.com/ToothlifeStudio ______________________________________ 🎤Podcast @ToothorDare.Podcast https://www.instagram.com/ToothorDare.Podcast _______________________________________ 🔗🌲Cool links in my Linktree https://linktr.ee/TOOTHLIFE.IRENE  
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29 MIN
Oral Probiotics during SRP and hygiene therapy | Tooth Or Dare Podcast with Toothlife.Irene
OCT 14, 2025
Oral Probiotics during SRP and hygiene therapy | Tooth Or Dare Podcast with Toothlife.Irene
Should we be using probiotics with all patients? Perhaps they are the new secret weapon for improving clinical outcomes and preventing disease.  Let’s face it, many patients consider cost above all else when presented with perio treatment options. This is especially challenging when dental insurance does not cover what are considered adjunctive therapies, even though studies show that a combination of treatments is more effective in the long run. (link to study?) In this episode, Irene and Vic discuss the valuable role of probiotics, or beneficial bacteria, in the perio treatment plan. Microscopic problems require microscopic solutions! Get ready to learn: How to get patients to accept your treatment plan Why dental coverage is getting worse (and how to get around this) What the new standard should be for SRP appointments The many benefits of oral probiotics and different methods of delivery How to integrate them into your perio workflow Download the perio resource which is completely customizable to fit your practice:  Toothlife🔖 Downloadable Resources 🔖https://www.toothlife.ca/collections/%F0%9F%94%96-downloadable-resources-%F0%9F%94%96  📲 Questions or Episode Topic Requests? @toothlife.irene — Check the top 3 pinned posts to access the download and leave your questions in the comments. We'll be answering them in upcoming episodes! If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment.  Until next time, Peace out peeps! ✌️ _______________________________________  📦 Amazon Store with my FAV things: https://www.amazon.ca/shop/toothlife.irene?listId=YLX0271390I3 Follow on Social Media:  _______________________________________ 💁🏼‍♀️Personal Instagram @Toothlife.Irene https://www.instagram.com/toothlife.irene Personal Instagram: @victoriaarmaly_ https://www.instagram.com/victoriaarmaly_ 🙋🏼‍♀️Facebook Irene Iancu https://www.facebook.com/irene.iancu 💃🏼TikTok @Toothlife.Irene https://www.tiktok.com/@toothlife.irene 🛒Online Store and Instagram @Toothlife https://www.instagram.com/toothlife 🥼Office Instagram @ToothlifeStudio https://www.instagram.com/ToothlifeStudio ______________________________________ 🎤Podcast @ToothorDare.Podcast https://www.instagram.com/ToothorDare.Podcast _______________________________________ 🔗🌲Cool links in my Linktree https://linktr.ee/TOOTHLIFE.IRENE
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16 MIN
WTF is a $99 cleaning? | Tooth Or Dare Podcast with Toothlife.Irene
SEP 18, 2025
WTF is a $99 cleaning? | Tooth Or Dare Podcast with Toothlife.Irene
If you’ve ever seen a $99 dental cleaning deal and wondered if it’s worth it, you’ll want to hear this story, including: ▪️ How $99 dental promotions can mislead and limit patient access▪️ Why these deals may not be as good as they sound▪️ How patient trust is affected by unclear pricing▪️ Stories from people who felt let down by the experience▪️ The bigger impact discount dentistry has on the profession What’s Really Happening Behind the “Too Good to Be True” Offers Some dental offices advertise low-fee cleanings to attract patients, especially those without insurance. But when you call to book, the information often changes. What sounds legal on paper can cross the line when the details aren’t disclosed up front. RCDSO Guidelines You Should Know The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) requires that all advertising and promotions be: Accurate and Verifiable: Fees, services, and any conditions must be truthful and backed by facts. Transparent on Limitations: Any restrictions—such as “new patients only,” extra fees for exams/X-rays, or limited-time