Skeptics Stack Exchange
Skeptics Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [dentistry]

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

69 questions
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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 night before. My teeth should not be getting…
JoJo
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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 don't have a mechanism to change their teeth like…
SIMEL
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Were George Washington's teeth ripped from the mouths of living slaves?

I've seen lots of things about George Washington's teeth like this going around. The real deal is George Washington had the teeth of his slaves in his mouth and not wood.. Wake Up my people they are still using us for body parts, Happy Presidents…
Evan Carroll
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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 dentist regularly (every 4-6 months), then…
mmr
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Is this image about child teeth development accurate?

There's a picture on Pinterest depicting a child's skull with all deciduous teeth (baby teeth) still attached, and adult teeth showing in a quite developed stage underneath: The picture is described as "A child’s skull before losing baby teeth".…
Ilari Kajaste
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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?
Christian
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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, but only found half hearted explanations or…
John Rhoades
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Is it better to floss before or after brushing the teeth?

Floss: Dental floss is a cord of thin filaments used to remove food and dental plaque from between teeth. The floss is gently inserted between the teeth and wiped along the teeth sides, especially close to the gums or underneath them. In dentistry,…
Sparkler
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Can teeth cavities be cured through diet?

I've seen this Natural News article popping out a lot recently. It claims that dental caries is not caused by bacteria but by poor nutrition: which results in minerals being pulled from bones, causing tooth and bone loss It strongly hints, without…
System Down
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Do modern toothbrush features remove more plaque than regular toothbrushes?

The Oral-B makes some claims about their Oral-B Pro-Health All-In-One: Oral-B Pro-Health All-In-One toothbrush has been clinically proven to remove more plaque than a regular manual toothbrush with its CrissCross® bristles, which are angled at 16°…
Makis Kar
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Does unflavoured carbonated water cause damage to teeth?

I have been told that Carbon Dioxide (CO2) dissolved in carbonated water produces carbonic acid, that can attack your tooth enamel. The Daily Mail claims: believe it or not sparkling water is almost as damaging to your teeth as flavoured fizzy…
victorhooi
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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 and claimed it wasn't "7 shades brighter" or…
going
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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 the surfaces of my teeth, only the actually…
dizzytri99er
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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 teeth decay? Or is it a lack of proper dental…
TheEnigmaMachine
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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 I don't really see a reason why dentists should be…
Oliver_C
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