WACO, TX — The American DentalAssociation says they've seen no evidence showing an increase in cavities over the last several months, or that wearing a face mask affects your risk of cavities.
"There is no scientific data to support that at all,” said Craig S. Armstrong, D.D.S., a dentist practicing in Houston.
Dr. Armstrong serves on the ADA’s Board of Trustees as the trustee from Fifteenth District, which represents Texas.
"And I'm actually in contact with the chief science officer at the ADA, and I've asked him that question point blank and he says there is no evidence to support that," said Dr. Armstrong.
Armstrong says that especially during the pandemic, he’s seen examples where people look for excuses, such as blaming face coverings for cavities. However, he says that if people take the proper precautions for their dental health, the way they were doing before the pandemic, then they shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
“I think people sometimes are looking for excuses for things, but as long as you’re doing the proper oral hygiene, you’re brushing your teeth twice a day, your using a fluoridated toothpaste, you should be okay,” said Dr. Armstrong.
Overall, the ADA says that for anyone concerned about their cavity risk, the surefire way to minimize that risk is to take the following steps:
- Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
- Clean between your teeth once a day
- Eat a healthy diet
- And see your dentist regularly
“I think that the one thing that I would stress is that the American Dental Association has come up with some tremendous guidelines to get the dentist back in the office safely and treat the American public safely,” Dr. Armstrong said. “I think that the one thing that the public can do is not stay away from the dental office, because it is a safe environment.”
