Healthy Mouth and a Healthier You

Oral Health Myths: Ask the Dentist

Dentist Steven E. Roth, DMD, answers your additional questions about oral health care myths.

Question:

I have a bad breath. How do I cure it? Will a tongue scraper work?

Answer:

Bad breath, or halitosis, can have many causes, including poor oral hygiene, smoking, alcohol, stomach problems, dry mouth, sinusitis, diabetes, tooth abscess, gum infections, etc. With so many potential causes, it is hard to say that a tongue scraper will help. The bottom line is that you need a diagnosis for the cause of the halitosis before deciding on a treatment.

Question:

Should I have X-rays taken every six months when I get my teeth cleaned? I’ve heard the radiation is bad for you.

Answer:

The ADA recommendation is every 6-12 months for a child or adolescent with a history of decay. But it could be as infrequent as every 12-24 months for an adult with no history of decay. So I would discuss it with your dentist.

Question:

Should I avoid drinking alcohol before a tooth extraction?

Answer:

Alcohol can raise the blood pressure and slow down clotting. So it is a good idea to curtail drinking a few days before an extraction.

Question:

I have a heart murmur and I was told that pre-med is no longer necessary before treatment. Is this true or false?

Answer:

The American Heart Association Guidelines have changed. Only the people at the greatest risk for bad outcomes from infective endocarditis -- an infection of the heart valves -- should receive short-term preventive antibiotics before common, routine dental and medical procedures. I generally request that patients have a screening by a cardiologist and a specific recommendation to go along with it.

Question:

Do vegetarians have more or less cavities because they don’t eat meat?

Answer:

Vegetarians will not have fewer cavities just because they don’t eat meat. Eating vegetables or meat does not matter in this process.

Question:

If you let your child suck his thumb or use a pacifier, will he need braces when he’s older? My mother-in-law keeps telling me that about my son and it’s annoying.

Answer:

Thumb sucking and the use of a pacifier can lead to an open bite where the teeth in front don’t come together. If a child stops early enough, the bite will come back together on its own. When you take your child for his orthodontic screening around 8 years old, they will tell you if braces are needed.

Question:

My son just had braces put on his teeth in March. Today, while brushing his teeth, he noticed that the back of his tongue was black. When he brushed his teeth and tongue, the discoloration went away. He said the side of his tongue is also a little sore. Should I take him to the doctor, or an orthodontist, or a dentist? Is this something that needs to be treated, or could he just rinse his mouth out with salt water?

Answer:

It’s hard to say. But many things can temporarily stain the tongue, including Pepto-Bismol, candy, throat lozenges, etc. It may be that one of the materials stained his tongue. I would not be too concerned.

Question:

Hello! I'm wondering how far a dentist would recommend you keep your toothbrush away from your toilet.

Answer:

That’s a good one! Obviously the further away, the better. There is also the option of a toothbrush head cover, the medicine cabinet, or placing it in a drawer. Most importantly, I tell my patients to change their brush every 6 weeks.

Question:

Is it true that gingivitis or gum disease is transmittable by kissing?

Answer:

There is some research that shows that couples share each other’s bacteria. However, common sense dictates that everyone should keep up with their oral hygiene and get teeth cleanings every 3-6 months.

Question:

My doctor said I’ll have less sinus infections if I have my wisdom teeth pulled. That makes no sense to me.

Answer:

Sinus infections can cause tooth pain. But I am unaware of a correlation between sinus infections and wisdom teeth.

Question:

Is it safe to brush my teeth with baking soda every day? How does baking soda effect tooth enamel?

Answer:

Brushing with too much pressure, or with a brush that is anything but soft, will wear away tooth enamel. Baking soda usually won't do any damage. But if you have thin tooth enamel to start with, and you’re using a hard bristle toothbrush and a lot of pressure, you'll probably end up with problems.

Question:

Is it possible that the tongue becomes larger as we age?

Answer:

Yes. Tongue enlargement is usually harmless, unless it is secondary to a systemic disease, like hypothyroidism. Medical and/or surgical management may be necessary. See your doctor to rule out any specific medical problems.

