Dr Finn Gilroy, and his family including his wife Fiona, daughter Flora and baby Fergus.
In the age of information overload, it can feel like there’s a new dental product filling social media feeds every day but how can consumers separate the research-based fact from the falsely branded fiction?
Dr Finn Gilroy, an endodontist (root canal specialist) at Otago’s School of Dentistry is here to help with that.
Do teeth whitening products actually work?
Much of the content one might see when scrolling through reels is just nonsense. Many products out there are unfortunately fake, but there are things that do work. The best product would be a 10 per cent solution of Carbamide Peroxide, which comes in a tube and can be prescribed by dentists with bleaching trays that are customised to fit your mouth.
Can you leave toothpaste on all night to whiten your teeth while you sleep?
You can do this, but it might not be very effective because there isn’t much in toothpaste to specifically whiten your teeth. Toothpastes contain silica which is an abrasive that scrapes off the dirt on your teeth when you brush which gives it a whiter appearance, but silica wouldn’t actually do anything just sitting on top of your teeth. Also, your tongue will likely lick it off while you sleep.
Is chewing gum good for teeth health?
Overall, yes but not for the reasons you might think. Chewing gum stimulates saliva which protects your teeth by neutralising acids so it’s not the gum that helps per sé, it’s the saliva that the chewing action promotes. Sugared gum is hard to find these days, but I would not recommend chewing on that, it’s like swishing sugar around your mouth. Also, it’s not natural to eat 24 hours a day so don’t chew gum all the time either because this can cause jaw muscle issues in the long term.
Some chewing gums contain xylitol, a sweetener shown to reduce tooth decay, so those are a good idea if you want to be a bit more protective.
Does sugar actually cause cavities?
Technically sugar doesn’t but the bacteria that comes from chewing it does.
Modern Western diets involve lots of carbohydrates such as refined sugar. Tooth decay happens when bacteria in your mouth feed on sugars from food and drinks, producing acid as a waste product. This acid attacks the hard outer layer of your teeth, called enamel, creating tiny holes. Over time, if not treated, these holes can get bigger and deeper, eventually reaching the softer inner parts of your tooth. People often don’t realise that eating excessive amounts of bread and potatoes could potentially harm your teeth as well as white sugar.
Not long after moving to Dunedin to study Dentistry at the University of Otago, he would meet his future wife and the two would go on to be a dentistry power couple, graduating together and working up in Auckland before returning to Dunedin to get their doctorates.
Does flossing really matter?
One of the main reasons flossing works well is because it breaks up stagnant food, plaque and helps with preventing gum disease.
Plaque is a biofilm (big colonies of bacteria) that lives in communities on or around your teeth. Leaving plaque in place for a long time results in more acid being produced and damage to your teeth. Also, the longer the plaque is present, the inflammation in your gums will increase which makes them bleed. We call this gingivitis which can lead to gum disease if not treated.
It’s a bit like mowing the lawn - if you keep it low for a while it’s fine but if you let it grow, weeds and other weird things come along.
How hard should I press with a toothbrush when I brush my teeth?
Quite light! It could feel weird as patients might be used to scrubbing, but they should use soft brushes, aim the bristles somewhat vertically to gently get into the cuff of their gum tissues, and brush in small circles for about one-to-two seconds per tooth.
Do mouth piercings cause problems?
Where things are touching your gums, you can get gum recession and your gums don’t grow back. There is grafting but it’s not always successful so I would avoid piercings in the mouth if possible.
For people who do have tongue or lip piercings, I would recommend plastic ones over metal ones so as not to chip your teeth if you bite on them by accident.
Mouthwash – does it work?
It does seem to be quite effective but there’s also a fair bit of hogwash.
Essential oil mouthwashes show good penetration of plaque but they don’t break up bacteria colonies in the way flossing and brushing do – the mechanical stuff is most important. Also, mouthwash typically has none or less fluoride than toothpaste, so you should use mouthwash at a time different to when you brush your teeth. Perhaps after a meal.
At no point does it replace the other actions but it’s a nice addition - like the icing on a cake.
How much of a role do genetics play in our teeth health?
Genetics do play some role but it’s not nearly as much as the public might think. Your family’s lifestyle, the food you eat and your oral hygiene practices carry the most weight. I’m yet to meet anyone, though there might be some unicorns out there, whose dental issues are not resolved after they hear and follow professional advice. Some people might have poor saliva quality or different enamel thickness so they might need to work harder than others to prevent cavities, but no one has terrible teeth exclusively due to genetics. I’ve not yet met anyone who still has new cavities if they improve their oral hygiene, increase their use of fluoride-containing products, and reduce the amount and frequency of acidic or carbohydrate-containing foods and drinks.
How often and when should I go visit a dentist?
The majority of people should go annually or get regular cleans every six months if their situation justifies it.
-Kōrero by the Division of Health Sciences Communications Adviser, Kelsey Swart