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Archives for March 2021

How Do I Make the Pediatric Dentist Take My Concerns Seriously?

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girl with cavities

I took my six-year-old to the pediatric dentist last week and she had cavities again. Two this time. She’s already had four others. Two of those turned into extractions and the other two needed baby root canals.

The thing is, we’ve been vigilant. Seriously vigilant. She doesn’t get juice or soda and I don’t bring anything sugary into the house. Ever since the last round, I’ve done 100% of her brushing for her. Always at least twice per day and I do three when we’re home together on the weekends. Yes, we’re also using fluoridated toothpaste.

This is upsetting as it is. I wanted to know what else we could be doing or why she keeps getting cavities, so I asked the dentist while we were in. Instead of helping, she told me it was my fault for not doing more to take care of my daughter’s teeth. I told her what I was doing and she replied, “Well, your daughter’s cavities say otherwise.” She basically called me a liar.

There must be other things that could be causing this, right? How do I get her to take me seriously and help us find the cause?

Sincerely,

Kim

 

Dear Kim,

So sorry to hear you are going through all this! Let’s break your question down.

Lots of Things Could Be Causing Your Daughter’s Cavities

She could have a genetic predisposition to have more cavities. She could have some form of structural anomalies or the enamel may not have developed correctly. She could also have an undiagnosed medical condition causing the issue. The bottom line is that you know what you’ve been doing at home and if that isn’t working, then keep being your daughter’s champion until you find a solution or answers.

Get a Second Opinion (And a New Pediatric Dentist)

The pediatric dentist should have taken you more seriously to begin with. Unfortunately, if that’s her nature, there’s not a whole lot you can do to turn her around. Even if you convinced her to keep looking, she wouldn’t have the attitude of someone who cares. She’d go into it to check off boxes.

Instead of pursuing this with her, have a consult with another dentist and touch base with your daughter’s pediatrician too. If there’s going to be a lapse between now and your appointments with them, there’s probably no harm in letting the current dentist take care of these cavities. It sounds like they tend to progress fast with your daughter or the dentist is missing them until they’re large. You don’t want them left untreated for long. Best of luck to the both of you.

 

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Raymond Bolt, a provider of pediatric dental services in Auburn, AL.

What Now? My Dentist Said Charcoal Toothpaste was OK…

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charcoal toothpaste

I had a lengthy chat with my dentist a couple years back regarding charcoal toothpaste. I tend to prefer natural medicine and was hoping charcoal would be a good alternative to the professional teeth whitening he offered. He was pretty blunt that I shouldn’t expect the same kind of results but said that there was no harm in using charcoal toothpaste. Now, I’m following the news and it seems like he and half the population was wrong. I’m worried I may have done permanent damage to my teeth. Is there a way to find out?

Thanks,

Rebecca

 

Dear Rebecca,

The latest class-action lawsuit is against Procter & Gamble, makers of Crest Toothpaste. However, there have been several others in the past and there are likely to be more down the road. The argument is that charcoal is so abrasive that it takes off layers of your enamel. And, while there’s certainly a case for it being harsh, studies have largely been inconclusive.

Studies on Charcoal Toothpaste are Inconclusive

When the American Dental Association (ADA) pulled every study they could find on charcoal toothpaste, the results were all over the place.

“Two studies offered nonspecific caries reductions, 3 studies reported deleterious outcomes (increased caries, enamel abrasion, nonquantified negative impact), and 1 study indicated only that brushing with raw charcoal had no adverse effects on oral hygiene,” the report said.

So, although the scales tipped in favor of it not being safe, it wasn’t by a wide margin. With that in mind, the ADA concluded “this literature review showed insufficient clinical and laboratory data to substantiate the safety and efficacy claims of charcoal and charcoal-based dentifrices.”

The organization said dentists should “advise their patients to be cautious” when using charcoal toothpaste. If nothing else, though, claims that charcoal toothpaste is somehow good for you could also not be substantiated. In absence of evidence, most dentists would generally suggest not using something. Lack of an ADA seal is usually a solid indicator that a product is deviating from the trusted norms.

Even Still, Charcoal Toothpaste is Highly Abrasive

Many people like yourself turned to charcoal toothpaste in the quest for whiter teeth. It’s actually the abrasiveness of the material that gives it the ability to “whiten” by scrubbing off stains. The real question is whether it was so abrasive that it damaged enamel. Some studies did come to this conclusion by measuring the roughness of a tooth before using charcoal toothpaste and again after a month of use. With that in mind, it could theoretically damage your teeth in as little as a month.

However, each person responds differently to abrasive products to some degree. Habits and genetics, among other things, can determine the quality and strength of your enamel and, thus, your susceptibility to damage. That may be why the studies couldn’t prove anything. If they weren’t isolating for those factors, they would have different findings.

It Wouldn’t Hurt to See a Dentist

If you had damage from using charcoal toothpaste or anything else, you’d probably have telltale symptoms, like yellower teeth from thinning enamel, picking up stains fast due to rough enamel, or sensitivity. If you aren’t experiencing any of these issues, chances are your teeth have come through it ok. However, for your own peace of mind, you may want to get a thorough exam. It’s best to see a dentist who does a lot of cosmetic dentistry for this, as he’ll be more finely attuned to picking up minor changes Best of luck to you.

 

This blog is sponsored by Auburn AL dentist, Dr. Raymond Bolt.