9 Dental Myths Everyone Believes
Many adults have caries (tooth decay) on
their permanent teeth, which suggests that proper oral hygiene is
extremely misunderstood. We are all well aware of the fact that we need
to take much better care of our teeth, but it’s somewhat disconcerting
to see just how many myths there are about proper oral hygiene floating
around on the internet. People seem to believe these myths without doing
some quick research, so in order to fight against all this
misinformation, take a look at the list of common dental hygiene myths
below.
1. You Need the Latest Expensive Toothpaste to Keep Your Teeth Clean
Companies spend a lot of money on marketing, so there is often a lot of
hype surrounding different toothpaste brands. However, all that talk of
“whitening technology” and other such nonsense is pure marketing
gibberish. There are just several basic ingredients that mane toothpaste
work – fluoride, magnesium, calcium, glycerol, thickening agents, and
sodium lauryl sulfate. Most reasonably priced toothpastes will cover all
the basics, so there’s absolutely no need to spend a fortune to get
clean, healthy, and white teeth.
2. Dental Treatments Are Painful and Uncomfortable
Many people have an irrational fear when it comes to dentists. They
associate a trip to the dentist with discomfort and pain, but it’s not
the 18th century any longer, and no dentist is going to try and pull a
tooth out while three other people hold the patient down. Modern
anesthetics allow dentists to perform complex procedures without the
patient feeling any pain. As for comfort, dentists’ chairs are some of
the most comfortable chairs you’ll ever sit on.
3. You Will Lose a Tooth During Pregnancy
This one is very puzzling, and it’s hard to pinpoint where it actually
came from, but some people will try to tell you that it’s normal for a
woman to lose a tooth during pregnancy. When you ask why they will throw
the word hormones around and try to look smug. In all actuality,
morning sickness and some hormonal changes can have a negative effect on
tooth enamel or cause gum inflammation, but if proper care is taken,
there is absolutely no reason for a healthy pregnant woman to start
losing her teeth.
4. You Should Only See a Dentist if You Notice a Problem Developing
If your motto when it comes down to your dental health is “if it’s not
broken, don’t fix it,” then it might just be time to re-evaluate your
strategy. Just because nothing hurts or no problems are immediately
apparent, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take a trip to the dentist.
There could be a number of potential oral health issues developing
slowly, which can end up causing you trouble in the future, so
scheduling annual or biannual appointments with the dentist is a very
good idea.
5. Once You Repair Your Teeth You Don’t Have to Focus on Oral Hygiene
Any More
Even worse than neglecting issues until they get out of hand and require
extensive repairs is the tendency to avoid brushing and flossing once a
number of teeth have been effectively repaired. However, proper
maintenance is essential for keeping your gums and teeth healthy, even
if you have had plenty of reconstructive work done.
6. If Your Gums Bleeds, You Should Brush Your Teeth Less Often
It’s a very normal reaction to be a bit concerned when you see blood,
but you shouldn’t worry too much if your gums bleed a little when you
brush your teeth. You either don’t brush them enough and need to give
your gums times to adjust, or you are using a brush that’s too hard.
With regular brushing, a soft brush, and a proper technique, this
problem should disappear after a while.
7. Lightly Brushing Your Teeth for 30 Seconds a Day is Enough to Keep
Them Healthy
While brushing your teeth several times a day is a good idea, you need
to focus on what you’re doing instead of quickly going over them with a
brush and then rinsing. It takes time to clear all the food debris and
remove the plaque from your teeth, and it requires both careful brushing
and flossing on a regular basis. So, take your time and make sure that
you clean every nook carefully.
8. Having White Teeth Means You Have Healthy Teeth
One of the reasons why so many people end up developing serious dental
issues is the fact that they look in the mirror, see a number of shiny
white teeth smiling back, and conclude that their oral hygiene is up to
scratch. However, it’s possible to whiten teeth by bleaching them, and
white teeth don’t necessarily mean healthy teeth. There might be
cavities developing in places that are difficult to spot, such as
between the teeth, and if you fail to fix the problem early on it can
end up causing a lot of pain and costing a lot of money.
9. Sugar Rots Your Teeth
Yes, the bacteria that causes tooth decay feeds on sugar, but in order
for them to develop and wreak havoc, there needs to be enough sugar
present for extended periods of time. What this means is that as long as
you brush and floss your teeth carefully after consuming candy or soft
drinks, you’ll be fine.