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Nowadays, distinguishing the truth from hearsay can be tricky; and the same goes with facts about oral health. Adding to age-old myths, online misinformation has complicated the truth about how we should take care of our pearly whites. Now, let’s debunk the most widespread dental myths today and get the facts straight in this guide!
10 Common Dental Myths
Myth 1: Sugar is the Main Cause of Cavities and Tooth Decay
If you recall hearing ads and commercials, they’re likely to tell you that sugar is the ultimate culprit of cavities. However, this is one the most viral dental myths, this isn’t the complete truth! Sugar is a part of the process that causes cavities and tooth decay, among a list of things at play. First, bacteria breaks down sugar into acid, which gradually erodes the enamel. Second, the frequency and length of sugar exposure contribute much more than the quantity of sugar you consume.
Starches, in addition to sugar, can also nourish these microorganisms. Hard, sticky candies that dissolve slowly are proven to be more harmful to your teeth than occasional sugar indulgence. The harm is caused by acid, a byproduct of the bacterium. Therefore, regular oral hygiene is essential as a preventative step to fight this process.
Myth 2: It’s Best to Brush ASAP After Eating
Brushing right after eating is something you’d remember as one of the things that your parents or elders taught you as a child. Although it truly does make sense to brush after eating nasty like sugary drinks or acidic food, it actually does more harm than good! You see, this practice can cause your enamel to soften and erode. This is especially true when you’ve consumed acidic food.
That said, dental professionals recommend brushing your teeth after 30 minutes or so. Also, use a fluoride-rich toothpaste and brush for two minutes. If you practice this regularly twice a day, you can protect your teeth’s enamel from erosion and get rid of the bacterial residue from the food you’ve eaten. If you do like to chum on food every hour, you can opt for sugar-free gum to clean your teeth. Just make sure to rinse with water to lower the risk of cavities.
Myth 3: Wisdom Teeth Should be Removed
A lot of people get their wisdom teeth removed, which is why a lot of people think that they’re not important, and therefore, should be extracted. However, a lot of people can actually benefit from an extra set or one wisdom tooth—given that the tooth grows in the right place and position, helps with good biting, and is accessible for cleaning.
Most people tend to get their wisdom teeth removed due to incorrect growth, which hurts or even infects and harms the next teeth or nerves. This is the case with most people. Most people’s jaws are too small for the extra teeth, which results in pain due to crowding and issues with the rest of the dentition’s alignment.
Myth 4: Non-Bleeding Gums are Mean Healthy Gums
Many people equate bleeding gums with gingivitis, a common gum disease that’s usually caused by over brushing or over flossing. This usually means that there’s something wrong with your gums which can affect your teeth eventually. However, bleeding gums isn’t the only telltale sign of inflammation of gum disease.
It is still imperative to get your teeth checked, despite the absence of bleeding. Make sure you visit your dentist for routine checkups and floss your teeth every day to check signs of gum disease or for bleeding. With early treatment, your dentist can diagnose issues in their first stages and prevent them from progressing.
Myth 5: There’s No Need to Visit the Dentist if You Don’t Feel Pain or Discomfort
Like myth 4, it’s a common misbelief or you can say another most common dental myths that dental visits are unnecessary unless you feel discomfort, pain, or anything unusual in your teeth. But in reality, tooth problems frequently start painlessly. Dental professionals can spot and diagnose issues that may not affect your sensation, like cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer, among others.
Eventually, these issues tend to progress and affect your sensations and nerves, requiring treatment and medication.
If your dentist treats these issues at the onset, they can also do cleanings and apply sealants to stop issues at their tracks. This will spare you from more involved and expensive treatments in the long run. Plus, by getting rid of surface stains, tartar, and plaque, routine cleanings and examinations will help keep your teeth in tip-top shape! Do not put off seeing your dentist until you are in pain!
Myth 6: Gum Chewing is a Good Substitute for Brushing
As most dental pros say, there is no other good cleaning substitute for brushing your teeth aside from brushing. Utilizing a toothbrush for cleaning will allow you to entirely cover your mouth, which not only clears your teeth of bacteria and plaque, but also your gums! Sugar-free gum is a good way to clean your mouth right after eating, but it should not be taken as a complete substitute, as it only cleans your teeth.
With gum-chewing, you neglect your gums of a good old cleaning, leaving them with plaque or food particles which usually lead to tooth decay. If you like to chew gum after eating, brush and floss right after as well. A solid routine of thorough brushing and flossing won’t ever be replaced by gum!
Myth 7: Fluoride is Bad for Your Body and Health
From word of mouth to various sources, there are claims that fluoride is harmful to humans, but it’s a chemical that can be found in our daily sustenance, which even includes water! Therefore, fluoride is 100% safe for brushing—as an ingredient in toothpaste. It is a quintessential element that prevents cavities and coats your teeth, preventing tooth decay. Its chemical composition keeps your teeth enamel strong and healthy, combatting acid in your food.
What’s more, people who are high at risk for cavities or fluoridated water are even prescribed fluoride supplements. Although not recommended for everyone, there are some fluoride treatment methods that are given by dental practitioners. Before you go and buy your own, discuss with your dentist first to determine if you need it in the first place or not, based on your condition.
Myth 8: Gargling Mouthwash Will Solve Bad Breath
It may seem mild and unsuspecting, but bad breath or halitosis is a condition that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Halitosis can be a symptom of a much more major issue with your teeth like gum disease, gingivitis, or cavities. Therefore, it’s not something that can’t be solved by gargling mouthwash alone. Bad breath mouthwash and strips are good products that can momentarily cover the smell of bad breath but cannot get rid of it completely.
Still, the most effective treatment that will get rid of halitosis is regular brushing and flossing—and most importantly—regular visits with your dentist. He or she can determine the ultimate origin of halitosis and treat the issues altogether.
Myth 9: Your Oral Health Is Separate From Your Overall Health
Just because “dentists” are different from “doctors,” doesn’t mean that our overall health is separate from dental health. However, this is far from reality and facts! Your oral health is substantially associated with your overall health. More so, there are a few studies that suggest poor oral health is linked to alarming diseases like heart disease and diabetes, as well as difficulties in pregnancy.
So, schedule regular visits to your dentists twice a year (every 6 months) to maintain the health of your teeth and gums. Discussions with your dentist will provide you insights into how your oral health may be affecting your overall health and well-being. Don’t ever ignore any minor issues with your teeth and make sure to visit immediately to address any underlying concerns!
Myth 10: Flossing is Optional
It is simple to write off flossing as unnecessary or optional. However, this is a process that’s very crucial in cleaning away food particles or plaque that your toothbrush can’t reach! Without flossing, you leave the in-betweens of your teeth and gums uncleaned and vulnerable to cavities or even bad breath!
Yikes!
So, make sure not to ever skip flossing to clear your teeth—and gums—100% from leftover food residue and bacteria. If you don’t find the white floss string comfortable, you can opt for water flossers or interdental brushes. What’s even more important is to find a technique that’s effective in cleaning the middle of your teeth.
There are plenty of misconceptions that surround our oral health and well-being, but now that you know how to separate fact from fiction, you can take care of your pearly whites in a way that’s medically sound and fact-checked! To keep abreast of the correct practices and treatment for your condition, pay regular visits to your dentist and create a solid oral routine that will keep those pearly whites strong and free from cavities!
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