Yahoo Lifestyle Top 10 dental myths exposed
1. MYTH: "If I brush really well before my dental appointment, the dentist won’t know I haven’t been"
brushing regularly since my last check up”. If a patient doesn’t brush for the recommended two minutes twice a day, their gums are likely to be red, swollen and bleed easily. This makes it obvious to your dentist that you have not been brushing regularly – so keep it up between checkups!
2. MYTH: “If my gums are bleeding I should not brush or floss them”
In fact the opposite is true. Bleeding gums can be caused by plaque build up which needs to be
removed with regular brushing and flossing using good products. It could also mean you are
brushing too hard, so try a soft-bristled Oral-B CrossAction Pro-Health brush and lighten your
technique. Professional dental cleaning may be necessary if the bleeding persists.
3. MYTH: “My Wisdom teeth are coming through and crowding my teeth. If I have them removed they will straighten up again”.
Most of the time Wisdom teeth will not cause crowding of the teeth and removing them will not solve the crowding issue or re-straighten them. If you experience pain or discomfort from emerging wisdom teeth, speak with your dentist.
4. MYTH: “The more you brush the healthier your teeth will be”.
Toothpaste is a mild abrasive and over-brushing can wear the teeth leading to problems. I recommend that you use a soft brush, such as the Oral-B CrossAction Pro-Health 7 Benefits twice a day for two minutes. In between, rinse after eating and chew sugar-free gum to avoid plaque buildup.
5. MYTH: “I don’t need to take my child to the dentist until they get their second teeth”
A child’s permanent teeth usually arrive at the age of six but by this time damage can already be
done to the primary teeth and bad habits could already have been developed by the child. I recommend taking your child to the dentist by the age of one for good advice on how to look after your child’s teeth and promote a healthy routine for life.
6. MYTH: “Teeth whitening is harmful as it can damage the teeth”
Professional dental teeth whitening causes no damage to the enamel of the teeth, however it may cause sensitivity of the teeth and redness of the gums in the short term.
7. MYTH: “Dental treatment should be avoided during pregnancy”
On the contrary a dental check up is advisable during pregnancy. Checkups, cleaning, fillings and local anaesthetics are ok, as are X-rays although they should be taken only if necessary. If you are pregnant, you should alert your dentist before undertaking any procedure. Some dental treatments should be avoided entirely during pregnancy, such as amalgam removal and some antibiotics.
8. MYTH: “Women lose a tooth for each child they have given birth to”
This is a commonly dismissed as an ‘old wives tale’, however it isn’t entirely untrue. Hormonal
changes during pregnancy can exaggerate bacteria in the mouth, potentially causing bleeding gums or gingivitis. With a thorough and regular cleaning regime, tooth loss is unlikely.
9. MYTH: “Dental X-rays are unnecessary”
Dental X-rays can provide early detection of decay and other problems. The radiation dose is very small particularly now that dentists use digital radiography and the benefits are huge when it comes to preventing potentially larger problems later on in life.
10. MYTH: “Weight loss can affect the fit of your dentures”
The fit of the denture is determined by the shape of the bone under the tissue and weight loss will not affect the fit or comfort.
11. MYTH: “Gum disease and bad breath can be caught through kissing someone”
This is actually true! The bacteria that live in the mouth which cause gum disease and bad breath can be transmitted through saliva. So be careful!
