Agagsia Dental | 18 myths about teethAgagsia Dental | 18

18 Common Misconceptions About Oral Health What are the common misconceptions about oral and dental health?

Individuals often adopt various practices for oral and dental care beyond brushing and flossing. These practices are usually based on hearsay and misinformation. While it’s possible to maintain a healthy mouth and teeth by dedicating just a few minutes each day, incorrect practices can lead to serious damage. In this blog post, we have elaborated on the common mistakes and truths related to oral and dental health.

1. The Harder You Brush Your Teeth, the Better They Get Clean The idea that teeth get cleaner the harder they are brushed is a real myth. If teeth are brushed too hard and abrasively, it can wear away the protective enamel that guards against cavities and erosion, causing harm to the teeth. Brushing too hard doesn’t clean the teeth; instead, it leads to abrasions known as ‘brush abrasion.’ As the enamel layer of the teeth wears away, the yellow layer underneath becomes visible, making the teeth appear more yellow. Additionally, aggressive brushing can result in tooth sensitivity and receding gums.
2. Using Dental Floss and Mouthwash Is Unnecessary The belief that using dental floss and mouthwash is unnecessary is a misconception. What matters is the effective and correct cleaning of the interdental spaces. Instead of dental floss, an interdental brush or an oral irrigator can serve the same purpose. In addition to regular brushing, dental floss should be used at least once a day. Dental floss is beneficial for preventing bad breath by removing food residues in areas where the brush cannot reach. It is advisable to consult with a dentist to learn how to perform interdental cleaning correctly.
3. Chewing Sugar-Free Gum is as Effective as Brushing Your Teeth The notion that chewing gum is as effective as brushing your teeth, if not more, is a myth. Chewing gum, especially sugar-free ones, can stimulate saliva production, aiding in clearing away acidic residues from foods, beverages, and stomach acid, helping protect tooth enamel. However, it can’t replace the thorough cleaning achieved by using a toothbrush or dental floss. While gum may support oral care, its effect is certainly not equivalent to brushing.
4. If Your Gums Bleed While Brushing, It’s Best to Avoid Touching Them The idea that avoiding bleeding gums while brushing is the best approach is entirely wrong. Bleeding gums often indicate potential issues. It’s commonly a sign that the toothbrush isn’t reaching between the teeth effectively, allowing bacteria and plaque buildup. This bacterial accumulation can lead to gum inflammation over time. Proper and regular use of dental floss can help prevent gum inflammation and bleeding.
5. The Biggest Cause of Cavities Is Sugar The idea that sugar is the sole cause of cavities is a misconception. Oral bacteria feed on the residues of sugar, carbohydrates, and acidic foods. The environment created by these residues leads to dental decay and cavities. While candies, chocolates, and sugary treats are often associated with cavities, it’s crucial to remember that products like biscuits and chips, which contain carbohydrates that turn into sugar, can also be harmful to teeth. The primary method to prevent cavity formation is maintaining good and proper oral hygiene.
6. Gum Disease Is Only a Problem Related to Our Oral Health The first person to notice gum disease might be the individual or their dentist. Gum issues can be indicative of various diseases. If someone has gum disease, they might have conditions like diabetes or hypertension. Moreover, there might be a possibility of some cancers related to chronic inflammation. Signs of gum issues often include swelling, redness, sensitivity, and bleeding in the gums. Bleeding while brushing, red and swollen gums, and bad breath are common symptoms. Healthy gums are usually pink, and if they appear excessively red, it could be a sign of gum disease. Shrunken gums can also be a sign, making the teeth look longer than usual.
7. Not Everyone Is Suitable for Dental Implants The notion that dental implants are not suitable for everyone is inaccurate. There is no upper age limit for implant treatments, and anyone over the age of 18, having completed bone development, can undergo implant therapy. For individuals whose bone development is not complete, bone transfer or the use of bone grafts can create a suitable environment for implant treatment. Additionally, individuals with uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension, blood clotting issues, and advanced heart conditions should not undergo implant surgeries without obtaining permission from their healthcare providers.
8. My Body Won’t Accept the Implant Implants are specially designed screws made of titanium that are placed inside the jawbone to address tooth loss. They consist of two parts: the titanium part surgically placed within the jawbone and the visible part. Dental implants are made of a material called titanium, which is not rejected by the body’s tissues. Dental implants have a success rate ranging from 95% to 100%. In cases where a fixed implant prosthesis is not suitable for the jaw, successful results can still be achieved with implant-supported complete dentures using a limited number of implants, enhancing the patient’s comfort.
9. My Tooth Won’t Numb During Treatment Local anesthesia involves numbing a specific area using local anesthetic drugs, typically administered by dentists. If there is no infection in the tooth, and the correct anesthesia technique is applied, all teeth should become numb. If you trust your dentist’s expertise, you should not encounter problems like your tooth not numbing during treatment.
