EDIT Wow, I can always count on you guys and gals! Thanks for everyones contribution. You've given my wife and I a ton of helpful info to research and "sink our teeth into". Grateful for you all! God bless 🤗
Hey all,
Just looking for some knowledge/recommendation from the community here because I trust you fine folks way more than any other source of info.
My son is 5. Recently, a routine dental trip showed him to have a small spot on one of his teeth that is not yet a cavity but would eventually become one down the road if not cared for properly.
Baby teeth here, so I'm not too concerned about it but the dentist recommended treating it with SDF (silver diamine fluoride). Apparently the silver and fluoride ions kill bacteria and strengthen enamel. This is not a treatment that creates a physical barrier on the tooth, it simply kills existing bacteria. They would just dab a bit of the black liquid on the suspect area of his tooth in a bi-annual application.
I know that fluoride is generally considered to be no bueno. Would anyone like to chime in on the yay's/nay's of this treatment option? Opinions welcome as well!
I’m not a dentist. Not hating on dentists. In the past we had a dentist who, every time we went, would recommend some treatment or some procedure, even for my son who was very young. It began to be noticeable and we felt he was taking advantage. I say this because the language your dentist used reminded me of that dentist. “might become a problem down the road.” Well, that means it might not. My point is this- this procedure might not even be necessary, especially if it could be harmful or upsetting to your son. We switched dentists. BTW my son is 29, he has perfect teeth, never had a cavity. You can always decline this procedure. Just my opinion.
We've been there before as well. This woman typically isn't that pushy and we do feel pretty comfortable around her. But my trust in the medical industry does not exist. Even the most good-hearted person can receive wrong info and believe they are doing what's right. Thanks for this.
👍
I'd make up some chlorine dioxide mouthwash and have him use that...
2 drops (4 total) in a shot glass and 2 oz of warm water...swish and spit.
Thank you! I'll look into that!
Thanks Marv - Respek
Gotta pointing/recipe for DMSO based mouthwash?
I've been using ClO2 with the water pik, but only have used DMSO topically/externally. (Well technically, this would sorta be external too... don't swallow)
TIA!
u/#catdance
Thanks fren, I'll give it a go!
I did that a number of years back and my dentist said I had NO plaque.
Which? DMSO or Cl02?
Chlorine dioxide
Here's my hot take:
If he doesn't swallow it, he's gonna be ok.
Our fam tries hard to eliminate fluoride where we can and we are fortunate to have rural deep reservoir well water..no fluoride.
Our toothpaste is usually Tom's or something akin to it.
But we're not afraid of a little fluoride here n there if it's trace, and being spit out.
Tell your kid to spit. Good luck!
Also, before you begin this procedure on the kid, take the kid outside and teach him how to spit first. Thus he won't be spittling all over the bathroom sink trying to figure out how to spit.
This next idea is just something that popped into my head so take it with a small grain of sand............How about after having the stuff applied to his teeth the kid takes a table spoon of ACV to counteract the effects of the fluoride? I ain't saying this will work, it's just an idea. (Also I believe the ACV might have a little bit of a deleterious on his teeth.)
The acv will etch his enamel. No bueno.
He spits well at teeth brushing time! Even swishes good. Good ol Vinegar! That might be worth considering. Thanks for the suggestion!
Thank you!!
No info on this suggested treatment, but there are many more natural ways to help those teeth. MMS as someone said, just be sure to dilute enough or it can eat away at things.
Paint povidone iodine on the teeth, it kills s. mutans that causes many cavities. You’d do that several times a year.
Introduce xylitol, in paste or gum/mints if you allow that or even make a mouthwash. Your kiddo can just put the crystals all in their mouth and swish or brush with it, which may be easiest. It also kills bacteria that causes many cavities. Check out Dr. Ellie. If mints are ok, you can buy xylitol and cheaply and easily make mints at home.
Remineralize, make sure enough D/K, omega 3s, consider a paste with hydroxyapatite. Dr. Weston Price has great info on diet and teeth health.
Search YT there are many options you can try safely at home!
👍🏼🙏🏼
As a retired dentist/oral surgeon I never heard of it, but I have been out of that loop for a long time.
The following is from Grok. "Yes, silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a treatment commonly used by dentists to arrest (stop the progression of) dental caries in primary (baby) teeth. It's a topical liquid applied directly to affected areas, often without the need for drilling, and is particularly useful for young children or those with behavioral challenges. Studies show it's highly effective, with 38% SDF solutions arresting caries in primary teeth at rates up to 80-90% over 12-18 months, outperforming alternatives like sodium fluoride varnish in some cases. It's safe when applied by professionals, though it can cause temporary black staining on treated teeth. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry endorses its use for this purpose."
I found out about Silver Tongue Oral Care Mouthwash on this site, it has silver ions in it along with essential oils and xylitol, and NO fluoride. Good stuff!
We consume fluoride as it is naturally in the water already. Therefore all of your ingredients and soda and juices contain water, you are getting fluoride. There's more in toothpaste so they tell you to rinse and spit it out. They want it out of the water so you are not ingesting it through your intestines and into the bloodstream in amounts a little too high.
