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Taking Care of Your Teeth

More Bad Journalism on Fluoride

  To paraphrase Britney Spears (my apologies to all), “Ooops, [Newsweek] Did It Again.” Oh yes, sadly, they did - their fearless and misinformed journalist Douglas Main has jumped into the proverbial fluoridated waters and misinterpreted yet another study about fluoride effectiveness. He had a bit of help this time, however, in that the article found here is actually based on a Cochrane Review from the Cochrane Collaboration, generally considered to be one of the best sources of systematic reviews of the scientific literature on a particular topic. This time….not so much. That’s not to say that the Review is bad, per say, but there are some significant weaknesses that Main conveniently ignores while overstating the minimal conclusions that can realistically be made. Starting with Previous Bad and Debunked Claims Main starts by referencing several of his own previous articles in Newsweek relating to studies that purportedly link Community Water Fluoridation (CWF) to ADHD, underactive thyroid, and endocrine (hormone) disruption. Referencing your own journalism is not considered kosher in the scientific literature and does nothing to support your claims, but when those articles and studies have already been shown to be fundamentally flawed, he’s really starting off poorly. The study and related article about an alleged link between ADHD and CWF has been thoroughly debunked here, here, and in my own rebuttal here. The claims of an alleged link between CWF and underactive thyroid have been discussed here and here. Strike 1 for Main As is typical, anti-fluoridationists do a good job of misstating and misrepresenting science that doesn’t necessarily agree with them in order either (1) make the science itself look bad, or (2) make it look as if the science supports them when [...]

By | 2017-06-09T20:29:19-04:00 July 25th, 2015|Cavities, Taking Care of Your Teeth|0 Comments
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Do You Need Your Wisdom Teeth Taken Out?

Given all the other nonsense floating around social media, I shouldn't be surprised at seeing this old item resurrected and circulating about yet another way that dentists allegedly rip off the public: wisdom teeth extractions.  So let's talk about the following questions, then cover the answers.  Unlike most of my articles, this is going to be a lot of LISTS!  I've also included a sampling of x-rays taken in my office within just the last few weeks as examples of many of these situations.  At the end of the article, I'll also provide a short debunking of the nonsense in this article that occasionally floats around FB and Twitter: Wisdom Teeth Dental Scam & Why You Need Your Wisdom Teeth (hint: you really don't). Why Should Wisdom Teeth be Removed? Even before getting to the reasons why wisdom teeth need to be removed sometimes, let's talk about how dentists and oral surgeons generally diagnose and describe wisdom teeth, aka 3rd molars.  The most common x-ray used to see wisdom teeth and figure out if they need to be extracted or not is called a panoramic x-ray.  It looks like this: The most obvious reason that wisdom teeth should be removed is if they have a big cavity and would be difficult to fix because of how far back in the mouth they are.  If you can't keep them clean, you'll just get cavities again.  Save yourself the hassle now and get rid of them. If they can only erupt partially and are still partially covered by gum tissue, that's a great place for bacteria to grow since it's very difficult to clean them.  If the bacteria grow out of control, the infection is called pericoronitis (infection of the gum [...]

By | 2017-06-09T20:29:24-04:00 June 27th, 2015|Emergency dental visit, Taking Care of Your Teeth, Wisdom teeth|0 Comments
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Food Myths Abound – Ignore Them & Just Enjoy Eating

Before diving in, please understand that this is a very incomplete review of a truly superb book about the realities of health and nutrition.  I could write so much more but ultimately stopped so as to not write a book of my own.  However, I HIGHLY recommend this book!  Dr. Payet MSG. Salt. Fat. Adkins. Sugar. Paleo. Organic. Gluten. Juicing. Cleanses. Detoxes. GMOs. Meat. Vegetarian. Vegan. Superfoods. High fat/low carb. Low fat/high carb. How many of these food fads have you lived through?  Since my own birth in 1971 (where the heck did those years go???), I’ve seen all of them to varying degrees.  And the common theme behind all of them is that there is some ingredient, or combination of ingredients, that possess either demonic or miraculous powers that either are the cause of every known illness or will cure every known modern illness, make you lose weight without effort, prolong your life, and more.   […]

By | 2017-06-09T20:29:27-04:00 June 20th, 2015|Health & Food, Skeptical Thinking, Taking Care of Your Teeth|0 Comments
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Juicing, Fruit Juices, & Energy Drinks: Worse than Soda?

