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NAIMA IN CALIFORNIA ASKS:
I overheard a mom at the playground talking about her holistic dentist and saying some scary stuff about dental floss. What’s wrong with regular dentists and floss? Do I need to change my dental hygiene routine?
Tell Congress: Protect Our Families From Harmful Toxic Chemicals
MOM DETECTIVE ANSWERS:
To me, the whole world of dentistry is a sea of plastics. Various plastics are used for mouth guards, retainers, and “invisible braces.” Also who-knows-what chemicals, plastics or not, are used to make cavity fillings and glues that bond equipment to teeth. And don’t even get me started on polymers and more in tooth-whitening strips. I’m no fan of plastics, and normally I easily work my way around them, plus unknown chemicals, by educated avoidance. I just do my research and opt for safer versions. But dental hygiene is usually necessary, and alternatives are not copious.
I went to a holistic dentist once as I was intrigued by the concept. The idea is that the mouth is interconnected to your entire body and should be treated that way. While I was in the chair, mostly we had a long discussion about removing fillings containing mercury, a potent neurotoxin, of which I have zero. I have since read that removing intact mercury fillings, and holistic dentistry in general, is frowned on by mainstream dentistry. I’m not getting in the middle of that fight.
I remain interested in things like nontoxic composites and even ceramic restorations, but I admit that I never went back. My dream is that safer materials will hit mainstream dentistry as more and more people demand things like fillings that don’t contain bisphenol-A, a hormone-disrupting synthetic compound used to make hard, clear polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resin.
The big stuff: Limited choices
As a patient in the mainstream dental realm, my loosely scientific approach is as follows, Naima. I do what truly needs to be done, always ask questions about material toxicity, and strive to make better choices if there are any options. And I minimize exposure to potentially unsafe dental products where I have real control (more on that below). For example, I do get my cavities filled, but I have declined to get a plastic nightguard I’ve been told I need.
There is research demonstrating that plastic braces and clear aligners shed microplastics and nanoplastics thanks to chewing and saliva. One study noted that 3D-printed aligners shed the most plastic particles, which are easily ingested and “processed by immune cells.” It’s not easy to find out the full extent of microplastics shedding from plastic aligners—or even what kind of plastic the aligners are made from!
I grind my teeth and don’t want to grind plastic all night long, then swallow it. If you need a mouthguard—or a retainer—see if you can find out what the material is and seek alternative materials if need be, and if any are available. When my older daughter needed braces, we opted for old school metal over plastic. You may also be able to find a mostly metal retainer instead of a plastic aligner.
The daily stuff: Lots of choices
While I have little control over if my dental filling contains bisphenol-A—even if I ask about it—I have lots of control over the dental items I use in my mouth every day. Here is where I can minimize exposure to potential harmful chemicals seven days a week—it adds up!
Toothbrush
Chances are you’re using a plastic toothbrush. When you scrub it back and forth, little pieces come off in your mouth. Studies have proved that toothbrushes contribute to the release of tiny plastics during routine oral hygiene. Eventually, toothbrushes start to degrade, and even more particles will be released. When you replace a toothbrush, the old one winds up in a landfill. Maybe your kids even chew on theirs.
Try using a wooden toothbrush with nonplastic bristles instead and see how you and your family members like it. Some people find them too rough. I like mine just fine, it costs about the same, and it’s widely available. Some toothbrushes even have replaceable heads so you don’t have to toss the entire thing every time you’re ready for a new brush. Check them out.
Dental floss
We all know flossing is good for us. But the chemicals used to make floss glide between our teeth? Not so good. Typically, what’s used on drugstore brands is PFAS “forever chemicals.” PFAS exposure has been linked with harmful health effects in humans, including decreased fertility, cancer, liver damage, thyroid problems, immune effects, and cholesterol changes. When pregnant people are exposed to PFAS chemicals, their developing babies may be at higher risk for low birth weight, skeletal changes, and early puberty later in life.
This is not to say the amount of exposure when flossing will lead to scary health issues, but generally speaking, PFAS chemicals are bad news. And this should not be a trade-off consumers are forced to make when flossing. The concern has become so mainstream that Consumer Reports has a long list of PFAS-free dental flosses. Try some. If a beeswax-coated floss feels too thick, try another brand. It’s well worth it.
One other thought about flossing: I am not a fan of plastic floss picks. My kids love them and even chewed on the plastic when they were younger until they got tired of me yelling at them to stop. Good news: if you want a pick with floss, there are reusable plastic-free versions.
Tongue scrapers
I recently have become obsessed with my tongue scraper. TMI? Anyway, there are many plastic versions on the market. Mine is stainless steel, doesn’t cost much more, and will last a lot longer than plastic.
Toothpaste and mouthwash
I’m not going to get bogged down or weigh in on fluoride as a topic. I’m just not. There are plenty of other sources for that information for anyone to make an informed decision based on solid science. I will, however, weigh in on other ingredients found in toothpaste, like the chemicals that make it foam. Try to find a paste with mostly natural ingredients that does what you want it to do. Bonus points if you want to reduce plastic tube packaging and opt for toothpaste pellets made from natural ingredients instead. Often these are sold in a recyclable metal tin. If you use mouthwash, you can also find this made from natural ingredients and sold in glass bottles instead of squeezable plastic ones.
Happy brushing and flossing!
Tell Congress: Protect Our Families From Harmful Toxic Chemicals