A visit to the dentist is a terryfying experience for many people. Many develop this fear as a result of some myths about dental health. These misconceptions affects their consciousness and result to delaying or putting off their visit to the dentist. This could, in turn, lead to serious dental health problems! So, here are some of the common misconceptions that people have about oral health in general.
Myth: WHITER TEETH EQUALS HEALTHIER TEETH.
Reality: Even though you have whiter teeth, it is hard to tell if there is an infection or cavities between the teeth. Though healthy teeth should be on the whiter side, the natural color of teeth vary from person to person.
Myth: BLEACHING YOUR TEETH IS HARMFUL
Reality: Bleaching is simply oxidizing your teeth using carbamide peroxide that polishes the enamel for better light refraction. It is a popular treatment that allows patients to get whiter teeth faster and safer. Bleaching materials used these days are not acidic in nature, so they do not affect the enamel or root of the tooth.
Myth: YOU SHOULD NOT BRUSH OR FLOSS IF YOU HAVE BLEEDING GUM.
Reality: Brushing and flossing regularly is important to remove plaque which causes irritation, gingivitis, and gum disease. The plaque, if not remove, can cause bleeing in gums. So, brushing is not only good for teeth, but it also keeps your gums and tongue healthy!
Myth: A HARDER TOOTHBRUSH IS BETTER.
Reality: You can choose from various types of toothbrushes. However, in order to keep your teeth and gums healthy, it is important to brush longer with a soft brush.
Myth: EATING TOO MUCH SUGAR WILL MESS UP YOUR TEETH.
Reality: According to dental experts, acid produced by bacteria in your mouth is the cause of cavities. Bacteria in the mouth needs processed sugar to survive. If you do not eat sugar but have poor dental hygiene, you will be prone to cavity. Any carb including sugar, rice, potatoes or vegetables that you eat can start that process.
Myth: ALL FILLINGS NEED TO BE REPLACE AFTER A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.
Reality: Dental fillings do not have expiry dates, not in the conventional way atleast. It all comes down to tooth wear and your oral hygiene. If you maintain a proper oral hygiene, there are less chances that you will face any problem, and your fillings may last longer!
Myth: REMOVING WISDOM TEETH HELPS PREVENT CROWDING OF TEETH.
Reality: There has been a few cases when wisdom teeth cause crowding of the teeth. Otherwise they do not, so removing them will not solve the crowding problem, neither will it re-straighten the teeth. If you are having pain or discomfort with emerging wisdom teeth, it is advisable that you visit a dentist.
Myth: WOMEN LOSE A TOOTH WITH EACH CHILDBIRTH.
Reality: Hormonal changes during pregnancy may lead to more bacteria in the mouth. This can cause bleeding gums or gingivitis. However, loss of tooth is unlikely with a thorough cleaning regimen. Though pregnancy brings many changes to your body, poor oral health and loss of tooth aren’t among them.
Myth: REMOVING TARTAR WILL LOOSEN YOUR TEETH
Reality: Teeth are held in position by the jaw bone, but tartar can sometimes bind the teeth together. Tartar causes irritation in gums and it should be removed. After its removal, the teeth might seem to loosen a bit. However, this mobility assist in the recovery of the health of the supporting structures.
Myth: BRACES ARE FOR KIDS.
Reality: Even if you didn’t have braces during childhood to straighten your crooked or overcrowded teeth, you still have hope! Though this treatment is popular and most successful in children, adults nowadays are getting braces to fix a crooked smile or to correct malocclusion.
