There’s been a lot of hype around the Internet, social media and even on store shelves about using activated charcoal for its teeth whitening affects. Like any trendy new dental hygiene tip, we decided to take a closer look at the charcoal teeth whitening trend, and here is what we want you to know.

We’ve seen posts and articles about using raw activated charcoal or toothpastes with charcoal mixed in to clean your teeth with the expectation that it has natural teeth whitening properties. The logic comes from the fact that activated charcoal is used in emergency rooms to absorb toxins and that the charcoal will do the same thing to your teeth. Some sources also say that the charcoal will remove bacteria and freshen your breath by restoring pH balance.

While it is possible that charcoal may remove surface stains and have other benefits, as dental professionals, we also worry that it may be too abrasive (i.e. rough) for enamel that makes up the outside layer of your teeth and protects them from decay or sensitivity. Regular toothpastes, especially whitening toothpastes, contain abrasives that are known to be safe on teeth. It’s possible that charcoal is dangerously rough on teeth, but we don’t know yet.

The American Dental Association conducted a review of all the available research on the use of charcoal in oral hygiene and came to the conclusion that there isn’t enough scientific evidence supporting or refuting claims that many charcoal products make. They called for more studies to be done in the future to get to the bottom of charcoal’s affect on teeth and advised that dentists tell their patients to be cautious about using charcoal on their teeth.

When it comes trendy tooth care, whether charcoal or any other trend you see online or hear about from a friend, use this analogy: Think of your mouth like the engine of your car. Imagine coming around saying they discovered you can use a cheap household product like rubbing alcohol to fuel your car. The alcohol will make your car run really smoothly for the first few hundred miles, then it might start wearing away at the parts inside your engine so it doesn’t run right anymore. Would you want to fuel up with the alcohol, or stick to good old gasoline?

The truth is, we’re just not sure if charcoal is good for your teeth or bad. Since there’s no proof that it’s safe, we advise sticking to tried and true dental hygiene tools: your toothbrush, floss, fluoride toothpaste and if needed, occasional professional teeth whitening at the dentist.

Electronic cigarettes and vaporizers have quickly become a trendy alternative to smoking, in large part because people believe they are safe to use. We’d like to send this vaping myth up in smoke.

For those who are unfamiliar, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and vaporizers are products that heat up a nicotine-containing liquid to produce vapor instead of smoke—hence the term “vaping.” Vaping doesn’t involve burning tobacco, so users can avoid inhaling many of the nastier cancer-causing chemicals found in regular cigarettes. Because of this, e-cigarette manufacturers claim that vaping is a safe alternative to smoking tobacco. In reality, there are a number of health problems associated with the use of nicotine vaporizing devices.

It Dries Your Mouth Out

While vapor is likely less toxic than smoke, you are still putting your oral health at risk if you inhale it. Researchers have found that after exposure to e-cigarette vapor on multiple days in a row, the rate of death in mouth tissue cells skyrockets! Like cigarettes, nicotine vapor is also known to dry out your mouth and reduce the flow of saliva, which is your body’s natural mechanism for cleaning your teeth and gums. You can also expect some bad breath and an increased risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Some e-cigarette users also get cold sores, which are most often on the roof of the mouth. (Gross!)

It Still Has Nicotine

Though nicotine vapor does not contain the deadly chemicals found in tobacco smoke, it is still harmful. On its own, nicotine is a powerfully addictive drug—many former smokers claim it is one of the most difficult addictions to beat. Nicotine is a stimulant, meaning it makes you more wakeful and alert while also increasing your heart rate and blood pressure. As with many stimulants, overuse of nicotine can lead to teeth grinding and reduced blood flow. Teeth grinding damages your tooth enamel and can cause cracks and fractures. Reduced blood flow is a significant concern for dentists because it can mask inflammation and bleeding in the early stages of gum disease. You may think your gums are fine when they are really not—even your dentist may be fooled!

We Don’t Know Enough About It

If the serious side effects listed above don’t scare you, the fact remains that e-cigarettes have not been around long enough for us to fully study and understand their potential health impacts. While there is evidence to suggest they are less harmful than regular cigarettes, this does not mean they are safe to use. Some people have even reported explosions from improperly made e-cigarettes! If you currently smoke tobacco or use e-cigarettes, we can help you find a healthier way to quit.

Anyone who has been around babies and toddlers knows that tiny humans use their mouths to learn about their surroundings. For the most part, using our mouths to explore is something that we grow out of, but in some cases oral bad habits and compulsions continue into later childhood or develop in adulthood, which can pose risks to your dental health. Here are a few habits that you should nip in the bud as soon as possible, and some suggestions for how to stop them.

