Dental myths debunked 

Dental health or oral health is taking care of your teeth, gums, and mouth. Dental health plays a pivotal role in maintaining the overall health and well-being of our body.

A lot of us make the mistake of assuming that our teeth and gums are in immaculate condition simply because of lack of pain or that we brush twice a day.

Dental hygiene begins when we debunk these few common myths and take steps that can go a long way in preventing dental problems.

Dental Myth # 1

Periodic cleaning or scaling At the dental office weakens my teeth.

FACT/REAL DEAL

Scaling or cleaning your teeth involves meticulous cleaning in areas where our toothbrushes are ineffective. Enamel is the hardest known substance cannot be weakened by a vibrating tip and a jet of water used in scaling. Scaling only removes plaque (soft bacterial layer) and Tarter (hard calcified deposits) from your teeth does making the gums pink and tight and the teeth healthy.

Dental meet #2

Cavities hurt, so if my teeth don’t hurt, they must be okay and cavity-free

FACT/THE REAL DEAL

Cavities/dental decay is the demineralization of the enamel by bacterial invasion. Initial decay in the enamel is just an entry point for bacteria to invade the deeper/softer layers of the truth.

Cavities don’t hurt till the time decay is in the enamel and softer dentin. But if left untreated can penetrate the nerve causing infection, swelling, and pain resulting in root canal treatment.

Early detection and feelings can prevent cavities from progressing and thus infection in teeth.

Dental  Myth #3

Headaches are not related to teeth.

FACT/ THE REAL DEAL

Headaches around the temples or even an earache can be due to excessive grinding of teeth, a process called bruxism where we grind our teeth in our subconscious sleep and are mostly unaware of the habit. It leads to wear and tear of the teeth making them flat and chipped causing the facial muscles to overwork resulting in headaches and even migraine attacks.

A simple device called Nightguard can prevent grinding by creating a barrier between upper and lower teeth thus reducing stress and headaches.

Dental myth #4

Flossing causes our gums To bleed

FACT/THE REAL DEAL-

Bleeding in gums happens due to inflammation/swelling caused by food lodgement between teeth and invasion of bacteria causing bleeding.

Regular flossing/cleaning of teeth will reduce this information does helping with bleeding gums.

Dental myth #5

I don’t like my smile, but I am too old for braces

FACT/THE REAL DEAL

Unfortunately, many adults with crooked and mal-aligned teeth are not happy with their smiles but feel that they are too old for orthodontic treatment. Although childhood is the ideal time to make changes in the alignment of teeth, more and more adults are opting for orthodontic treatment with clear aligners (Invisalign trademark) and coming with excellent results. Invisalign Uses the technology of clear aligners by 3-D printing which can be used to move teeth in desired directions without the use of braces And deliver excellent results in small makeovers.

Dental myth #6

Baby teeth are temporary and therefore not important

FACT/THE REAL DEAL

Plenty of parents make the mistake of assuming their child’s teeth are temporary and are going to fall and not important in his or her oral health. In reality, kids are especially prone to cavities because they are eating sticky and sweet food. Milk Teeth/baby teeth will not only help your child to eat, speak and smile, they are also the placeholders for adult teeth. If baby tooth decay is left untreated it is going to cause pain infection and possible loss of the successor as well. The good news here is that a few simple steps can go a long way to help prevent baby tooth decay.