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
Thyroid guard is mandatory for x-rays. However, many professions, not just dentistry, don’t always follow board regulated rules as they should. Dental x-rays are a great way to measure attachment loss and medical conditions such as abscesses, as well as monitoring adult teeth as they enter the mouth. X-ray should not be taken solely on the basis of “it’s been awhile since you got them”, they should be taken to confirm conditions suspected by dental professionals. This article has a lot of opinions but not a lot of facts.
You can also use melrose essential oil to clear radiation (www.youngliving.com/cheryljazzar). I have a FB group focused on holistic dentistry (how to find a dentist who won’t poison you, dangers of amalgam fillings, signs of mercury poisoning; etc.) https://www.facebook.com/groups/368162849890018/#!/groups/368162849890018/ I’ll be sure to add this article to that group.
I recently cleared a tumor from my thyroid. I had been nourishing it with Thyromin from Young Living for a few months. That supplement contains oils of myrrh and myrtle, which are great for the thyroid. When I added iodine a big, red tumor came off of my gland! My naturopath confirmed it was not a blemish or a boil. I’m so glad I took a picture when it was really big. I used Sacred Frankincense to reduce it in size by about 90%. Sacred Frankincense is used in cancer protocols and is being studied in the US and Oman.
My good pleasure is sharing essential oil protocols with others and posting the truth about dentistry on Get the Lead Out! group. Feel free to join it and suggest it to friends. 🙂
Sarah, you sure hit a nerve with this article, judging from the number of comments! Well done!
So it appears you like to research your “scientific” evidence throughout the article, except for the beginning. “I don’t buy the argument that you get more radiation walking to your car than what you get from this digital x-ray machine.” Good for you, you don’t buy it. I guess that extensive and ongoing evidence done by physicists on this is just pulled out of their ass right? Wrong. As someone who studies this, I find you extremely ignorant and I think you should not counteract your “research” with assumptions like this. You know nothing on this, and if you would have looked hard enough, instead of writing this in 15 minutes more than likely, you may have been able to find research papers done by professors and researchers on this subject.
Haley,
You’re the one that’s wrong. Getting an X-ray is not the same as walking to your car. You know what the difference is? FOCUSED RADIATION. You are concentrating the radiation on a very small area so that area gets a nice concentrated dose. That’s way different than walking outside and being exposed to background radiation that is not focused on a small area of your body.
The TSA tries to tell you the same kind of thing… “Yeah, you get more radiation flying across the country.” Nope, not the same thing at all.
Grade school example: My morning newspaper’s not going to burst into flames as I read it out in the sunshine sitting in my lawn chair, but take a magnifying glass and focus the sun’s light and you can start that same paper on fire.
Just to calm the fears of some pregnant woman who might read the article… I had a full set of x-rays when I was pregnant and little girl was healthy in every way 🙂
Good for you and your baby. I pray to God that no harm has befallen your little bundle of joy.
Bio-compatable dentistry uses a digital type of exray which omits far less radiation. Dr Marshal’s website has more info on good dentil choises: healthline.cc
I worked in a dentist office for a few years & the shields had the collar attatched. I made sure to cover the thyroid up well, while the older assistants were more laxed.
So thankful for the information Sarah! I dont EVER recall having my throid covered and I am 48. My daughter does have another dental appt in March and I will keep an eye out.
Question…….Do you also need to look for this for other xrays? My daughter who is 10 has been and will continue to be xrayed for a LONG time. She has scoliosis which will be operated on probably next year. She has been getting xrays which include bone age and complete spine since she was 7. Last year alone she probably 15 or more xrays on her hands and arms due to broken bones or sprains acting like they were broken bones.
I don’t think x-rays of the hands, arms, legs, etc., are as bad as x-rays at or near the brain and thyroid and other glands .
Like everything else in life, weigh the benefit you receive from an x-ray vs. the harm it is doing to all the living organs it touches.
You people are all idiots. You know and understand nothing about physics, certainly not anything you may have learned about in a high school class 20 years ago. You also know next to nothing about oral health, teeth and the risks of radiation.
Everything in life, including dental x-rays, comes with risks. It the cost benefit analysis that determines whether or not you should do them, not your personal notions of when it is appropriate to have or not have x-rays taken. While the TSA screening protects you against an extremely small risk of terrorism with a rather high dose of radiation each and every time you fly (many times per month for some people), dental x-rays help you to discover early the most common bacterial infection in humans, that’s right tooth decay.
