The study or practice of medicine as it relates to the oral cavity and related structures.

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1answer
115 views

Does saliva cause tooth decay?

Is it true that saliva contains sugar itself? Although I regularly brush my teeth before and after sleeping, I suffer from cavities. Can this be the reason for tooth decay?
2
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0answers
91 views

75% of headaches due to poor bite?

I read the following claim on a commercial dentistry website: Some estimates suggest that 75% of all headaches are muscle-contraction headaches that could be tied to a poor bite. Wow! What ...
6
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0answers
341 views

Does mouthwash kill bacteria in your mouth?

Case in point: http://www.listerine.com/products/zero-mouthwash No other alcohol-free mouthwash has been proven more effective at killing bad breath germs. Contains signature 4 Essential Oils ...
17
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2answers
1k views

Does chewing on gum help clean your teeth?

Several chewing gum commercials advertise chewing their gum after meals to help clean the teeth. I was chewing today and realized that there is never a point when I am chewing that it actually touches ...
-1
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1answer
241 views

Could dental fluorosis and incipient dental caries (cavities) be the same thing? [closed]

In Textbook of Oral Pathology, page 169 it explains: White Spot Lesion This is the first visual clinical manifestion of caries which appears as chalky white spot on the tooth, that may or may ...
5
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1answer
482 views

Did the EPA fire their chief toxicologist, Dr. William Marcus, for refusing to remain silent on the cancer risk of fluoride?

I read that here in this article: http://www.nteu280.org/Issues/Fluoride/NTEU280-Fluoride.htm EPA fired the Office of Drinking Water's chief toxicologist, Dr. William Marcus, who also was our ...
-8
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2answers
296 views

Why doesn't the high amount of fluoride found in tea or tobacco prevent dental caries? Or does it have to be hydrofluorosilicic acid? [closed]

On PubMed.gov http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=PMID%3A%2016979289 "Determination of exposure and probable ingestion of fluoride through tea, toothpaste, tobacco..." "Levels of water soluble ...
5
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2answers
422 views

Does drinking fluoridated water prevent cavities?

The Green Vision blog made the claim that fluoride doesn't prevent cavities. Here is a quote from the article: The topical application of fluoride is a proven method for protecting teeth from ...
2
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0answers
102 views

Is cleaning of teeth necessary for healthier gums?

I found the following passage in Man's Search for Meaning by Dr Viktor Frankl I would like to mention a few similar surprises on how much we could endure: we were unable to clean our teeth, and ...
27
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1answer
2k views

Do we need to brush our teeth?

While everyone is telling us that we should brush our teeth twice a day, the human species has evolved for several million years without any teeth brushing. Apes don't brush their teeth, and they ...
0
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0answers
99 views

Is the real benefit of flossing that your gums strengthen?

I read that the actual benefit of flossing your teeth is not to remove food that is between them, but that your gums actually become stronger at fighting infections. Is this true?
2
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0answers
412 views

Does Sensodyne Total Care Toothpaste work?

As shown in the toothpaste cover: It is mentioned that using Sensodyne Total Care toothpaste can do the following: Protects against sensitive teeth […] Protects against tooth decay ...
6
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1answer
604 views

Does flossing your teeth regularly increase your lifespan?

According to Life Tips: Regular flossing, long considered an essential part of daily dental cleansing, has been found to have a positive effect on your life expectancy, increasing it by up to ...
5
votes
0answers
391 views

Is brushing your teeth in the kitchen sink anti-hygienic? [closed]

I do that from time to time, as I see absolutely no problem in spewing in the same place I'm washing things I've already put in my mouth (forks anyone?) not to count there are way many things more ...
7
votes
1answer
17k views

Is this scary looking image about child teeth development accurate?

There's a popular (and rather scary looking) picture on the Tobokoz photoblog, depicting a child's skull with all deciduous teeth (baby teeth) still attached, and adult teeth showing in a quite ...
26
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1answer
1k views

Does flossing produce better oral health?

Every time I go to the dentist, I'm told I need to be flossing more. We always go over the techniques, etc, and I always get a Stern Talking To about not flossing once or twice a day. If I go to the ...
8
votes
1answer
366 views

Are silver dental fillings safe?

