While some tend to think of dentists as the most reliable source of information when it comes to keeping our mouths safe, sometimes, your dentist may not give you all the information you’re looking for and may even choose to eliminate certain information during your visits. Here are a few things your dentist may not have told you.
Tongue Piercings
Since your mouth is a perpetually moist, bacteria-laden environment, it is an incubator for infections. Most dentists will tell you that proper cleaning will keep a mouth piercing fine, but what they won’t tell you is that most tongue piercings often cause infections and even chipped teeth.
Root Canals
Many dentists won’t tell you that root canals and other invasive procedures such as tooth extractions have been known in the past to cause internal infections in a few patients. The danger lies in the lack of signs or symptoms around the infection in the mouth, which leaves it to fester and slowly drain the immune system, leading to chronic health issues.
Chewing Gum
Most sugar-free gum containing a sweetener called xylitol can actually end up being good for your gums and teeth, helping fight bad bacteria and keeping things clean, which is why it’s also often used to sweeten toothpaste.
Bleeding Gums
Dentists see many patients with bleeding gums on a regular basis and if it’s not severe, they tend to brush it off and tell you to do a better job flossing. Very few dentists mention that bleeding gums, with regular flossing, can sometimes be a sign of diabetes.
Mercury Fillings
Mercury amalgam is a substance usually used for tooth fillings, but it may not be entirely safe. Mercury is one of the most toxic substances on Earth and has been scientifically proven to leech every time a patient chews on a mercury filling.
Teeth Bleaching
Teeth whitening has recently become a popular cosmetic procedure, providing a boost of confidence to patients and a financial boost to the dental practice. Dentists won’t mention the damage whitening can do to the enamel of your teeth.
Wisdom Teeth
A large majority of people have their wisdom teeth removed early in life as recommended by their dentists, who are adamant that they become problematic, even if they’re not right now. It’s actually not necessary to have them removed if they’re not causing you any pain or discomfort.
Metal Fillings
Dentists usually make a good case for whatever filling they specialize in, very conveniently leaving out some of the surrounding details. One such piece of information that you may hear is that metal fillings, as opposed to ceramic ones, are more durable through the years.
