The dangers of frequent dental x-rays, how often is safe to get them done, and how to best protect yourself and your children with one simple request at cleanings and checkups.
I don’t get dental x-rays very often. My children did not get them regularly either.
I certainly don’t consider getting them every six months like most dentists seem to demand even for children.
In fact, I have been known to laugh out loud when told by a dental professional that “you get more radiation walking to your car (or eating a banana…?) than from this digital x-ray machine.”
If you haven’t noticed, gaslighting is a common tactic to avoid uncomfortable truths in the medical community.
If dental x-rays are so harmless, why do they put a big lead suit over you? And why does the technician quickly leave the room before the x-rays are taken?
The fact is that anyone who has taken a basic high school physics class knows that radiation comes in many forms. It’s called the electromagnetic spectrum.
You can’t compare the UV and infrared radiation from the sun with ionizing radiation from an x-ray machine that takes pictures of your bones.
How Often is Safe for Dental X-rays?
There are a wide variety of opinions on how often is safe to get a set of dental x-rays.
Most conventional practices do it every six months, even for children. Some will even kick you out if you try to have them done less often!
Once or twice a year for a set of x-rays is far too frequent according to the research detailed below.
Biological dentists will typically do x-rays as infrequently as a patient desires.
To give you a suggested timeframe, my Father (Family Physician) always recommended to his patients as part of his healthy lifestyle suggestions that a set of bitewings every five years and a full set of dental x-rays every 10 years was sufficient when the diet is good and barring any preexisting conditions.
This minimizes exposure to ionizing radiation which is cumulative over a lifetime and can cause cancer.
I’ve followed this recommended timeframe throughout my life and also for my children. My husband does the same.
While this may seem to be a very long time compared to conventional practices, I can attest to the fact that my kids (oldest is now 24) have never had any issues with their teeth for having such infrequent dental x-rays.
And yes, I’ve been subjected to quite the scare tactics from dentists and hygienists over the years about it!
Note that if an issue with a tooth presents itself, you can always request a SINGLE x-ray for that tooth, something many people don’t realize!
Why Do Dentists Skip the Thyroid Guard?
That being said, sometimes you really do need to get a full set of dental x-rays for whatever reason.
If you find yourself in a situation where dental x-rays are needed, be sure to insist on a thyroid guard.
In the picture above, you will see that the child is covered with a lead suit in preparation for the dental x-rays. But, where is the thyroid guard?
Nowhere to be seen!
Most dental technicians don’t use one unless the patient specifically asks for it.
Given that thyroid cancer is on the rise and that there are so many assaults on this delicate, butterfly-shaped organ in our modern life from processed foods and environmental toxins, it is very important that you insist on thyroid protection whenever you get any sort of dental x-ray. (1)
But what about the Snopes claim that this is a conspiracy theory and that there is no danger?
The truth is that Snopes is an organization literally founded and run by fraudsters and escorts. It has no credibility as a fact-checker whatsoever. (2)
Dental X-Rays a Risk to the Thyroid
Here’s the truth about the dangers to health from overly frequent dental x-rays.
Studies have shown that pregnant women who have dental x-rays are at higher risk for having small babies.
Study participants who had dental x-rays while pregnant were at double the risk of having a low birth weight baby born prematurely. In addition, the women were at triple the risk of having an underweight baby born full term. (3)
This study involved 4,500 women who had babies between 1993 and 2000 and was reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Dr. Philippe Hujoel, a professor of dental public health services at the University of Washington, said that it is unclear how the radiation might be affecting fetuses. He conjectured that perhaps the thyroid gland in the pregnant women was somehow affected by the dental x-rays.
He went on to say that previous studies have found an increased risk of low birth weight babies in women with mild thyroid disease.
Insist on a Thyroid Guard!
It is very important to insist on a thyroid guard whenever you or a loved one has a dental x-ray taken. This simple device should also be used during mammograms.
But, it is best to not do them at all anyway. In a nutshell, always insist on no-radiation solutions like a thermogram or a breast ultrasound.
Even Dr. Oz warns about repeated dental x-rays and mammograms as they can potentially contribute to increased risk for thyroid cancer. (4)
Despite his highly conventional approach, Dr. Oz concludes that wearing a thyroid guard during these procedures is a wise move. (5)
What’s it going to hurt to wear one, after all?
There is absolutely no downside to this extra safety precaution, so don’t let your dentist or hygienist talk you out of it.
If, after asking your dentist for a thyroid guard, you discover that he/she doesn’t even have one available, you can safely assume that it is time for you to find a new dentist!
