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Why did my dentist ask how often I drank bottled water? Among other things.
Also, he recommended I take a prescription toothpaste with 5x the normal amount of fluoride, to brush 2 times daily with it, AND not to rinse my mouth after using it. I feel it sounds pretty dodgy, because I've been googling about fluoride lately, and it says it's bad for humans to consume it in large amounts. I mean, I generally brush once a day, and floss once a week, which I can improve, but I don't feel I want to do so with so much fluoride, when there are side-effects. But when I asked my dentist about the potential side effects, he just brushed them off like they were nothing, and thought the fluoride-free toothpastes at Whole Foods were ineffective in preventing cavities. I feel queasy about it. I mean, It's a great dental office, and it was my first time trying it out, but yeah.. Am I right for being cautious about this? I don't want to be taken advantage of.
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Want to answer more questions in the Health & Fitness category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Health?
Who do you think is more qualified to have an opinion; your freaking dentist who spent years in school learning this field or the Internet?
Fluoride is already in your water and has been for 40 years. [Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
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Definitely. Dentists are in the business to help people but also in the business to keep their practice opening and have X amount of clients as quota to do so.
When it comes to toothpaste, brushes, drugs, floss etc. they do indeed get financial kickbacks from companies who get them to endorse products or prescribe certain medications over others.
Some of the dishonest types also find ways to bill you or an insurance company too much or for services they didn't provide or for more blocks (time) than they did.
If you aren't sure why this dentist prescribed this kind of toothpaste and he's brushed off your concern about it forget him and don't go back. Unless he's told you your teeth are bad and need this than see someone else and have them check your teeth without saying anything and see what they tell you to do then tell them another dentist recommended this paste and brushed off your concerns about flouride and what it does.
As far as asking about liquids you consume that's standard. Coffee, sugary drinks, pop etc. can ruin enamel and cause issues with teeth. If you feel queasy at all about this dentist than trust your gut.
The prescription may also be warranted for whatever dental issue you had but do check things out and become comfortable and educated about it or if it's not needed and not a good fit for you walk away and get another dentist who can be brutally honest and at the same time address every decision he's making and what you need versus do not.
As far as flouride in water in the U.S. several organizations including churches such as Christian Science for example tried to fight government to have it not added to drinking water because they knew how bad it was considered to be and is to be absolutely frank.
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I will say that flouridated toothpaste and water may not show disastrous results on teeth. But there are studies I have seen that show that it is slow acting and any bad results will come only after years of use. The affects flouride has have been reported to be affects on the brain, ability to be as intelligent as one was meant to be. Fluoridation has been reported to have an effect of dummbing down the mind. But there are other things in our world that add to it. If one can believe the reports.
Both sides will twist reports to reflect their ideas or beliefs in the most positive light. So with that going on, how can you know who to trust.
In case's like this, I go with my gut feeling. If something doesnt feel right to you, don't do it.
I also pray and ask God in lots of cases like this for direction. You are going to get both extremes on here.
If you are into natural health to begin with, then try this magazine on line and do searches for topics you are interested in.
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
My 2nd husband says he has always just brushed with toothbrush and water and occasional use of baking soda for the scrubbing action. He has no cavities. His parents and grandparents did it the same way..no toothpaste. No cavities for his family either. Since meeting him, I switched to using baking soda. I can't eliminate everything that might have bad effects over time but it's my Life, we're gambling with. I only get this one body...so just to be one the safe side, I prefer to make my choices based on what I feel comfortable with. Anything that has too much debate on it on both sides....I figure there's a reason for it, or the opposition would'nt be saying anything.
Today, it is more important to take a full interest in your health and not just assume that because a professional insists that this is okay and the only right way is what they were taught.
Once upon a time, schools taught that the world was flat. Is it? As society learns and grows and figures out more things due to advances in science, we drop the things we used to say is good and change our views. Once upon a time, it wasn't known that alcohol or cigarette smoking can affect the developing fetus. Now we know better. There are many people who trusted their doctor and the pharmaceuticals and took a certain medication or procedure that now is found to have ruined their health with bad side effects and groups of them are represented by lawyers, you've seen the ads on TV, to try to seek recompense. But a little money gained from sueing isn't getting ones health back. I still feel in the end, it's best to stay on the safe side.
Flouridated water is why my husband started traveling to a local city natural well that bubbles up from the ground. The city put in two pipes to bring it up, its always running and they check it regularly to make sure it is safe. No chorine in it, no fluoride and it tastes delicious. some people travel miles to come get a car load to last them weeks for their drinking water.
Start checking around Whole foods and find other people into natural health and ask around if there's such a natural spring in your county. People travel 3 counties at least from those I've talked to. Natural springs are few and far between. Glad to see that you are thinking for yourself and not blindly accepting what everyone else tells you. Man thinks he is so intelligent and knows better than anyone. But I know God knows better. If God brings information to you about anything that you eat, drink, allow to contact your skin, or breathe in, and how it will affect you, then pay attention. You can in the end only make your best decision based on what you feel and from researching the pro's and cons for yourself. that is my best advice. Cus you're just gonna get confused reading about widely differing opinions on here.
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"Why did my dentist ask how often I drank bottled water?"
The water from many human public water supplies contains fluoride, but the water found in bottles is not typically fluoridated.
While *excess* fluoride can have toxic effects on the human physiology, the amounts used in dental preparations and city water is beneficial in preventing cavities. Fluoride ions can help to remineralize teeth, but this effect only occurs strongly when the fluoride is in direct contact with your teeth.
Many websites promote the 'dangers' of fluoridation. They are largely not based on facts. Why humans continue to promote these wrong ideas is a mystery to me, and an object of further study.
If you still have concerns about the prescription toothpaste, then do consider using a normal fluoridated toothpaste. And tap water on earth is generally fluoridated, virtually free, and good to the taste. On the other hand, bottled water offers no particular health benefits, is expensive, and even if the plastic is recycled, there are costs to the environment from transporting the water by fossil-fuel burning vehicles.
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