Are dental practices out of control in the United States? (Yes)

Medical Xpress / JAMA Internal Medicine ^ | Oct. 16, 2024 | Justin Jackson / Paulo Nadanovsky et al / Yehuda Zadik / Sheila Feit

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Fluoride is necessary for good teeth but if you eat seafood or drink tea you will probably get enough in your diet.

I am against fluoride in the drinking water because when you are taking supplements unknowingly it is easy to overdose.

[Tellurian]

chronic gum inflammation and bleeding

Centuries of advice with the adage "Brush your Teeth" are misguided ... "Brush your Gums" is what it should be. Massage the gunk out from the cleavage between the teeth and gums, even if just with a soft brush and water. IMHO.

Did someone say "cleavage"?

[MayflowerMadam]

Never had bleeding gums, but I can see how much healthier it is overall without sugar and carbs. I can say no to obvious sugary stuff, but pasta and potatoes ... I love those things.

[Tellurian]

I still have the best memories of biting my dentist when I was young.

You're a bad, bad girl.

(I presume "girl" from the "ie" in mairdie - sorry if I've presumed in error)

[Tellurian]

moral

Subtle you are!

[linMcHlp]

“They” - what I have, sans package info - are at least: soft, abundant bristles that have very finely-shaped tips.

[mairdie]

A little older, I would eat chocolate and not swallow before opening my mouth.

And I can remember the eye doctor kneeling on my chest to get eye drops into me.

They earned every penny they made from my family.

[kiryandil]

Starves the bad bacteria - they've got nothing to feed on.

What were the bad opinions about it?

This is for teeth - not ingesting, though it is sometimes used as a sweetener in cooking and chewing gum.

Ingestion can give you loose stool.

[KittyKares]

My dentist, who I liked, retired. I don’t trust the new guy after he said I needed a crown and wiped out my dental insurance maximum allotment. I will be looking for a new dentist.