6 MYTHS ABOUT DENTAL CARE

By Jude Fabiano

1. WHITER TEETH ARE HEALTHIER TEETH

Your teeth may be white as snow, yet this doesn’t reveal whether or not there is an infection or cavities between the teeth. While your teeth should be on the whiter side, pure white teeth aren’t always healthier; the natural color of teeth varies from one person to another. And as we age, our teeth become more discolored.

BLEACHING YOUR TEETH

IS DANGEROUSAs people look to get whiter smiles fast, many have turned to bleaching. Before 1990, the materials used to bleach teeth were acidic and actually break down enamel, yet now these bleaching materials are PH neutral and don’t show damage to the enamel. Now, you’re simply oxidizing your teeth with carbamide peroxide so that light refracts more favorably off the enamel. Yet aggressively high concentrations of whitening gels that can traumatize or shock the tooth. While prolonged use of bleaching could cause sensitivity, once you cease bleaching the pain should go away.

BRUSHING YOUR

BLEEDING GUMS IS

BAD

Brushing is not only good for your teeth, but also your gums and tongue. Brushing these areas helps to get rid of plaque that would otherwise cause inflammation, gingivitis and eventually gum disease. Such plaque can cause the gums to become inflamed and bleed if it isn’t removed. Yet if you do have sensitive gums, it might be best to not brush too hard, and possibly brush at an angle to avoid irritation of the gums.

SUGAR DAMAGES YOUR TEETH

While sugar is bad for teeth, the sugar isn’t what is hurting them. Bacteria in the mouth needs processed sugar to survive, yet if you don’t consume sugar but still have poor oral hygiene then you’ll be prone to the same type of tooth decay. The true cause of tooth decay is the combination of bacteria, sugar and acid. Your gums can get irritated if sugar gets caught in between your teeth, therefore it is important to brush or rinse after eating to get rid of the sugars and acids that can damage the enamel of your teeth.

PLACING AN ASPIRING NEXT TO YOUR TOOTH WILL REDUCE PAIN

This myth is actually half true; even if aspirin only works when it’s in your bloodstream, it can still temporarily relieve some pain if placed next to a gum that’s causing pain. Yet if it is coming from the actual tooth structure, then the aspirin would have to enter the bloodstream, since it can’t get through the enamel to get to the nerve. It’s also a bad idea to overuse aspirin or oral gels to relieve gum pain, since they can lead to burn symptoms on the gums.

FLOSSING ISN’T IMPORTANT

Flossing is an extra step that many of us tend to skip after we brush our teeth, but neglecting to floss can lead to the buildup of bacteria. Bacteria in hard-to-reach places can cause gum disease, decay and pain. Flossing is cheap, easy and essential to oral health.