DIY Dental Treatments: What Your Dentist Thinks
Provided by ADA’s Healthy Mouth & Debi M. Huyssoon, D.M.D.
Do-it-yourself (DIY) trends that claim a few simple steps will lead to a dramatic impact may work well for some home improvement dreams, but what about DIY when it comes to your dental health?
“Some DIY dental health fads, like oil pulling for example, are just not effective,” said ADA dentist Dr. Matthew Messina. Others, however, could cause damage. DIY whitening with charcoal – a popular trend on social media – can cause more harm than good, Messina warned. There is no evidence that shows dental products with charcoal are safe or effective for your teeth, according to the September 2017 issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association.
Before you take your dental health into your own hands based on the promises and ease of any DIY treatments, it’s critical to talk to the expert – your dentist.
The benefits of an office visit
People may seek DIY services for dental treatments like teeth straightening because they feel they can’t fit office visits into their schedule or think that it will cost less than in-person treatment, said Dr. Maria Lopez-Howell, another ADA dentist. Products such as at-home aligners are also called direct-to-consumer, or DTC, products. However, working with a dentist can offer more options for your unique case.
“Additional choices or services may be offered once your dentist can assess what’s happening in your mouth,” Dr. Lopez-Howell said. “Alternative treatment plans and options that address budgetary concerns are more easily developed.”
Visiting a dentist can also catch issues beforehand and ensure treatment doesn’t cause more problems than it cures, said ADA dentist Dr. Ruchi Sahota.
As a practicing dentist of 15 years I have seen plenty of DIY dentistry and most of the time people create more problems than they solve. In addition to solving the isolated problem, I examine the patient’s overall dental health, which covers more than just the mouth. It includes evaluation of the face, neck, and throat. Patients that DIY their own dental care can miss preventable conditions, which if left untreated can lead to larger, more expensive or irreversible dental issues in the future.
Before you start any DIY dental treatment, it’s important to speak with your dentist about the potential risks and benefits. If you do not have a dentist, give us a call or email us for an appointment.