Question:

Is there any truth to the theory that, after a root canal, bacteria left on the teeth can cause future systemic diseases?

Answer:

Although there have been numerous stories of this happening, there has never been a well-documented study that has proven this. Leftover bacteria can cause a reinfection of the root canal, but that is all we know for sure.

Question:

Is it safe to have my teeth cleaned during menstruation?

Answer:

I can’t think of any reason why it wouldn’t be safe, unless menstrual cramping makes it difficult to sit still in a dentist’s chair.

Question:

I was just at the dentist, and they drilled into a decaying tooth and filled it with some medication. What is this medication and is it safe?

Answer:

I would ask the dentist that performed the procedure. But it is most likely a sedating filling to ease the pain in a badly decayed tooth.

Question:

What is the relationship between periodontitis and HIV?

Answer:

HIV patients are at higher risk for periodontitis or inflammation of the gums and underlying bone due to the immune deficiency related to HIV.

Question:

I have a fear of the dentist. What do you suggest I do to calm my anxiety?

Answer:

Speak to the dentist about various anxiety-reducing methods, such as hypnosis, therapy, medication, or nitrous oxide. Sometimes, just becoming more familiar with the procedures will help a lot.

Question:

I like to chew on ice and I heard that crunching ice will make your teeth crack off. Is that true?

Answer:

It can be true at times. If you have strong, healthy teeth, you shouldn’t have a problem from chewing ice. But teeth that are weakened by old fillings, cracks, or enamel loss are at a much higher risk of getting damaged by chewing ice.

Question:

Can super glue be used to fix broken dentures? I ask because one of my false teeth broke off.

Answer:

Yes. But the odds of getting the tooth back in the correct spot are slim and there are other techniques that are much stronger. See your dentist or denturist for repairs.

Question:

Is it possible for a bad tooth to affect your sinuses? Can it lead to a polyp forming in your nose?

Answer:

Tooth pain can come from a sinus infection, and a piece of an extracted tooth can enter the sinus and cause an infection. But for a specific problem with polyps I would see an ENT, an ear, nose, and throat specialist.

Question:

Can bipolar medications cause tooth decay?

Answer:

Bipolar medications can increase tooth grinding, which wreaks havoc on the system, and dry mouth, which allows bacteria to run wild and cause decay and gum and bone disease. There are preventive measures that you can discuss with your dentist to address this problem, like chewing xylitol gum or using fluoride gels or salivary stimulants.

Question:

Is it bad for your health to pull all your teeth and get dentures? Or what is the healthiest option if your teeth are all rotted?

Answer:

It was Charles Mayo, of the Mayo Clinic, who said, "People who keep their teeth live an average of 10 years longer than people who lose their teeth.”Believe it. I have seen it. Do whatever you can to keep all of your teeth.

Question:

My dad said I got my bad teeth from him. Do you really inherit bad teeth?

Answer:

Genetics definitely plays a part in susceptibility to gum disease and tooth decay. But ... you can change the course of your family’s dental health history by discussing the situation with your dentist and taking the proper preventive measures.

Question:

Is it true that fluoride is used in rat poison? I heard that’s why you should only use natural toothpaste without fluoride.

Answer:

There are fluoride by-products in rodenticides and insecticides. But the most common cause of fluoride poisoning today is direct ingestion, or “eating fluoride.” That is why toothpaste is kept away from small children. Used properly, fluoride strengthens teeth and prevents tooth decay.

Question:

Is it an urban legend that people have picked up and heard radio and TV signals from their tooth fillings?

Answer:

Sometimes people can get a funny squeak after a new restoration is placed in their tooth. But the radio station, TV stuff is more likely from hallucinations or a mental disorder.

Question:

I heard from my aunt that my mother’s side of the family has people who have two sets of adult teeth so they get their adult teeth twice. She said the second set is small, and ugly, and crooked. I thought she was making it up, but now I’m not so sure.

Answer:

Your aunt is pulling your leg!

Thank you for joining us for WebMD Ask the Dentist. Be sure to check in on Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. ET when we’ll discuss good and bad eating habits for your teeth. Sign up if you’d like an email reminder the day before the event.