If you use TikTok and other social media, you likely have a sense of today’s DIY health trends. Countless online influencers promote products and habits that seemingly do your body good. With that said, you’ll want to be careful of such fads; many popular health trends are bad for teeth. Picking the wrong body hack could potentially ruin your pretty smile. As for the proof, look at these four examples from your local Manchester dentist.
Lemon Juice
Plenty of people swear by lemon juice, claiming it boosts vitamin C and makes colds bearable. However, this beverage doesn’t do your grin any favors.
The problem with lemon juice is that it’s highly acidic. As such, it can be very abrasive on your teeth and damage your enamel. Long-term usage would greatly increase your risk of cavities and gum disease, as well as oral aches and pains. Given these facts, you should only ever drink lemon juice (if at all) through a straw; doing so would protect your teeth.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar gets a good rap these days for its supposed detox and weight-loss effects. Even so, it’s rather harmful to your smile.
Just like lemon juice, apple cider vinegar has a high level of acidity. Taking shots of it can thus cause enamel erosion and make your teeth more sensitive. Adding insult to injury, the vinegar component even has a chance of making your grin look more yellow! You ought to dilute your cider shots with water to avoid such effects, as well as brush a half hour after drinking.
Activated Charcoal Toothpaste
Some say that activated charcoal toothpaste rids a smile of stains and impurities. In truth, it just causes problems for your pearly whites.
Activated charcoal is a very abrasive substance. If you brush your teeth with it, you’ll wear down your enamel and expose your smile’s underlying dentin. You’ll then be more likely to experience tooth sensitivity, tooth decay, gum disease, and so on. Unless you want those issues, please stick to standard fluoridated toothpaste instead.
Hydrogen Peroxide
According to various gurus, rinsing with hydrogen peroxide treats mouth sores, inflamed gums, and bad breath. Still, this practice just isn’t good for your mouth.
Hydrogen peroxide is inherently unstable and corrosive. Even in small amounts, this liquid can upset your body’s tissues, cause various side effects, etc. Rinsing out your mouth with it is more likely to irritate your teeth and gums than treat any oral problems. Plus, swallowing hydrogen peroxide makes people feel queasy and ill.
Health trends that are bad for teeth just aren’t worth it. Ultimately, you should find other kinds to pursue going forward.
About the Practice
Fromuth & Langlois Dental of Manchester is based in Manchester, NH. Led by Dr. Robert C. Fromuth himself, our practice makes every effort to help your smile thrive. We thus use cutting-edge technology to provide comprehensive dentistry, including preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments. Our team also stays ready to handle dental emergencies on short notice. For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (603)-644-3368.