Examining The Latest Dental Trends & Myths

Woman havng teeth exam We all want to achieve amazing results without a ton of effort. This is true for anything, including dentistry. These dental trends will advertise drastic results with hardly any money or effort! This sounds great, but the saying “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” is accurate in this case.

Common Dental Trends & Myths

Below we’ll examine a few common dental trends and myths, and the truth behind them.

Charcoal Toothpaste Will Whiten Your Teeth With One Use
Toothpaste containing activated charcoal is suddenly very popular. This toothpaste is supposed to have the ability to whiten your teeth dramatically. While the charcoal may help erase stains on the teeth, it contains no bleach and cannot really whiten the teeth. Lastly, it’s unknown what effect charcoal toothpaste could have on the teeth as no studies have been conducted yet. You may be wearing down the enamel on your teeth, which can cause them to appear even more yellow.
Amalgam Fillings Are Full Of Mercury
Amalgam fillings are quite controversial recently because they may contain mercury. However, the FDA has given amalgam fillings the go-ahead for adults and children age 6 and older. The amount of mercury contained in amalgam fillings is not nearly high enough to cause any damage to your health or your teeth. However, if you are concerned please let us know. We want our patients to be comfortable with their treatment.
Fluoride Is Harmful To Children
Some have claimed that fluoride can be harmful to kids, and can even cause cancer and autism. However, there is no study that has definitively linked proper fluoride doses to either of these issues. We do recommend that you only use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste when brushing your child’s teeth.

If you have any questions or concerns about dental trends or myths and would like more information, please call Great Outdoors Pediatric Dentistry at our Dover, NH office. It’s important to us that our patients and their parents are educated and informed about their dental health.

Posted on Jul 24, 2017

Image Credit: © Dreamstime.com

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Families throughout New Hampshire trust Great Outdoors Pediatric Dentistry for compassionate, high quality pediatric dental care. Parents appreciate our friendly team, fun office environment, and the gentle approach Dr. Wilson takes with every child. We are proud to have earned the confidence of so many families and invite you to see what others are saying about their experience with our pediatric dentist and team.

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Awesome is all I can say took my daughter in as a new patient and saw her the same day I called. Everything my daughter needs they are on top of it.

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Skye and Dr. Patrick were so lovely and patient with my daughter who gets nervous getting her teeth checked out! The office is super cute and clean and I loved that the kids can watch a movie while in the chair!

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Wonderful people to work with. Quick and easy appointments for my kids, great front office staff to work through insurance issues with, and beautiful office space.

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We have always been extremely happy with our experiences at GOPD! The doctor and staff are incredible! Their of knowledge of different insurance plans has helped save us money! Thank you so much!

Shawn Herrick March 2026 , Facebook - Read More

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We had an absolutely wonderful experience. After going someone where else first that just wanted to pull teeth instead of fixing them we tried here. All the staff and doctor were absolutely wonderful. Came up with a wonderful care plan, my daughter had zero pain or discomfort and he addressed a few issues at once. We fee very comfortable with staff knowledge, explanation and care given. The self pay membership plan was also a huge cost savings as well as we self pay regardless.

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I cannot speak highly enough about this place. The entire staff is very kind and extremely good at what they do. Great with kids. Our appointments are always smooth, efficient, and enjoyable. The location itself is very clean, modern, and streamlined. A++

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Hands down the best experience my 2 year old and I have had yet! It was a breeze talking with Kris to schedule my son’s first dentist appointment. She was so nice and very helpful when I asked her about insurance coverage. She had Gabby in billing call me to answer a couple questions I had.

I was so nervous about my son’s first dentist appointment. He is a VERY active boy who rarely ever sits still.

When we arrived at GOPD, we liked how clean and orderly the general atmosphere was. The front desk staff were so down to earth and nice, it made me feel a lot better. We then met with dental hygienist, Sky, and she was so unbelievably sweet, patient and helpful with my son, showing him all the tools and letting him try them out. Dr. Patrick was amazing as well!

Honestly, I don’t have one bad thing to say. Everyone was so welcoming, nice and knowledgeable! My husband and I were impressed and very grateful to have found such a great place!

It was such a great first experience! Highly recommend!

Kristina Ellis April 2026 , Google - Read More

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Expert Tips for Healthy, Happy Smiles

Here, you will find expert insights on pediatric dental treatments, tips for making brushing and flossing easier at home, and advice on how to support your child’s long term oral health. Whether you are preparing for your child’s first dental visit or looking for ways to improve their daily routine, our blog is designed to give you the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions for your family.