8 DENTAL MYTHS THAT YOU SHOULD STOP BELIEVING
When it comes to taking care of your oral health, there are many misconceptions that need to be understood.
SUGAR IS THE MAIN CULPRIT OF CAVITIES
The most common dental myths is cavities by sugar candies. Acid is produced by bacteria after digesting carbohydrate that causes cavities in your mouth. Thus, it is not just sugar! Again, it is not the quantity of carbohydrates you consume that causes tooth decay, but the number of times your teeth are exposed. E.g. If you eat a lot of carbs for lunch, that is a big exposure. However, if you spend the day sipping some sugary drink, then that is a continue exposure which can cause more damage to your teeth!
IF NOTHING IS BOTHERING YOU, YOU DON’T NEED A DENTAL CHECK-UP
This is a misconception! With a lot of dental problems, you don’t necessarily feel pain right away. Once symptoms appear, it has often increased. If you wait till a cavity hurts for a checkup, you may require root canal or extraction, which could have been otherwise prevented with a regular dental checkup.
SCALING IS NOT GOOD FOR TEETH
Scaling or Cleaning weakens the teeth and makes them loose! That’s misinformation and most old age dental myth. However, scaling aims to remove plaque and calculus and keeps teeth and gums healthy! Calculus deposits form over time and may form semi calcified layer between gums and teeth. It may also result in pockets and gum recession. Scaling actually removes these deposits, it may give you the sensation of loose teeth, but it just removes bad calculus support which would otherwise leave you with no teeth!
IT’S ONLY A BABY TOOTH
Baby teeth are important! They provide necessary space for permanent teeth to erupt. Cavity in a baby tooth if not treated can cause premature tooth loss, resulting in gap which can close over time. This will give less space for permanent teeth to erupt and result in crowding. To avoid this, a dentist can provide artificial space maintainer. Also, child’s teeth should be maintained as healthy as possible. Chances are that if they don’t floss or brush their baby teeth, they won’t brush or floss their permanent teeth either. Good oral habits should be inculcated earlier.
SOFT AND SPORTS DRINKS ARE BETTER FOR YOU
Not only sugar, but also the acid in soft and sports drink causes damage to your teeth. They can cause tooth erosion by wearing the outermost protective layer of tooth i.e. enamel. Over time, they can result in heightened sensitivity and cavities. For healthy and refreshing alternative to soft drink, nothing beats water. Also, despite what you may think, brushing immediately after having soda is not a good idea. By doing so, you are brushing away the demineralized enamel caused by plaque bacteria metabolizing the sugar. Always wait for 20 – 30 minutes for the pH of your oral cavity to return to normal, so that bicarbonate in saliva will buffer the acid and fluoride will promote remineralization.
ORAL HEALTH IS NOT CONNECTED TO REST OF BODY
Your overall health is connected to rest of your systemic overall health. An oral cavity with periodontal disease and severe decay is more likely to cause bacteria to enter blood stream and contribute to other health issues. Research shows association between periodontal disease and diabetes, leukemia, etc. With this most common dental myths, people tend to ignore and don’t relate with current disease they must be suffering.
FLOSSING CAN CREATE SPACES BETWEEN YOUR TEETH
Flossing does not create spaces between your teeth! But it helps prevent decay between teeth. Flossing helps to remove food debris nestled around teeth and gums, which helps to maintain healthy teeth and gums.
IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT TIME OF DAY I BRUSH
At night while we are asleep, our salivary glands produce less saliva. During the day, our salivary flow is higher, and it otherwise provides cleansing effect that we don’t get at night. Therefore, one should brush at night before bed. Otherwise, food particles stay on our teeth all night and contribute to tooth decay. Also, the choice of our diet plays an integral role in oral health. It is recommended to brush right after consuming sugary food or drink to prevent cavities.
Do read similar article on Kids dentistry here
Author Bio
Sabka Dentist works to inspire better oral health in addition to helps folks feel great, appearance good and be more confident. For that society, Sabka Dentist is much more than the chain of Dental treatment centers. It is a driver once and for all oral health and well-being.