Back on December 1st 2014, Forbes.com published an article on a study with the headline: Pure Juice Won’t Rot Your Kids’ Teeth. It didn’t get a lot of attention, thank goodness, because while the article was factual, it significantly overstated the conclusion, much like the 2015 Newsweek article claiming a non-existent link between fluoride and ADHD, which I recently debunked.  Since I’ve been reading a lot of claims on social media that fruit juices, juicing, and energy drinks are healthier for you and your teeth than sodas, this seemed a good time to continue my series on science in medicine and dentistry.  It also follows nicely on my recent article Why I Don’t Buy Organic because it emphasizes why I’m skeptical about all kinds of fads.   To be clear – I have nothing against juicing, 100% juice, organic juice, whatever kind of juice if you like it.  You just need to be aware of potential risks associated with juicing, 100% juice, or energy drinks.  As reassurance, at the end of this article, I provide recommendations on how to best avoid cavities and acid erosion of your teeth if you like juicing. […]

By | 2017-06-09T20:29:30-04:00 May 8th, 2015|Cavities, Health & Food, Skeptical Thinking, Taking Care of Your Teeth|0 Comments
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Why I Don’t Buy Organic Food

You might be wondering why I'm writing about where I go grocery shopping, right? Good question! The reason is simple: as part of my blogging, I see myself as an educator about science and medicine. As they become increasingly complex, it's harder for the public to understand what's important, what's real, what's junk, etc. Also, as a passionate believer in the value of science and the scientific method, I am saddened and worried by the misinformation and myths that abound, especially on social media. That's why I write occasional articles current topics in science, medicine, and how they apply in our daily lives, just like I do about dentistry. Science vs. Pseudoscience I've already written several times about the difference between "real" medicine and "alternative" medicine, if you'd like to catch up a bit: Fluoride is Safe & Effective Water Fluoridation Does NOT Increase ADHD Holistic, Alternative Medicine is Usually Wrong Can Cavities be Cured? Do Silver Fillings Poison You?  Heck No, Dr. Oz! The most important point that I try to make in all of these articles is that real science has to follow strict rules, whereas pseudoscience and alternative medicine can pretty much make up anything they like.  Sadly, we're seeing a lot of the latter in current discussions about organic and GMO foods. Food Choice is Great Let's get some important points out of the way up front: I have nothing against organic foods, and if that's what you choose for you, that's great; As a dentist, I can obviously afford the higher prices of organic food - I choose not to do so. I have no tolerance for conspiracy theories.  If your primary argument against GMO foods is "Monsanto is evil," you've already [...]

By | 2017-06-09T20:29:32-04:00 April 12th, 2015|ANNOUNCEMENTS, Health & Food, Taking Care of Your Teeth|0 Comments
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Water Fluoridation Does NOT Increase ADHD

Alternately, this post could be titled: There is Good Science, Bad Science, and Plain Ole JUNK Science As a follow-up to my recent study on the incredible safety of fluoride in water and dental products, this is a perfect opportunity to talk about why science journalism, and even some research, can do far more harm than good by inaccurate reporting, or by reporting single studies without putting them in context of the total body of research on a subject, etc.  The article which I am rebutting here was published in Newsweek Magazine on March 10th, 2015 and titled: Water Fluoridation Linked to Higher ADHD Rates. As someone who was diagnosed with ADD (without hyperactivity) in 2005 ago at age 33, as well as being a dentist, this naturally caught my attention.  However, as I read through it, so many glaring errors jumped out at me, it became clear that the study is essentially meaningless, and the article DRASTICALLY overstated the conclusion.  There is one statement mid-way through the article that basically tells you how meaningless this study is on its own: But scientists were quick to point out that this is just one study, and doesn’t prove that there is necessarily a causal link between fluoridation and ADHD. They also noted a number of important limitations: Individual fluoride exposures weren’t measured, ADHD diagnoses weren’t independently verified and there may be other unknown confounding factors that explain the link. […]

By | 2017-06-09T20:29:36-04:00 March 23rd, 2015|ANNOUNCEMENTS, Taking Care of Your Teeth|0 Comments
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Fluoride is Safe & Effective

If you spend any time on the Internet, it's easy to find a lot of scary information about fluoride and why you shouldn't let your kids get any.  Speaking as a professional, however, I'd like to reassure you that NONE of that scary information is actually correct, and that fluoride in appropriate doses is one of the safest and most effective means of preventing tooth decay available.  It saddens me to see both children and adults who've been denied these benefits because of myths and misinformation, because those patients almost universally have many more cavities than patients who follow long-proven recommendations.  And since the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists recently released new guidelines, this is a good time to review, as there have been some changes. Current Recommendations for Dental Fluoride for Children Please ensure your infant and child receive no more than the recommended amount of toothpaste.  This is for the same reasons that children should NOT be allowed any fluoride-containing mouth rinses before the age of 6: infants and toddlers can't control their swallowing reflex so as to not swallow the toothpaste or rinse.  Eating or drinking too much fluoride can result in a couple problems (see further down the page for details).   How Does Fluoride Work on Your Teeth? While it has long been thought that fluoride that is drunk or eaten helps to harden teeth, more recent research shows that the main effect is by coating the teeth and being absorbed.  This is why the AAP now recommends starting fluoride toothpaste when the first tooth shows through; it's also one reason that fluoride supplements are now rarely recommended. Basically, enamel is a mineral matrix, mostly made up of hydroxyapatite, which [...]

