What Are Some Myths About Oral Hygiene?
How many of these have you heard before? Read on to learn the truth about these common oral health myths.
-You only have to go to the dentist if your teeth hurt.
You might have heard of the saying “prevention is better than cure.” Even if you aren’t experiencing discomfort, we recommend seeing a dentist twice a year for regular cleanings and checkups. Diagnosing and curing disease at an earlier stage is much easier and cost-effective.
-It’s not important what time of day I brush.
While it is recommended that you brush your teeth at least twice a day, brushing at a specific time does affect your dental health. We produce less saliva at night when we sleep. Brushing in the morning also fights decay and bad breath.
–Oral health is not connected to the rest of the body.
Your mouth is connected to your overall health. A mouth with tooth decay and periodontal disease can cause bacteria to get into the bloodstream and result in other health problems. Periodontal disease can cause heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and more.
-My teeth are not healthy because I’m aging.
Aging does not have to mean deteriorating oral health. If you take care of your teeth in the childhood and adult years, you can still have healthy teeth in senior years.
–The more you brush your teeth, the healthier they’ll be:
Brushing your teeth too frequently can damage your enamel. Ideally, you can brush your teeth three times a day, after each meal, but If you are busy, twice a day is also enough if you do it properly.
-You shouldn’t change your toothbrush every 3 months if it looks OK
Even if your toothbrush looks OK, it might still be filled with bacteria if it wasn’t stored properly.
-Putting a cap on your toothbrush protects it from bacteria
Closing the brush creates a moist-enclosed breeding ground for bacteria. You should rinse your brush with water after use, let it dry and keep it upright in a cup.
-Chewing sugar-free gum is as good as brushing
While chewing xylitol gum might encourage saliva production and help wash away the acids from foods and drinks, it can’t replace brushing.
-You need to use a toothpick after eating
You can harm your gums with a toothpick, and make way for bacteria to go into the gum and cause an infection. It would be best if you replaced the toothpick with dental floss.
-Flossing isn’t really necessary
Flossing is essential for healthy teeth. Not using a floss means not cleaning 35% of your teeth surfaces.
-If your gums bleed when you floss, you should stop
It’s more likely that your gums bleed due to inflammation caused by bacteria and plaque. Flossing daily will prevent these issues.
-White teeth mean healthy teeth
Just because your teeth look white doesn’t mean you don’t need to visit the dentist. You may still have cavities, infections, or other issues that need to be treated.
-Whitening damages your teeth
Modern teeth whitening techniques are usually safe – as long as you have your teeth whitened professionally, or you follow the instructions when using a home whitening kit.
-Dental floss can create spaces between your teeth
Dental floss is so thin that it definitely can not create spaces. Dental floss prevents decay between your teeth.
Be proactive about your dental health. A little effort invested each day can save you time and money in the future.