10. Cavities Develop During Orthodontic Treatment Crooked teeth not only affect smile aesthetics but also make it challenging to clean teeth adequately, increasing the risk of cavities and negatively impacting the health of surrounding tissues. Implementing orthodontic treatment in the long term is essential for maintaining good oral and dental health and achieving a beautiful smile. Preserving the spaces where primary teeth are lost prematurely due to decay or trauma is crucial for the normal eruption of permanent teeth. Using removable or fixed appliances attached to teeth helps maintain the spaces where permanent teeth will emerge. Orthodontic treatment prevents decay resulting from misalignment.
11. Wetting the Toothbrush Under the Tap Before Brushing is Necessary Wetting the toothbrush and toothpaste before brushing is an incorrect practice. Wetting the toothbrush reduces its firmness, compromising the effectiveness of oral and dental cleaning. There is no need to wet the toothpaste either because there is enough liquid in the oral cavity for it to foam. The correct practice is to apply toothpaste to the toothbrush and start brushing immediately.
12. Using Dental Floss Causes Harm to Gums During tooth brushing, a toothbrush cannot reach between teeth, making the use of dental floss crucial for cleaning interdental spaces. Dental flossing ensures the removal of residues between teeth, preventing issues such as tooth decay, bad breath, and gum diseases. Therefore, using dental floss does not harm the gums; on the contrary, it is beneficial for gum health. For proper oral and dental care, dental flossing should be performed at least once a day in addition to tooth brushing.
13. Dental Treatment Cannot Be Performed During Pregnancy If there are problems with oral and dental health during pregnancy, intervention should not be delayed, as neglecting issues might cause more harm to the mother. Emergency dental treatments can be performed if deemed necessary. The most suitable period for treatments is between the 3rd and 6th months of pregnancy. However, decisions about the type of treatment and timing should be made jointly by the dentist and the obstetrician. Personal oral and dental care during pregnancy is not significantly different from regular periods. Teeth should be brushed at least twice a day, and in addition to brushing, dental floss and mouthwash can be used.
14. Everyone Has Bad Breath, and It Never Goes Away While bad breath can result from pathological and physiological causes, it can also be a sign of various health issues. Causes of bad breath include gum diseases, certain foods like onions, garlic, and eggs, tobacco and alcohol consumption, poor oral hygiene, and medications causing dry mouth. Additionally, systemic conditions such as respiratory infections, diabetes, kidney failure, tonsillitis, gastrointestinal diseases, tooth decay, cleft palate, liver disorders, and metabolic disorders can contribute to bad breath. It’s crucial to identify the cause of bad breath and seek appropriate treatment.
15. Bad Breath Indicates Gum Disease While bad breath can indicate gum disease, it can also be a sign of other health problems. Bad breath can be caused by respiratory infections, diabetes, kidney failure, tonsillitis, gastrointestinal diseases, tooth decay, cleft palate, liver disorders, and metabolic disorders. To determine the cause of persistent bad breath, it’s advisable to consult with a dentist first, and if the oral cavity is entirely healthy, seeking advice from another healthcare professional may be necessary.
16. Cleaning Dental Calculus Harms Teeth Dental calculus, if not removed, can have multiple negative effects on oral and dental health. From an aesthetic standpoint, it can cause discoloration and contribute to the development of bad breath. Failure to clean dental calculus can lead to an increase in tooth decay and the onset of gum inflammation. Furthermore, cavities may form in the gaps left after tooth extraction. It is essential to pay attention to dental calculus removal, as it can potentially harm teeth and jeopardize oral health. Although dental calculus
17. Teeth Whitening is Harmful for Oral HealthApart from physiological factors, our teeth can be affected and lose their whiteness due to internal and external factors such as excessive smoking, coffee, tea, and antibiotic use. Teeth whitening, carried out chemically under the supervision of dentists to restore the tooth color to its original shade or even a few shades whiter, is called teeth whitening (bleaching). It is advisable to undergo the tooth cleaning process before teeth whitening procedures.Teeth whitening procedures performed under the supervision of a dentist do not have any harmful effects on the health of your teeth.
18. 20. Visiting the Dentist is Unnecessary Unless There is ToothacheEven if there is no toothache, visiting a dentist is a necessity for the prevention of oral and dental diseases. It is crucial to visit the dentist twice a year, even if there is no apparent problem or toothache, to prevent unseen issues in advance and achieve overall oral and dental health. Toothache can arise from various causes, such as gum diseases, wisdom teeth, braces, etc. If toothache is experienced due to gum diseases, and this condition is ignored, significant problems such as tooth loss can be encountered. For continuous maintenance of oral and dental health, it is essential to visit the dentist at least twice a year, even if no issues are felt.