Your oral health and your physical well-being exist in a synergistic relationship, affecting your overall health throughout your life. Having the correct facts about dental health is critical to giving you the best foundation possible as you age.
This article will clear up the most common myths about dental health. Since these myths can keep you from seeking necessary dental treatment or doing damage to your mouth, teeth, and gums, it’s important to have all the facts. And if you have questions, don’t hesitate to discuss them with your dentist at your next appointment.
Dental Health Myths
A myth takes on a life of its own over time and people come to believe it without question. This is dangerous when it comes to your health. So, here are some of the most common dental myths that are often accepted as true, and the facts to clear them up:
Dental Visits Are Unnecessary Unless There Is a Problem
Not true! If you have a tooth that hurts or your gums bleed, the problem is well-established and causing damage. If you smoke or don’t eat a healthy diet, your teeth face additional challenges and are more vulnerable to dental problems.
Routine dental cleanings and checkups, usually twice a year, will keep your teeth healthy. Plus, the financial cost of treating dental problems is much higher than simply having a cleaning and checkup every six months.
Brushing Harder Leads To Cleaner Teeth
It’s not important to brush hard; it’s important to brush thoroughly. In fact, brushing with a hard-bristled toothbrush or with too much force can lead to damaged tooth enamel. This in turn leads to sensitivity problems. It’s human nature to avoid doing something that hurts. So, you tend to brush less. Cavities are the result, which defeats the purpose of brushing at all.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush for one minute on the upper teeth and one minute on the lower teeth. There is no need to put extra muscle into it as you brush. Keep the brush angled at about 45 degrees so it reaches areas between the teeth.
Tooth Loss Is Genetic
Not so. Losing a tooth (or teeth) is usually the result of cavities, not your genes. Regular brushing, flossing, dental visits, cleanings, and a healthy diet will help you keep your teeth throughout your life.
Tooth loss might appear to be genetic when in fact it may be poor daily dental care. Parents may not teach their children proper brushing techniques or provide a healthy diet, because they weren’t taught, either. If you have the proper information, though, you can stop the cycle of poor dental health that may appear to be genetic.
When You Brush Your Teeth During the Day Doesn’t Matter
This myth may surprise you. As the American Dental Association agrees, the two most important times to brush your teeth every day are before you go to bed and again when you get up in the morning. This is because the mouth’s production of antibacterial saliva slows when we sleep. Brushing before we go to bed prepares the mouth for less saliva during the night and when we brush first thing in the morning, we are getting rid of the bacteria that didn’t get washed away as we slept.
Flossing Isn’t Important If You Brush Well
Flossing must be an integral part of your oral health routine every day. It removes food particles from areas in your mouth that your toothbrush can’t easily reach. If those bits of food remain in your mouth, bacteria begin to grow, which then results in the buildup of plaque, the development of cavities, and then gum disease.
There are several kinds of flossing tools, so if you are finding it difficult to floss, ask your dentist or the dental hygienist for their help. It’s important that you find a flossing method you are comfortable with every day.
Dental X-Rays Are Dangerous
Many myths grow from a grain of truth. X-rays of any kind can be harmful in very large doses, but healthcare professionals are trained to use only the lowest amounts possible. With dental X-rays, a set of full mouth X-rays is no more radiation than humans get every day from many common objects.
The benefits of having X-rays done of your mouth, when necessary, far outweigh the risks. The images help your dentist pinpoint potential trouble ahead in the tissues in your mouth and in your teeth themselves. Conditions like gum disease, cavities, and tumors can be identified and treated before too much damage is done.
Baby Teeth Aren’t Important
This myth is not only false, it’s dangerous. Many families believe these teeth aren’t important because they are temporary. However, these primary teeth have a critical job: They are the placeholders for the permanent teeth.
The baby teeth (also called primary teeth) guide the permanent teeth as they come in. If a primary tooth is lost too early due to cavities or an injury, the space for the permanent tooth is affected, too. The result will be crowded adult teeth and that leads to ongoing problems until fixed. The baby teeth also help children learn to speak and chew properly. This is the reason a child’s dentist will often recommend an early orthodontic appointment, sometimes before the age of five.
You Can Get Clear Answers About Dental Health
You may have grown up believing one of the myths we covered above. Continuing to believe these myths can cause a lifetime of pain and higher dental bills. It is important to have the correct information about your dental health to protect your teeth and those of your family.
Our team at All Smiles Dentistry is here to provide clear, informative answers. We’re committed to ensuring your dental health is in optimal condition. Let us help you achieve a confident, healthy smile. Contact us to schedule your appointment today!