To get the upper hand on health, you need to get the facts straight. This rings true about teeth where you need to make sure you’re following the facts, or you’ll end up damaging them, and worse, in an irreversible manner. Keep in mind that your dental health matters above all since the beauty of your smile, confidence, ability to eat, and more depend on it.
Once you know the myths, set aside your old practices to make way for the new. Take note of these few dental-related myths that have to go, such as the following:
1. White means healthy.
White teeth may equate to youthfulness, but it doesn’t necessarily mean healthy. So many Americans claim to be dissatisfied with the color of their teeth and craze after having pearly whites.
Holywood has all the actors and actresses with flawlessly white teeth, so it’s not surprising that almost everyone wants the same. But is joining the bandwagon really worth it?
The food and beverages you consume make the stain, with red wine leaving the strongest color. This means with teeth; white doesn’t always mean healthy, just as off-color doesn’t mean diseased, either.
Some bleaching agents can cause teeth or gum sensitivity, but if you want to achieve the white you dream of, you’ll have to be persistent in visiting your dentist for the treatment so that the potential stain from the food and drinks you consume won’t take effect.
2. Braces are only for kids.
Still developing in all aspects, kids’ teeth accept braces and many other correction options more kindly than adults. While dentists typically say that the best age for getting braces is between 7 and 14, adults can get them too.
Youths, teens, adults in their 20s and 30s—getting braces doesn’t stop at these ages. On the plight of having straight teeth, the trend of braces goes beyond the 50s and 60s. Healthline observes the trend.
This is because disease prevention and dental care are getting way superior. Take, for example, the rise of fluoridated water. Adults these days have teeth in much better shape.
With most American adults having stronger teeth even in their later years, no one’s too late to have their teeth enhanced. In fact, many adults claim that they don’t mind sacrificing a few months or years enduring the braces, knowing that it’s for a lifetime of having an improved smile, eating, speaking, etc.
3. Sugar causes cavities.
Sugar does contribute to a buildup of cavities, but it isn’t the one causing them. Your mouth naturally consists of good and bad bacteria. Eating sugar invites harmful bacteria, releasing acid that damages the enamel of your teeth and causes plaque buildup.
These acids are simply removed by rinsing and washing your mouth. Your mouth has natural healing abilities to get rid of those acids, but when you eat more sugar, it might not be able to keep up with the cleaning, ultimately resulting in tooth decay.
Since sweetened food and beverages are a magnet to harmful bacteria, you should avoid them or minimize your consumption.
4. Brushing your teeth harder cleans them better.
Many people fall into the wrong thinking that they’re making their teeth cleaner when they brush them harder. This is not true. Brushing your teeth needs the proper brush and technique. Otherwise, you might damage your teeth and gums.
Brushing hard, and worse, using a hard-bristled toothbrush can immediately wear your enamel down and recede your gums. Finally, it can lead to tooth sensitivity.
Most dentists recommend using soft-bristled toothbrushes, preferably with an ADA seal. Make sure to replace your toothbrush when it frays or every after three months.
Check if you’re brushing your teeth the hard way. Even before its third month or month of disposal, you’ll already notice that it looks overly used and flat.
5. Flossing isn’t necessary.
There are some that floss, some that lie they do, and some that don’t believe flossing is even necessary. One in five Americans doesn’t floss. Plaque is removed by eight percent through flossing, so it’s a tragedy for the teeth of those who never floss.
The Dietary Guidelines of Americans may have removed flossing from the list of necessary habits, but this doesn’t make flossing any less. Not flossing can easily expose your gum line to plaque buildup, resulting in inflamed gums.
Get Your Routine Check
Another myth is that you only visit your dentist when you get dental problems. Alongside other myths, stop this thinking. Make sure that you visit your dentist not just for treatment but especially for preventive measures.