offers—must be clearly stated in the ad itself, not revealed only after a patient calls. Non-Misleading for the Uninsured: Promotions targeting patients without insurance cannot imply that essential care will be fully covered if additional treatment is required. Why It Matters From what I've read, many patients have left negative reviews after feeling bait-and-switched, and there are repeated reports of high staff turnover in these offices, with employees leaving reviews under alias names. This is another warning sign that the culture behind the marketing may be just as shaky as the promotion itself. If you care about honesty in healthcare and want to know what really happens behind bargain-basement dental ads, this episode is worth your time. Perhaps motivation for those to stop subscribing to marketing like this, and I hope it finds the right ears better to regulate this shady form of marketing in dentistry once and for all—especially for those of us doing it cleanly. If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment.Until next time, peace out peeps! ✌️ 📦 Amazon Store – My FAV Thingshttps://www.amazon.ca/shop/toothlife.irene?listId=YLX0271390I3 Follow on Social Media 💁🏼‍♀️ Personal Instagram – @Toothlife.Irenehttps://www.instagram.com/toothlife.irene 🙋🏼‍♀️ Facebook – Irene Iancuhttps://www.facebook.com/irene.iancu 💃🏼 TikTok – @Toothlife.Irenehttps://www.tiktok.com/@toothlife.irene 🛒 Online Store & Instagram – @Toothlifehttps://www.instagram.com/toothlife 🥼 Office Instagram – @ToothlifeStudiohttps://www.instagram.com/ToothlifeStudio 🎤 Podcast – @ToothorDare.Podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/ToothorDare.Podcast 🔗🌲 All the Cool Linkshttps://linktr.ee/TOOTHLIFE.IRENE
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24 MIN
How to determine  if Bone Loss Is due to Perio, Malocclusion, Or  Something Else?  | Tooth Or Dare Podcast with Toothlife.Irene
SEP 4, 2025
How to determine if Bone Loss Is due to Perio, Malocclusion, Or Something Else? | Tooth Or Dare Podcast with Toothlife.Irene
How do you determine if someone truly has bacterial-induced bone loss? When a patient presents with bone loss, periodontal disease is one of the most common causes, but not always. What else could it be? In this episode, we discuss various factors contributing to bone loss and recession, with malocclusion being a significant one.   We discuss:  How a slight vertical defect can lead to deterioration of bone. What is traumatic occlusion, and how is it identified? How old restorations contribute to occlusal issues What to look for before jumping straight to perio as the cause Our friends at Designs for Vision brought this episode to you.  Designs for Vision is providing a 45-day trial of their loupes to our listeners! No strings attached.  If you don't love the loupes, simply send them back for a refund.  To learn more, visit  https://www.designsforvision.com/DentHtml/D-InfinityGA.htm   📲 Questions or Episode Topic Requests? @toothlife.irene — Check the top 3 pinned posts to access the download and leave your questions in the comments. We'll be answering them in upcoming episodes!   Until next time, Peace out peeps! ✌️ _______________________________________  📦 Amazon Store with my FAV things: https://www.amazon.ca/shop/toothlife.irene?listId=YLX0271390I3 Follow on Social Media:  _______________________________________ 💁🏼‍♀️Personal Instagram @Toothlife.Irene https://www.instagram.com/toothlife.irene Personal Instagram: @victoriaarmaly_ https://www.instagram.com/victoriaarmaly_ 🙋🏼‍♀️Facebook Irene Iancu https://www.facebook.com/irene.iancu 💃🏼TikTok @Toothlife.Irene https://www.tiktok.com/@toothlife.irene 🛒Online Store and Instagram @Toothlife https://www.instagram.com/toothlife 🥼Office Instagram @ToothlifeStudio https://www.instagram.com/ToothlifeStudio ______________________________________ 🎤Podcast @ToothorDare.Podcast https://www.instagram.com/ToothorDare.Podcast _______________________________________ 🔗🌲Cool links in my Linktree https://linktr.ee/TOOTHLIFE.IRENE
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15 MIN