Dental Myths Busted
There are a plenty of myths out there when it comes to taking care of your smile. Here's what you need to know & should NOT be doing if you want to maintain a healthy smile:
1. I don't need a dental check-up if nothing is bothering me.
Ø Fact: One of the biggest misconceptions, this tops our list. One may not feel the pain right away if they have a dental issue. Most people often turn up for us only when cavities and gum diseases start hurting them. One shouldn't wait until a cavity hurts as you can end up requiring a root canal treatment or an extraction of the same tooth that could have been saved if you had been coming for regular checkups. You should always keep in mind that regular checkups are to notice dental issues before they become big so that extensive interventions are prevented.
2. If my tooth got knocked out, I am going to lose it forever.
Ø Fact: If you find the tooth, try to avoid scraping it off of any dirt particles, as you may damage the root. Instead, carefully handle it by the crown & rinse it gently with a normal saline solution. Placing the tooth back in its original socket, or storing it in a small container with milk will help keep the tooth alive as milk contains proteins, sugar, and antibacterial substances which provides an ideal environment for Avulsed tooth & the sugars in milk feed the cells, which need to remain potent in the short term. If you don't have access to the above-stated methods, your cheek will work well too for storing the tooth until you reach the dentist, but, be careful that you don't swallow it.
3. Using a hard brush will clean my teeth well.
Ø Fact: Instead, you should use a soft or ultra-soft brush as they do not harm the gums and enamel. A hard brush actually strips your teeth off of their topmost layer- the enamel which is essential to protect the inner layers of the teeth. Just follow the simple rule of brushing your teeth twice a day, and change your brush after every 3-4 months.
4. I need not get my tooth drilled if the filling comes off, just refilling will do the work.
Ø Fact: Fillings are quite sturdy and are made of a reliable material which usually doesn’t come off for no reason. Mostly, the problem lies in the preparation of a cavity under the filling or due to some high points on the filling which may cause the filling to fall out under stresses.
5. I can't get braces as I have crossed my teenage.
Ø Fact: Correcting the alignment and other problems with the bite should ideally be done at an early age. But that doesn't mean that if you have crossed the teenage you cannot achieve well-aligned teeth. There are many options available today that can help you achieve aligned teeth apart, from the traditional metal braces.
6. If I brush properly, I need not floss.
Ø Fact: Brushing only cleans about 65% of your tooth's surface. But, what about the other 35%? These are the surfaces which lie in between your teeth, which the toothbrush itself is incompetent to reach (even if it is about using ultra-thin bristles). Hence, a dental floss can help you get rid of the food debris stuck in those areas and keep your mouth clean & prevent decay.
7. What's the use of my kid seeing the dentist, when his/her tooth is going to be replaced by the permanent one? It’s a baby tooth anyways!
Ø Fact: Baby teeth or the milk teeth are as important as the permanent teeth. Most of the parents have a misconception about this. Cavities in baby teeth should be restored by a filling so that they don't lead to a toothache or an infection. Baby teeth play a major role in guiding the erupting permanent teeth into the correct position. The space for the erupting permanent tooth is usually lost, resulting in malalignment if a baby tooth is extracted before age (due to severe decay).
8. Dental scaling will make my teeth mobile.
Ø Fact: Dental scaling and polishing are supposed to be done at 6 months interval unless otherwise advised by your dentist or dental hygienist. Patients who are prone to gum diseases may require to see their dentist every 3-4 months. But, on failing to do so the tartar continues to deposit on your teeth, leading to the inflammation of the gums, bleeding and subsequent gum recession causing the teeth to become mobile. Hence, the reason for the mobility of your teeth is not keeping a proper oral hygiene & not getting your dental scaling done at regular intervals. Dental scaling helps to restore your gums back to their health.
9. Dental treatments always burn a hole in the pocket.
Ø Fact: "Prevention is better than cure". The only reason that you will have to spend a fortune on a dental treatment is that you neglected your teeth and didn't care for them as much as you should have. Neglect, or rather, the result of neglect has been always costlier. Routine dental appointments help you prevent spending so much by noticing dental issues before they become big.
10. Ignoring my toothache will eventually relieve it.
Ø Fact: Toothaches are usually caused due to an infection, and an infection cannot heal up on its own. You may require a prescription or other necessary intervention to take care of the main source of a toothache. Ignoring it will not help & will only make the condition worse.
11. I should not see consult the dentist if I am pregnant.
Ø Fact: It's actually mandatory to continue with your regular dental checkups if you are pregnant for pregnant women are more likely to develop gum disease & tooth decays. Pregnancy-related gingivitis is an infection of the gums that surround your teeth and can lead to pregnancy-related complications if not taken care of. You should always be sure to mention about your pregnancy during your visit to our clinic so that we can take the necessary precautions to protect your baby while providing you with the care you need.
About the Author:
Dr. Madhvi Nagpal and her team of doctors have been practicing dentistry in New Delhi, India for the last 12 years. They use the latest equipment and materials in dental treatments and follow the latest trends in dentistry. She has treated over 100 thousand patients during her practice & is an experienced dentist with a specialization in Dental Implants. Click here to know more about the cost of dental implants & procedure.
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