Your son needs to brush better behind his front teeth, while children focus on the front. It is a topical treatment to dab on the area. I would recommend it. While it's a baby tooth you do not want any debilitating bacteria in there with the new tooth is growing. Work on permanent teeth and frontal caps are very expensive. A child should not need that.
Sugar intake processed foods high? I would dab the area and start brushing better and more often.
I live in Florida where the governor has removed fluoride from our drinking water, the extra that is added because it is just the byproduct of the phosphate industry not knowing where to dump their waste in 1940. Gads. That's my opinion.
Thank you for your insight. We, too pretty much just deal with the fluoride at this point. And yes, he and we could do better on getting every nook and cranny. He only drinks water, rarely anything else- and he loves it! Sugar intake varies. We try to be mindful and I think we do a good job with that but he's a kid... Occasionally he might get more than he should in a sitting.
Oil pulling may also help. It does good things for teeth.
My daughter is 4 and they said the same about a back tooth as I wouldnt let them X-ray her teeth yet.
I don't know yet if this is helping but I have been using this (Lab52 kids oral spray on qmazon), she needed something to freshen her breath in the am anyway.
I have also required she let me re brush her teeth at night and in am after she does it.
I'll look that product up. Thank you thank you!
You're welcome!
I use xylitol daily 3-4x a day. I don't recommend swallowing, just take a teaspoon and swoosh in the mouth for 1-5 mins. since it may cause a stomachache if swallowed.😁
Xylitol is a natural sugar alcohol that has been shown to have beneficial effects on oral health. Benefits of Xylitol for Teeth: Reduces Cavities: Xylitol prevents the growth of cavity-causing bacteria (Streptococcus mutans) by inhibiting their ability to produce acids that damage teeth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAolJFywXww
Xylitol For Teeth at Amazon - Xylitol For Teeth - Shop Today At Amazon
Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com › shop › xylitol+for+teeth Enjoy great deals and discounts on an array of products from various brands. Xylitol for a Brighter Smile - Naturally Protect Your Teeth
Epic Dental https://www.epicdental.com Neutralize Tooth-Dissolving Acid and Zap Cavity Bacteria with Epic's Xylitol Toothpaste Hide sponsored results The effect of xylitol on dental caries and oral flora - PMC National Institutes of Health (.gov) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › articles › PMC4232036 by PA Nayak · 2014 · Cited by 234 — The xylitol group had 27% fewer caries than the sorbitol group. This experiment also concluded that xylitol positively impacts permanent teeth.
https://www.deltadentaloh.com/Groups/Wellness?articleid=354
Love the Epic Dental Xylitol products AND the fact that their toothpaste has Non-flouride version as well. My dentist recently also recommended finding a toothpaste containing Hydroxyapatite. Never had heard of that one but evidently it is also effective (as is xylitol) in helping to re-mineralize those "almost but not quite) cavities!!
Lab52 has xylitol in it and is an oral spray on amazon for kids. Tastes great.
My naturopath recommended 3 products OraMD tooth oil made by Trusted Health Products, a drop on top of your toothbrush. Myrrh Gum by Vitality Works, a few times a week, a dropper into the mouth with a tiny bit of water, hold this in mouth for 10 mins,swish a bit, then spit out. This kills bacteria and toxins. Biodent made by Standard Process.. chew a few daily, adds natural calcium to the system. After using these for a few months, my dentist and hygienist both exclaimed, wow, everything looks good! I’m in my 60s and have had various problems for years.
Another helpful product is Heritage Hydrogen Peroxide mouthwash. Taste isnt great, but works to keep the gums free of bacteria.
Liposomal Vitamin C has indefinitely delayed a supposed need for a root canal for over 3 years…🤔
Good info, thanks!
Why not try chlorine dioxide from FrontierPharm. They make chlorine dioxide for oral care and to prevent cavities. If your 5 yo can’t swish and spit, you could apply to the tooth with a q-tip and rinse it off with a w-tip.
Allow him to chew a gum with xylitol. It is a natural sugar that tooth decay bacteria like to eat but cannot use for energy so they die. It can help create an environment to allow teeth to re-mineralize with the calcium present in saliva.
Long term solution: see if you can figure out if he might have an overgrowth of yeast in his gut. See if he has symptoms associated with that: dandruff, psoriasis, constipation, etc. Yeasts like candida albicans are what the bacteria on the teeth stick to. If that is the case then get an anti-yeast strain of...yeast called saccharomyces boulardii. That will destroy the biofilm the destructive yeast hide in. Bring the yeast into line and the bacteria can't get a grip.
Just wait till they recommend braces or Aligners and deep cleanings every 3 months for your childs baby teeth ,dont do it.
I use charcoal toothpaste, charcoal purifies and also draws out infections.
In my opinion, we need to send a strong message on Fluoride and other toxic substances they “prefer” us to use.
"Apparently the silver and fluoride ions kill bacteria and strengthen enamel."
Your mouth is full of bacteria. It's not going to go away. It's better to instill good oral care practices with your son, IMHO.