Dental Myths
Learn true facts
Welcome to Common Myths in Dentistry
It seems like everything is known about the rules and recommendations on how to take care about our teeth effectively. However, day after day new versions of good old principles of dental care appear here and there.
As a result, many people still remain confused about the basics of brushing, flossing, whitening and other dental care procedures. Check out the most popular dental myths and related comments of dental specialists
Here are some common myths and the truths behind them
Myth:
Dawa ya meno ni kung’oa tu
Truth:
Uongo
Myth:
Bleeding gums are normal
Truth:
Not true. Bleeding gums are sign of inflammation which arises from infection of gums.
Myth:
Brushing harder cleans better
Truth:
No. Brushing harder could actually damage the teeth. Brushing correctly cleans better.
Myth:
Flossing is not necessary
Truth:
Flossing actually cleans the areas where your brush can never reach.
Myth:
Chewing gum works like brushing
Truth:
Not at all
Myth:
Kids do not need to brush baby teeth
Truth:
Not true
Myth:
Gum disease is only a concern for your mouth
Truth:
No. The bacteria in your mouth could cause a heart problem not to mention that gum disease could worsen in people with diabetes. There is also a link which has been established between gum disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
Myth:
After a decayed tooth is treated, there will be no more decaying there.
Truth:
There is no guarantee for this. After the treatment, every tooth must be properly cared about: regularly brushed, flossed and so on.
Myth:
The best treatment for an aching tooth is to have it removed.
Truth:
This is how people end up removing all their teeth one by one! Before making a decision whether to remove an aching tooth you have to consult a qualified dental professional and, possibly, ask for the opinion of several specialists. Sometimes, even totally decayed teeth can be restored, and, at the same time, there are situations when even a healthy looking teeth must be extracted.
Myth:
It is better to remove wisdom teeth because they usually cause problems.
Truth:
Do not extract your wisdom teeth until you have started having real problems with them. Again, it is important to get opinion from various qualified professionals.
Myth:
Good or bad dental health can be inherited.
Truth:
Such factor as inheritance plays a very minor role in good dental health. The main rules are to maintain proper oral hygiene and visit your dentist regularly. The responsibility of good dental hygiene purely lies with the individual
Myth:
Eating hot or cold meals may harm my teeth.
Truth:
Only regular eating of meals that are too hot or too cold may be harmful to your teeth and dental nerves.
Myth:
Using toothpicks after meals can widen the gaps between my teeth.
Truth:
Using usual toothpicks cannot have such effects. That said, you must be very careful when using toothpicks because they can easily damage the gums and other soft tissues in your mouth.
Myth:
Tooth whitening is harmful as it can damage the enamel.
Truth:
Modern methods of tooth whitening, including laser whitening or Air Flow technique, have minimal harmful effects. Nevertheless, one must remember that tooth whitening cannot be recommended to many people, especially for those who have sensitive teeth, problematic enamel, underdeveloped tissues, as well as pregnant and nursing women.
Myth:
There is no need in taking care of my baby’s teeth because in a few years they are all going to fall out.
Truth:
It must be noted that there was good reason nature gave babies these teeth in the first place! This mindset is absolutely wrong from a variety of perspectives. First of all, if you don’t take care of premature teeth, they may fall out before the expected time and cause problems with chewing or improper development of your child’s permanent teeth. Besides, it is important to start educating your children to maintain good dental and oral hygiene from an early age.
Myth:
It is necessary to avoid dental procedures during pregnancy.
Truth:
Regular dental treatment must not be avoided by pregnant women. For further explanation in, refer to dentistry and pregnancy
Myth:
Any type of dental treatment is very painful.
Truth:
Not anymore. Advanced dental technology allows for dental procedures to be less painful by using anaesthetic agents.
Myth:
Gum treatment weakens teeth.
Truth:
This is not true. If ananything, gum treatment actually makes the teeth firmer, by removing the tartar which contributes to bone loss. But in a situation where there is severe bone loss and mobility of the teeth, it would require the intervention of a periodontist to assess and correct any anomalies present.
Myth:
Dentures (false teeth) are made from goat teeth!! Please don’t laugh!
Truth:
The teeth in dentures are not harvested from goats!! They are fabricated in factories under very strict and hygienic conditions.