Is there really a best (or worst) toothpaste, or does it matter?
I personally rotate between Crest, Colgate and Sensodyne, but any brand that has the American Dental Association seal is sufficient. Definitely avoid any toothpaste with charcoal! The charcoal is too abrasive for your teeth and wears away enamel over time.
– Dr. Hannah Draver, Draver Dental, Shorewood
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
Do some dentists push unnecessary fillings or other work to make money? Is there a way to tell?
My rule of thumb is that if I can’t simply and plainly explain what we need to do and why, then I probably shouldn’t be doing it. I photograph every tooth I work on with a small intraoral fiber-optic camera before and during the procedure so that I can show patients exactly what it is we’re doing and why it needs to be done. I prefer to be educational and transparent. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words.
– Dr. Eric Taibl, Elmbrook Family Dental, Brookfield
Does a patient’s breath ever just wreck you?
If there has been severe dental neglect, the smells can be challenging. I’ve had to put essential oils under my nose to help. I’ve had to excuse myself for a minute on occasion, telling the patient I have to examine X-rays. It’s not that common – maybe 10% of patients.
– Dr. Angela Lueck, Riverwalk Dentistry, Milwaukee
Can you tell when we’re lying about flossing?
Yes, we can almost always tell when you’re lying about flossing. We can usually tell by the appearance of the gums and the location of the tartar. Although patients think the “poking” of the gums during the cleaning causes bleeding, patients with healthy gums who floss every day do not bleed during cleanings at all.
– Draver
Do you actually floss every day?
If I were stranded on a deserted island and I had to choose between a toothbrush and floss, I’d take the floss. There are a lot of incorrect techniques. I think traditional flossing is more effective than other methods. You want to floss correctly, hug the sides of the teeth so you’re not just moving bacteria, you’re also removing plaque.
– Lueck
How zoomed in are the glasses thingies you wear? How small of a fleck of plaque can you see?
I’m well aware that those goofy-looking microscopic glasses are not a good look, but I wouldn’t attempt any dental work without them. Typical magnification ranges from about 2.5x to 4x, but endodontists often exceed that with microscopes for their procedures. With high magnification, teeth appear so large that you feel you could almost climb inside them and walk around!
– Taibl
What is the weirdest thing you’ve seen stuck in someone’s teeth?
We find hidden popcorn kernels stuck in people’s teeth all the time – even days after the last time they remember eating popcorn. It’s also pretty common to find broken pieces of old fillings that the patient isn’t even aware of.
– Draver
