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Everyone wants to be healthier and make better choices for their body. Unfortunately, the world is littered with so much information about our health that it can be overwhelming. Much of it comes from unreliable sources marketed to make us think they are good ideas, but more often than not, the simple or trendy solutions are not good for us at all. When asked to write my first article with Perrysburg Living magazine, I knew I wanted to talk about a few of these products which seem like the healthy choice, but in fact, are terrible for our teeth.
Friends, please throw away your charcoal toothpaste. This is a marketing scheme. The contrast of the black color against your teeth gives you the false appearance of a white smile. Admittedly the micro abrasion of the charcoal can lighten surface stains a pinch, but this abrasion is non-reversible and charcoal toothpaste should never be a daily routine under any circumstance.
Everyone knows that sugar is bad for our teeth. What many people don’t know is that sugar, carbohydrates, and acid together cause a real problem. Some of us are ditching pop and resorting to diet beverages, carbonated waters, and iced coffees. While there are slight advantages to these drinks, if you are sipping on them all day, the cavities are going to develop because of the acid content. Now, I need my morning coffee and I’m sure you do too. Just make sure that you aren’t exposing your teeth to these acidic drinks for long periods of time. You can do this by drinking water in-between sips of your Iced Caramel Macchiato or drinking your diet soda quickly rather than sipping on it all day long.
It can be tempting to try at home teeth aligners because of the convenience and potential cost savings. If you had seen the things I have seen, you would never consider it. Aligners done incorrectly are the surest way to ruin your smile forever. I have personally had to extract teeth ruined by some of these companies. Always align your teeth under the supervision of a dental professional that cares about you and your smile.
Fluoride has been a hot topic for a long time. One thing is for sure, the literature is overwhelmingly consistent that topical fluoride is incredibly beneficial for preventing tooth decay. Patients who decided to remove fluoride from their routine often develop decay at an alarming rate. Please consider all consequences when deciding to remove topical fluoride from your routine.
I hope this article was helpful. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.
You can find Dr. David Westmeyer at our Maumee, Frankel and Puhl Dentistry location. He has been Changing Lives a Smile at Time through excellent patient care and now through full and hybrid implant dentures.