Are silver tooth fillings safe for a person's health? My dentist says they are safe for my health. My general practitioner has no opinion on the matter. Some countries have banned or restricted ...
7
votes
1answer
472 views

Does vitamin D prevent cavities better than fluoride?

Dr. Mercola has released the following article: The Vitamin that is Better than Fluoride in Reducing Cavities. He quotes the VitaminD Council as his source for this: "There were also several ...
8
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2answers
2k views

Do I have to brush my teeth at least 3 minutes each time?

There are various claims about how long a tooth brushing session should last for proper dental hygiene. I have heard that 3 minutes is the time and that my tooth brushing sessions should be ...
10
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2answers
2k views

Does (diet) soda cause tooth decay?

I've often heard and read that soda causes tooth decay; most often the reason involves the sugars present in the soda being converted into acids which wear out the enamel. I'm curious if there is ...
13
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1answer
2k views

Does eating too much candy make your teeth rot?

This is something I remember hearing pretty often as a kid. Specifically, that you shouldn't eat too much candy or it will give you tooth decay. Is this the case? Does eating a lot of candy make your ...
10
votes
2answers
5k views

Does chewing ice cubes damage your teeth?

As I child I had the habit of chewing on ice cubes and was told that this damages your teeth. Now my son has this habit and I'd like to know if it is true. Does chewing on ice cubes damage your teeth? ...
12
votes
2answers
1k views

Can brushing your teeth too often damage your teeth?

I've heard that brushing your teeth too often (usually stated as more than 3 times per day) will cause the enamel on your teeth to become damaged or wear away, is this possible? Example 1: the ...
5
votes
1answer
771 views

Do expensive electronic toothbrushes outperform cheaper models?

There are a variety of different electronic toothbrushes on the market. If you ignore features like a timer that tells you when you have brushed the planned time, is there a measurable difference in ...
7
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1answer
639 views

Do some people have 'sensitive senses'?

This article says that: If you avoid bright light, loud noises, heavy perfumes and itchy clothing, you may find that you avoid hot and cold foods because you have sensitive teeth. I've ...
5
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2answers
2k views

Does toothpaste cause acne?

Does tooth paste cause acne around the mouth? http://www.acne.org/messageboard/toothpaste-acne-mou-t212938.html
17
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1answer
601 views

Does teeth whitening toothpaste or laser whitening work?

Teeth whitening toothpaste is one of the latest marketing tools or alleged added functions of many brands. I have also read several blogs or journalists who have had teeth whitening laser treatment ...
15
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2answers
4k views

Do dentists have an unusually high suicide rate?

Source It seems to be a common belief and I have heard it mentioned in movies (e.g. The Whole Nine Yards) and TV shows (e.g. Seinfeld): Dentists have the highest suicide rate of any profession ...
15
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2answers
6k views

Is it possible to pick up radio signals from dental fillings?

I recently heard this claim referred to on House M.D. when the titular character is experiencing phantom sounds, and the show appeared to give the idea some credibility. So I decided to look it up, ...
9
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2answers
2k views

Does Sensodyne Toothpaste Actually Work?

The manufacturers of Sensodyne toothpaste claims their products "helps relieve the pain of sensitive teeth", using the active ingredients of (either) Strontium Chloride or Potassium Nitrate Does ...
19
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1answer
786 views

Is Colgate suppressing vaccine technology that could prevent tooth decay? [closed]

These are some claims I heard in a pub today from a skeptic I just met. (Neither of us are dentists, so the terminology may be a bit off. Sorry.) Gingivitis, gum disease, tooth decay and other teeth ...
35
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2answers
21k views

What's the point of brushing teeth in the morning?

Why should I brush my teeth in the morning? My teeth are just going to get dirty again when I eat breakfast 5 minutes later. Plus, I've already done an extensive cleaning (floss, brush, mouthwash) the ...
2
votes
1answer
236 views

Does orthodontic work cause (or contribute to) TMJD issues?

I've experienced significant TMJD issues, and I know several other people who have also had TMJD issues. Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD or TMD), or TMJ syndrome, is an umbrella term ...
20
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1answer
2k views

Brushing your teeth multiple times per day

Is there evidence that suggests that your teeth will be more healthy if you brush them multiple times per day than when you brush them once per day?
8
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1answer
793 views

Is fluoride toothpaste dangerous?

Is there any proof that the amount of fluoride that commonly used in toothpaste is unhealthy?