Dental myths and misconceptions

HAPPY WORLD ORAL HEALTH DAY!

Today, the world is celebrating oral health.

While we celebrate today, it is important to know the truth about oral health because bad oral hygiene can lead to tooth decay, halitosis (bad breath), tooth loss, and other complications.

According to the World Health Organizations (WHO): Oral health is the key indicator of overall health, well-being and quality of life.

It is important to care for your teeth and most importantly be proud of your mouth. Oral health practitioners want you to have a healthy smile.

When it comes to taking care of your smile, there are plenty of misconceptions out there. But while good oral health can be achieved in just minutes a day, the wrong practices can cause irreversible damage.

Here are some of the Oral myths:

“Dental health doesn’t affect my overall health”.

During my dental outreach yesterday, I heard this a lot and it was so sad. I had to let them know what you are about to read.

Oral health can also impact your overall health!. Oral health is a good indicator of overall health, and poor oral hygiene can increase your risk for disease in other parts of your body. Moderate to advanced gum disease increases the risk of heart disease and is more prevalent among people with diabetes.

Bacteria and other germs can spread from the mouth to other areas of the body through blood flow. bacteria that spread to the heart can cause heart damage and inflammation.

“Brushing Harder Cleans Better”

Brushing harder is counterproductive. Brushing too hard or with too abrasive of a toothbrush (medium or firm) can actually harm your teeth causing trauma to the tooth enamel and gum tissue. This can eventually lead to problems such as gum recession.

Receding gums is a condition in which your gums pull back from the tooth surface, exposing the root surfaces of your teeth. Leading to loss of your tooth.

Brush gently for two minutes, twice daily with a soft-bristled brush.

“White Teeth Are Healthy Teeth”

Whiter teeth are not always healthier teeth. Teeth begin white, and over time, they can become discolored through staining or damage.

It is true that teeth are naturally whites. Many of the things that cause teeth to get darken or become yellow are unhealthy, like smoking.

But there are also plenty of the things that can darken the color of our teeth that are not necessarily unhealthy, such as medication, stains from foods and drinks, or just the natural process of aging.

If your teeth are losing their luster, speak to your dentist about why.

“I don’t feel any pain, I do not need a dental checkup”

Most patients told me this yesterday, I found it to be one of the most absurd things I have heard.

The truth is you don’t necessarily feel pain right away, with a lot of dental issues. You don’t always feel cavities and gum disease.

The problem is once the symptoms appear, it is often a bigger issue. If you wait until a cavity hurts to get it checked out, you could end up needing an extraction or root canal which could have been prevented with regular checkups.

The point of going to the dentists is so we can prevent things happening to the teeth to protect them and notice things before they become an issue.

“I’ve not brushed in days, tomorrow I’d see the dentist so i will have to brush well today, no one will know”

Sorry to burst your bubbles, but you are not getting away with it. Your dentist will tell.

Without regular brushing and flossing, hard tartar (calculus) forms around your teeth and at a certain point you can’t get it off with brushing alone.

Plus, you cannot undo the inflammation in your gums that occurs when plaque and tartar have accumulated over months with just a few days of flossing.

When your dentist notices bleeding gums and the amount and location of tartar, you’re busted.

“Sweet foods are responsible for cavities”

While sugar does contribute to the formation of cavities, it is not the sugar itself that causes the cavities. Rather, it’s the bacteria that eats the sugar.

When you think of cavities, you might think of lollipops and other sweet and sticky treats. But crackers and chips might even be worse for your teeth.

It has to do with the starchiness, carbohydrates in general-they stick to your teeth and this attracts bacteria to thrive on and around the teeth. These bacteria produce an acid compound that promotes tooth decay.

Ensure you rinse and brush after meals to reduce acid and plaque buildup.

“Charcoal toothpaste is better”

Charcoal toothpaste is marketed for whitening but in reality, it offers little protection for teeth.

Charcoal toothpaste actually works against teeth by absorbing protective agents meant to keep teeth healthy and strong.

It is advisable to use a toothpaste with fluoride. This is because fluoride protects teeth against decay by helping strengthen developing enamel and slowing acid production of bacteria caused by plaque.

In other words, using a fluoridated toothpaste protects your teeth against demineralization.

“Chewing sugar-free gum is just as good as brushing”

If only this were true, you’d see children jumping out for joy.

Chewing sugar-free gum, especially gum with xylitol, can have a protective effect on the teeth. Gum encourages saliva production, which helps to wash away enamel-eroding acids from foods, drinks and even stomach acid in the case of issues like acid reflux. Xylitol helps to redouble the effect of saliva.

But still, chewing gum doesn’t replace brushing and flossing when it comes to removing plaque from all the surfaces of your teeth.

Ensure you brush at least twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush.

I could go on and on, the myths are numerous. But I would stop here so as not to bore you. Please, I’d implore you to take good care of your oral health and ensure you change your toothbrush and visit the dental clinic regularly.

Pass this message to your family, friends and enemies. Save a life today.

Once again, HAPPY WORLD ORAL HEALTH DAY!