Thumbsucking

When we provide dentistry for children, thumbsucking is one of the bad habits we watch out for. The biggest risk with sustained thumbsucking is how it affects the bite. Frequently having a thumb in the mouth causes teeth to shift around it. This can lead to problems such as an open bite, where the front teeth protrude and cause a large gap between top and bottom teeth, which can affect the function of the teeth while eating and speaking and affect facial aesthetics. Patients with an unaddressed thumbsucking habit that goes on for years usually end up needing orthodontic treatment (braces) that could have been avoided if the habit had been addressed.

The other risk of thumbsucking is that it can introduce bacteria from the fingers into the mouth, which can cause tooth decay. Thumbsucking is considered normal up until age 3. After that point, you should consult with the dentist or your pediatrician to find a solution to stop the habit, such as oral appliances that block the thumb from entering the mouth or thumb shields that are worn on hands.

Biting Your Fingernails

Chewing fingernails is a very common bad habit, but many people don’t know it’s just as bad for the health and appearance of your smile as it is for your hands. The protein that makes up your fingernails may be soft enough to bite through, but it’s actually hard enough that it can cause wear to your teeth over time. As a result, the bottom edges of front teeth start to look ragged or uneven and become more vulnerable to cracks or other damage. Ultimately, chewing fingernails is a compulsive behavior related to stress and is often a habit that people inherit. Luckily, because this habit is so common, there are lots of solutions out there. Try putting a bitter tasting solution on your fingers, occupying your hands with a fidget spinner or something else to fiddle with, occupying your mouth with sugar-free gum, or getting a manicure so there are no tempting rough edges or dry cuticles to gnaw on. If your habit has already caused damage to your teeth, the dentist can assess it and repair it with tooth-colored fillings and bonding to return your smile to it’s original appearance.

Chewing on Ice

This may be one of the worst habits for your dental health. While liquid water is great for flushing debris and bacteria away from your teeth, chewing on frozen water is not that far off from chewing on rocks. Ice can wear out your tooth enamel, making teeth more vulnerable to cracking, tooth decay, and sensitivity to hot and cold. If you have fillings, chewing on ice can make them more brittle and prone to failure. Chewing on ice is like asking for a toothache. Like biting your fingernails, you can cope with your urge to chew by substituting ice for sugar-free gum. If you continue to find yourself tempted, consider not including ice in your beverages.

We know that for most of our patients, their favorite part of a dental cleaning is how smooth and clean their teeth feel afterward, not to mention how shiny they are. Tooth polishing has long been part of the dental checkup routine ever since the 1700s when Pierre Fauchard, the father of modern dentistry, recommended it. However, if you’ve had your teeth cleaned recently (and you have, right?) you may have noticed that your dentist or hygienist didn’t polish every single tooth. That’s because the results of recent studies are changing how dentists and dental hygienists approach polishing.

First, let’s do a quick review of what happens during a dental cleaning appointment. The whole point of a dental cleaning is to remove plaque and tartar that has accumulated on your teeth. If not removed, this bacteria-laden debris can lead to cavities and gum disease. The hygienist will go after the most stubborn buildup with an ultrasonic tool, which uses the power of fine vibrations to break up tartar and water to flush it away. Next, the hygienist may use hand tools to remove any smaller spots of buildup and to smooth out the tooth surface.

After your teeth have been thoroughly cleaned and all the plaque and tartar removed, then it’s time for polishing. Most polishing is done with a tiny rubber cup that spins on the end of a hand-held wand. Before polishing your teeth, the hygienist scoops up some prophy paste onto the rubber cup. Prophy paste is like an extra-gritty version of toothpaste, which often comes in similar flavors. The hygienist then applies the prophy paste to your teeth, and the spinning of the cup polishes your teeth and removes stains. After rinsing your mouth, the hygienist may floss your teeth, then apply a fluoride treatment, which helps teeth absorb minerals that make them stronger.

In fact, removing surface stains is the primary purpose of tooth polishing these days. In the past, it was thought that polishing teeth to make them smoother made it harder for the bacteria-laden gunk that leads to gum disease and tooth decay to attach to teeth. It turns out that removing plaque and tartar during the ultrasonic scaling part of your hygiene visit is really what helps keep bacteria from adhering (plus your daily home oral hygiene routine, of course). While polishing certainly smooths out your teeth, it hasn’t been shown to make a huge difference in preventing gum disease or tooth decay. In fact, some studies have shown that polishing can even temporarily weaken your tooth enamel, making your teeth slightly more vulnerable until the outer layer of enamel grows back.