Need a Dentist Who Won’t Push X-rays?
I get many requests about who I recommend as a truly holistic, biological dentist. If you are looking for one, I recommend Dr. Carlo Litano of Natural-Smiles.com – (727) 300-0044.
He sees young children as well as adults. He also does phone consults for those who don’t live close enough for an office visit. Be sure to tell him that Sarah sent you and get 10% off your first visit!
(1) Thyroid Cancer on the Rise
(2) SNOPES ‘fact checker’ accused of defrauding website, staff includes an escort-porn star
(3) Dental X-Rays Might Lead to Smaller Babies
(4) Repeated Dental Xrays without Neck Shielding Predispose to Thyroid Cancer
(5) Dr. Oz: Thyroid Guards During Mammograms & Dental X-Rays
We refuse dental xrays unless absolutely necessary.
Me too…too little too late…they are much less radiation nowadays, but you still have to weigh the benefits vs. the harm to your brain and other neck and facial organs.
one reason I love my dentist -he is ok with minimal xrays and asks if I want one or if I want my kids to have one -we are usually only getting an xray every 3 or 4 years !! Will ask about the thyroid guard!
Snopes does not claim this is false, but rather offers opinions from both viewpoints. I agree with yours, but always like to know the other argument.
I had to tell the lady and I pulled the cape up. She goes “Oh, yeah.” But no guard, just the cape. Hmm…
I hope that your cape is made of lead to protect you.
Hmm. My husband is just about to graduate from dental school. I’ll have to ask him if he has learned anything about this.
Snopes and Quackwatch – same thing. I actually go on Quackwatch to research new remedies.
That is really clever Helen! Very lateral thinking. I love it!
Helen, that is a great idea! I will follow your lead.
Thanks to you both for liking my idea. Actually, it was EASY – everything I googled aways listed a Quackwatch entry. Of course, when they dissed everything I hold sacred (homeopathy – their #1 pet peeve)…….I knew I was onto something!
Homeopathy uses poison–but in minute quantities, generally, and all for the good. X-rays will give a suntan to all the body parts you want to expose.
I had a dental x-ray done at least twice a year for most of my childhood. I shudder to think of what the long-term health consequences might be. Indeed, your thyroid is delicate and the medical establishment would be wiser to pay more attention to it.
The medical industry pays plenty of attention to it–thyroid cancer removal, I was shunted (Brain) for hydrocephalus–who knows what other innards are damaged or destroyed by dental x-rays…my mom used to be a dental hygienist, and now they say she has Alzheimers…but I think she doesn’t orient herself because she is deaf–maybe x-rays cause deafness as well…
This is such a simple and easy thing to do, I cannot understand why it is not required procedure.
Well, a reduction in the number of thyroid cancers would mean less drug sales, surgeries, and income for the medical industry and the drug companies.
Oh yes, the only thing that makes the dopes at Snopes experts in anything is their own marketing. They are just a husband and wife team who used to work as reporters.
…and a very liberal couple I have “heard”.
What does being liberal have to do with it?
I eat a lot of fiber, and I fancy myself conservative…I think everybody is full of crap. (:–)
I had no idea that you should ask for a thyroid guard when getting xrays at the dentist. It makes sense. Thank you for your article!
Most people don’t and it is irresponsible for dentists to not use them routinely. It is sheer laziness on their part, in my opinion.
Do you need one even when you get digital x-rays?
YES.
The x-ray industry has been around a long time. Adolf Hitler’s regime had “scientists” performing all sorts of experiments on Jewish people before, during and/or after they were killed. Hopefully nobody says the x-rays are harmless. I’d like to see the dental insurance industry demand fewer, not more x-rays, be they digital or otherwise. An x-ray is an x-ray is an x-ray is RADIATION.
Madame Curie died a horrible death, and she sort of “invented” radiation…If you are old enough to know better, why would you subject your body systems to x-rays
I’m confused. I was able to avoid x-rays the last two times I went to the dentist–that was 3 years ago, because they told me I would have to get full mouth digital x-rays. Oh, hell no. And I haven’t been back since. SHAME ON THE DENTAL INDUSTRY for insisting on routine x-rays.
I have thyroid problems, and I have hydrocephalus, and I believe both were caused by dental x-rays. For a specific suspicion, maybe let your dentist take a bite-wing x-ray, but the idea of routinely burning your innards for the sake of paying off a machine that cost them a lot of money–the road to hell is paved with dental x-ray machine salespersons and the dentists who buy and use and abuse those machines.