By | 2017-06-09T20:29:42-04:00 February 19th, 2015|Family dentistry, Taking Care of Your Teeth|0 Comments
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The NC Missions of Mercy Charlotte 2014 Event

The North Carolina Missions of Mercy, aka NC MOM, regularly holds multi-day events around North Carolina, at which dentists and their teams, as well as many community volunteers, come together to provide free dental care for people in need.  This year, our dental assistant Rosie, dental hygienist Megan, and I participated, and let me just tell you, it was an experience unlike any other. Free Dentistry for Charlotte Residents in Need To get a good idea of what NC MOM is all about, you can watch this video.  It's a few years old, but it does such a superb job of describing the challenges facing people who need dental work, but lack the dental insurance or good jobs that will help them afford it, it's well worth watching. I first participated in a Charlotte NC MOM event back in 2012, but was unable to do so in 2013 due to family conflicts.  This year, we planned much further in advance, and to tell the truth, after doing it this year, I plan on going to even more of these events around the state, not just in Charlotte.  As I'm only licensed to practice dentistry in North Carolina (licensing in dentistry is very different from physician licensing), I can't do events in South Carolina.  However, the only times I'll do the over-night shift, as we just did, will be in Charlotte. I truly have no idea how some people worked full days on Friday, then drove to Charlotte, worked overnight, and then had to drive home on Saturday.  I'm writing this on Sunday afternoon after working the Friday evening/Saturday early morning shifts, and I'm STILL trying to recover, and I only had to drive 25 minutes home.  And [...]

By | 2017-06-09T20:31:45-04:00 September 7th, 2014|ANNOUNCEMENTS, Taking Care of Your Teeth|0 Comments
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Tooth Tip: Eat Well for Healthy Teeth

If you've been reading my blog long enough, you may have seen these 2 articles on some big changes to my diet that I wrote in response to learning that my cholesterol was much too high: OMG I'm Dying! Hooray, I'm Not Dying as Fast! To quickly summarize, though, back in June 2013, my physician told me that my cholesterol level was 244, and that unless I wanted to start medications soon, I'd better make some serious changes to my lifestyle: more exercise, less meat, less dairy, more seafood and vegetable/fruits, etc.  And because I knew that I could do it, I did.  But the lesson for today's blog post, though, is not so much about overall health, but the simple idea that  eating a healthy diet of seafood and lots of raw or minimally cooked vegetables and fruits is not only going to keep your body healthy, but that same diet is good for your teeth.  Benefits of Vegetables for Your Teeth Raw fruits and vegetables of any kind are good for your teeth, because the firm texture helps clean the teeth, they don't provide the bacteria in your mouth with easy-to-use sugars to produce enamel-destroying acid, they tend to not stick to your teeth, and of course, they provide necessary vitamins and nutrients.  Lightly steamed vegetables are just about as good, because they still retain most of the texture.  Once you get vegetables really cooked, not only do you lose a lot of the nutrients, but you lose the texture that provides a physical cleaning action while chewing. Juicing is Great, but Watch Out for Sugars and Acidity Sure, "juicing" has long been the rage in alternative medicine, and certainly conventional medicine (and dentistry) [...]

By | 2017-06-09T20:31:47-04:00 August 29th, 2014|Family dentistry, Taking Care of Your Teeth|0 Comments
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Kids Tooth Tip #3: Spaces Between Baby Teeth are Good

We had a mother in with her 3 children today, and she was concerned that her (almost) 6-year old son doesn't have any wiggly baby teeth.  We took a couple x-rays and they didn't look quite right (almost like the adult teeth were overlapping under the gums), so we took a panoramic x-ray to get a bigger picture of the young man's overall development.  What we found was that his adult teeth, as they're forming under the gums, are EXTREMELY crowded already, and there's no way there will be enough space for them to come in. Perfectly Straight Baby Teeth with No Spaces is Not Good   Indeed, it's very simple - baby teeth are a LOT smaller than adult teeth, so if there are no spaces between the baby teeth, where will the adult teeth fit?  As much as we all love to see our kids with perfectly straight teeth, it's really not the best.  Sure, as they grow, the jaws will also grow, but they don't grow fast enough, or just big enough, to accommodate those grown-up teeth. Should Your Child See an Orthodontist Early? While we usually take a "wait-and-see" approach for kids, this was a case that I chose to refer to one of our orthodontic offices, Webb Orthodontics.  I'll try to remember and update this page with their recommendations. Our next Kids Tooth Tip will be coming soon, and it will be either about Flossing or Your Child's First Dental Visit.....whichever I happen to finish first.  :-P If you'd like to schedule a check-up and cleaning for your child, we see kids as young as 1 year old, so please call us 704-364-7069 or Request an Appointment Online. And hey - if [...]

By | 2017-06-09T20:31:55-04:00 August 13th, 2014|Family dentistry, Taking Care of Your Teeth|0 Comments
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