Many dental professionals now consider polishing to be primarily a cosmetic procedure. That’s why some dentists and hygienists only do selective polishing, in which they only choose certain teeth to polish, such as those with superficial stains that didn’t get removed by the ultrasonic cleaning or hand tools. So while polishing is certainly nice to get that perfectly smooth feeling after your appointment, don’t be alarmed if your hygienist doesn’t polish all of your teeth. Polishing is not as important to preventing oral problems as the ultrasonic cleaning and manual removal of plaque and tartar and tooth-strengthening fluoride treatments.

If you have any questions about the dental cleaning process, always feel free to ask us! We look forward to seeing you at your next appointment.

As dental professionals, most of what we do is about relieving and preventing pain. However, sometimes post-procedure pain is an unfortunate but unavoidable step on the road to a healthy and functional smile. If you end up needing a dental procedure, we will give you specific recommendations for how to relieve any pain as part of your post-treatment instructions. In the meantime, here is an overview of pain relievers in relation to your dental health care.

Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers

Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers are medications that don’t require a prescription from a doctor to buy. One category of these is called non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, or NSAIDs. These medications relieve pain and reduce inflammation at the same time, which can help improve the condition that is causing the pain. Examples include ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), naproxen (Aleve) or aspirin. Another common over-the-counter pain reliever is acetaminophen, known by the brand name Tylenol. Each of these pain relievers differs slightly, so your dentist will likely recommend the type that is best for your situation. You can buy these medications right off the shelf at drugstores and many grocery and convenience stores.

Prescription Pain Relievers

As you might expect, pain relievers that require a prescription from a doctor are stronger and may be used to treat more intense post-operative pain. Some prescription pain relievers are just stronger doses of OTC medications, such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Other prescription pain relievers are opioids, such as hydrocodone and oxycodone (a.k.a. OxyContin). Opioids come with a risk of addiction because they are narcotics, so they must be taken according to instructions and with great care. If you have a history of substance abuse, you should talk to your dental surgeon or doctor about whether you should take opioids for your dental pain.

Pain Relievers and Dentistry

If you’ve been under the care of an oral surgeon for wisdom teeth removal, tooth extractions, or another procedure, you know that sometimes the oral surgeon will prescribe post-operative pain management medications beforehand. Most of the time, these prescription pain relievers are offered “just in case”. Depending on the procedure, some patients will not experience a level of pain that cannot be alleviated with over-the-counter medications. For your comfort, the oral surgeon will provide prescription painkillers in the event that over-the-counter medications are not effective.

Simpler procedures may also have residual pain that can be handled with over-the-counter pain relievers. For example, pain from swelling after treatments that involve the manipulation of gum tissue can usually be handled by over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen.

If you have concerns about dental pain or which medications are right for you, be sure to discuss this with the dentist. We are happy to provide post-procedure pain management recommendations, no matter which treatment we’ve done on your smile.

You might have heard that you have your father’s eyes or your grandmother’s sense of humor. Maybe you know what diseases or medical concerns run in your family. But do you know what dental conditions are in your genes?

It’s true that genetics can affect dental health, but if you see bad teeth in your family, don’t feel doomed to a similar fate!

Family history can indicate a predisposition for good or bad dental health. Certain people may be more susceptible to getting gum disease or cavities. Others may have poorly aligned teeth that are difficult to clean enough to sufficiently prevent decay. Or maybe a lack of good hygiene habits was passed down by parents who simply did not prioritize dental health in their own lives.

The good news — yes, even if you’ve seen some red flags in your family — is that you have more control over your dental health than you might think. In addition to regular dental hygiene visits, your own at-home cleaning routine can potentially stave off even the worst of what you see in your family. Daily brushing and flossing with the right tools is the cornerstone of prevention.

Additionally, you may choose to — or your dentist may recommend that you — make some supplemental changes in your lifestyle to support your dental care.

Sugar is one of the most damaging foods for your teeth, so reducing your sugar intake or cutting it entirely can make a huge difference. Smoking also harms teeth, not to mention all the other health problems it causes, so quitting smoking is a good decision all around. And finally, making it easier to clean in between and around your teeth by straightening them can turn a potential dental fight around.

Whatever family history you come from, it’s important that you talk to your dentist about it. We can help you craft a custom dental health plan around the specifics in your history and daily life so you can have the best teeth at your future family gatherings.