Anyway, large cavities which are found late cost more to repair and make dentists more money, so by all means, refuse the x-rays. And when you return with you tooth ache and need a root canal, guess what, not only will the dentist still take xrays (average of 3 for just one root canal) but they’ll also make more money off you as well. Idiots!
Let me start by saying I am a dental hygienist. Dental x-rays are a very low form of radiation and digital x-rays are extremely minimal. To answer a few of your questions, I think thyroid covers a good idea but unnecessary. I have no problem covering someeone’s thyroid gland if it makes them feel better, but I doubt it makes a difference. Most dental insurances cover bitewing x-rays (the set of 4 you normally take) once a year-some cover 2 x yearly. Insurance companies would never cover x-rays at this rate if they didn’t find them important or if it would cause medical issues down the road (which would cost them money). A periapical (PA) is similar to a bitewing but shows the tip of the root (need to rule out an infection of the nerve) in teeth which are cracked, decayed or hurting. Not taking a PA is substandard care, illegal and lazy. Would you want to go to the ER with chest pain and not get an EKG to rule out a heart attack? Panoramic x-rays (the big thing that spins around your head) is more radiation but extremely important. Insurance companies cover every 3-5 years (I think every 5 years is fine). It shows a big picture of the jaw and shows if anything is going on in the jaw that is not producing symptoms. I think it’s easy to say these are not important until you find out your child doesn’t have most of his/her adult teeth under her baby teeth, your mother has cancer in her jaw she couldn’t feel, or that car accident you thought was fine actually cracked your jaw in half. As a practicing hygienist, if a patient refuses x-rays I educate them on why they are important and note the information in their chart so if something happens in the future I can legally say I’ve done my ethical duty. I do not take offense at all, but if you were my family member, you’re getting them 🙂
as a practicing hygienist, I agree with most of your statements. In our office we used to take bitewing xrays every 2 yrs. As we audited our patients and compared xrays we started to notice that the size of interproximal (between the teeth) decay was much larger on those that were xray’d every 2 yrs as compared to those once a year. The reason being that we could catch and diagnose decay before it became so big that you needed to have a larger filling, crown, root canal or even extraction (pulling it out). As we have started to xray once a year we are finding decay at such early stages we can recommend preventitive treatments to avoid a filling, and no that doesn’t mean fluoride. flossing, brushing and using remineralizing pastes can arrest early decay. I was getting upset by the neglect we were impossing on our patients by only radiating twice a year. I personally would rather have the minimal intervention if possible and unfortunately that involves using xrays to diagnose what the naked eye cannot see. In our office we monitor radiation exposure with dossimeter badges that are analyzed by the government. We have been assured by our xray company that the literature and studies show the radiation to be minimal. If you want to refuse xrays I will not belittle or be rude, I am all for personal advocation, just think about the possible long term consequences. We do need to document any refusal of treatment due to the increasing amount of lawsuits and to show that ethically we have provided you with the best preventitive care possible. Many of us in the dental world still care about your overall health and still find this to be a health profession not a money making buisiness, unfortunately there are offices out there that are driven by the almightly dollar and that taints us all.
Kathryn,
You sound very sincere and I have no question that you’re a caring person, but do you apply the same logic to the rest of your body? Do you go in every year or so and get a full body CT scan? And why not? Because I can safely assume your answer is “No, I don’t CT scans every couple of years.” But is your mouth the only place you might have hidden problems? Why aren’t you treating your whole body with the same amount of care as your mouth and getting CT scans to search out possible trouble before it gets worse?
You say you think a thyroid cover is “a good idea but unnecessary.” You then go on to act like you’re willing to treat it like a little sugar pill for the patient “if it makes them feel better”. Really? You don’t think it’s a bad idea radiating someone’s thyroid? You do realize what an important gland your thyroid is, don’t you? You seem very nice, but honestly, you scare me! When I go to the Dentist I want the person giving me an X-ray to protect my health as much as possible.
maybe you should go to a dentist office that is up to date. Digital xrays have less radiation. I am a dental hygienist, and we do NOT step outside the door to take the xrays. I stay in the room for every xray I take. I had a patient today that declined xrays for 2 years, then when we took them, we found 2 cavites that needed crowns. If she would have gotten them sooner she would have spent less money fixing the cavities. You need to do more research on digital dental xrays.