Remember the time before the internet? To research anything, you had to go to the library and find books about it, then maybe talk to someone with an expert opinion. It took time and deliberation, but if you dug enough, you could find good nuggets of fact, with solid evidence- data to support the facts.
Sure, it’s much easier to find information now: just ask Siri, or say, “OK, Google, what’s the best way to clean my teeth?” and you’ll get hits from Healthline, Colgate, WebMD, Ask.com, and 200 million others. But, like so much of the internet, you need to be able to filter between the good information and the garbage. Here are three questionable dental techniques you can find on the internet – and what you should try instead.
- Whiten your teeth with…. various fruits, apple cider vinegar (ACV), and baking soda, or peroxide.
The myth is that you can make a paste of crushed berries or lemon juice or ACV and baking soda, wipe it on your teeth, and let it sit for a whiter smile at home. Supposedly, the malic acid in the berries and the citric acid in the lemon will make your teeth brighter and whiter, and since it’s all natural, it’s not harmful. But just because something is natural does not negate the harm it could cause. The acids found in berries, apple cider vinegar, and lemon juice can be quite abrasive to your enamel which is not easy to restore, causing more damage than you know! Peroxide and baking soda are gentle enough for home use, but if you want to whiten your teeth, make an appointment with Dr. Kherani for a dentist-supervised whitening treatment in Calgary!
- Using non-fluoridated or conventional techniques, like oil pulling, or activated charcoal to get a healthy, deep clean. Naturalists argue that consumers should avoid any level of fluoride, including tap water, toothpastes and other topical dental treatments, promoting instead the use of oil pulling or activated charcoal for regular cleaning.
Unfortunately, neither of these methods support healthy teeth, and both could actually damage your health! Oil pulling, in particular has been connected to aspiration and lipoid pneumonia, while activated charcoal is abrasive and may strip away the enamel of the tooth, leaving only the dentin exposed! Keep using a fluoridated toothpaste to clean your teeth and keep your six-month cleaning appointments with our Calgary dentist.
- Straighten your teeth without seeing a dentist!
Though there are services available that will give you a clear aligner for your teeth, there is no guarantee they will work. Or worse off, using rubber bands on your own could lead to complete tooth loss. If something goes wrong, there is no one to monitor your teeth or make adjustments. Stick with Kherani Dental at Aspen for your Invisalign needs.
No matter your stage in life, take care of your teeth to the best of your ability, starting with your semi-annual checkup. Schedule your next cleaning with Kherani Dental at Aspen. We’ll help make your smile bright for the spring and summer!
