DIY Dental Care — Safe or Dangerous?

The report, compiled from data from the State of Oral Health Equity in America survey, shares additional insights into home remedies used by consumers, including: 

• Those who had not had a dental visit in the last two years were 10% more likely to use dangerous home remedies than those who had a dental visit more recently. 
• Those who smoke used one or more dangerous home remedies twice as often as those who do not smoke. 
• Individuals who identified as Black (62.4%) and as two or more race/ethnicities (60.0%) reported that they used a home remedy for oral health symptoms more often than individuals identifying as white (49.5%), Hispanic (45.5%), Asian (42.9%), or “other” (47.6%).  
• The majority of home remedies used by survey respondents are considered safe for short-term use (75%).  

Unsafe home remedies included tobacco poultice, pain medication prescribed for another purpose, illegal narcotics, a needle to lance a gum abscess, aspirin powder applied to the gums, and alcohol/spirits. Having a dental home where safe and effective home care guidance is provided can prevent individuals from using unsafe home remedies.