Dental Trends
Unfortunately, the Internet is full of dental information, and people voicing their opinions about dental health. These individuals often have little to no true knowledge about dentistry yet they promote fads that people follow along with. At Hillstream Dental, serving Rochester Hills, St. Clair Shores and the nearby regions, we offer our patients sound advice and help them decide between helpful tips to try and solutions that are merely trends without any true benefit to your oral health.
Oil Pulling
This is the practice of swishing edible oil around in your mouth and spitting it out. There’s nothing harmful about oil pulling but its benefits are very debatable. Although you don’t need to stop oil pulling, this practice isn’t enough to prevent or stop gum disease or other oral health problems. Therefore, you still need preventive and corrective dental care. You should also still brush and floss your teeth routinely. This practice doesn’t remove plaque well enough to stop you from taking care of your teeth.
Baking Soda & Lemon Juice Whitening
Baking soda and lemon juice both act as whitening agents. However, either one of them can damage your teeth if you use them for teeth whitening. Lemon juice is acidic, and that acid can wear away at the enamel of your teeth. Baking soda, on the other hand, is abrasive. As a result, it can erode weakened enamel. The combination of the two have the potential to damage your enamel. The safest and most effective way to get whiter teeth is to go with professional whitening at one of our Hillstream Dental offices.
Hydrogen Peroxide Mouthwash
Hydrogen peroxide is a common ingredient in teeth whitening agents. However, never use hydrogen peroxide as a teeth whitening method, especially straight. The hydrogen peroxide can damage your gum tissue, in particular, when you use it on a regular basis.
Fluoride-Free Products
Fluoride has been scrutinized for interfering with a person’s natural hormone balance in addition to other issues. The FDA has approved fluoride in small amounts. It’s necessary for your teeth to remain strong, and it helps prevent cavities.
Grills & Tooth Gems
While shiny bling and bedazzled everything is always in style, grills and tooth gems are harmful to your teeth. Either can damage your teeth permanently. For instance, grills surround your teeth, and bacteria and debris can hide behind them. If you don’t remove them, these can cause cavities and gum disease. Tooth gems, on the other hand, adhere to your teeth using a potent adhesive substance. The adhesive can harm your enamel and cause discoloration.
Quality Care at Hillstream Dental
Fads come and go but you can always count on reliable care for the entire family from the dental professionals at Hillstream Dental. Schedule an appointment with one of our offices for preventive care or professional teeth whitening. Call us if you have questions!