Teeth

Is exposure to radium beneficial to human health, as a post on Instagram implies? No, that's not true: Radium is recognized by public health experts as a known carcinogen or cancer-causing agent. While it is true that radium was historically touted in the 20th century for its supposed health benefits and used in a variety of products at the time,…

Can a combination of bentonite clay, calcium carbonate, crushed cloves and kaolin clay help heal cavities? No, that's not true: No reliable scientific studies show bentonite clay can cure cavities, according to the American Dental Association. They do not recommend the clay for any dental hygiene practice. The claim appeared in a video (archived here) on TikTok on July 3,…

Is the human body "designed" for a plant-based diet and incapable of ingesting and breaking down meat? No, that's not true: Two nutrition experts confirmed that to Lead Stories. The claim in a social media post is largely based on the incorrect definition of the word "omnivore," which is a term used to refer to the species that can eat…

Does the pH of soda (pH 2) make it seriously toxic, "a pH killer," and does it take 32 eight-ounce glasses of alkaline water to reverse the toxic effects of one soda? No, that's not true: A food science professor told Lead Stories that many foods are as acidic as soda and that all are considered weak acids compare to…

Did Sylvester Stallone ban "woke crap" on the set of one of his movies, speaking against "a bunch of granola moms and their soy boy husbands"? No, that's not true. The claim originated from a satirical website that describes everything it publishes as "fiction." The story initially appeared in an article (archived here) published by The Dunning-Kruger Times on March…

Did the Soviet Union pioneer water fluoridation? Did it use it on prisoners in the Gulag system to control them? No, that's not true: The United States was the first country in the world to implement this technology, and there is no indication that the Soviet Union had the capability of ensuring the delivery of fluoridated drinking water to all…

Can a problem with one tooth cause health issues in another, otherwise unrelated organ as a result of "a link" or "meridian" connecting the two? No, that's not true: This claim derives from an unproven theory that is not backed up by any scientific evidence. The claim comes from a video (archived here), posted on YouTube on April 6, 2016,…

Can using the herb comfrey as a mouthwash help heal teeth and gums? No, that's not true: A professor at the UCLA School of Dentistry told Lead Stories that there is no evidence that comfrey can restore damaged gums or teeth. The Mount Sinai Health System explicitly states that people should not take comfrey by mouth. Scientific evidence points to…

Are unsterile human remains processed by aquamation and being pulverized into a powder that is drained into local water supplies? No, that's not true: Bones are made into sterile ash, similar to that resulting from traditional flame cremation, and given to family members or laid to rest. A sterile effluent, or wastewater liquid, is a resulting byproduct that is drained…

Can taking black sesame seeds heal "all chronic illnesses after 100 days"? No, that's not true: There are no cures for many chronic illnesses, from heart disease to cancer to diabetes, and the simple treatment of eating black sesame seeds is not medically proven to heal "all chronic illnesses after 100 days." The claim appeared in a post published on…