Here at Advanced Family Dentistry, we talk a lot about questions that patients have asked us. While we believe in patient education, we’ve heard some pretty strange beliefs about dental care that are either partially false or downright wrong! Today, we’re taking a look at a few of these myths and debunking them for your convenience. Get the facts and ask us, before you change your dental care habits.
“Cavities mean you’re eating too much sugar!”
Not necessarily. Cavities are a result of two things: eating a lot of sugar and carbohydrates, and not brushing your teeth. When you forget to brush your teeth sometimes, bacteria can gobble up the leftover food particles and sugar, dispensing acid waste in their wake. This acid waste forms plaque and tartar, key components to tooth decay. It’s okay to eat your favorite desserts, just balance it out with other healthy meals and brush your teeth at least twice a day.
“White teeth are healthy teeth.”
Teeth whitening is pretty popular, but just because your teeth are white does not mean that they are perfectly healthy. There are a few oral diseases that exist just under the gums, and could wreak havoc on your health if you don’t watch for the warning signs. This includes periodontal disease, tooth decay, and more. If you’re going in for a teeth whitening procedure, be sure to check for signs of illness before you undergo whitening, just in case.
“If you have bad breath, you’re brushing wrong.”
Not true! While improper oral care could be a factor when it comes to bad breath, the truth is that there could be other factors as well. For example, if you’re afflicted with an oral health disease such as gum disease, one of the symptoms could be the bad breath that you’re experiencing. In addition, if your doctor has recently prescribed new medicines, then bad breath could be a side effect of that medicine. Before you panic, talk to Dr. Taler or speak with your physician to make sure that it’s not a bodily problem that’s causing the stinky breath.
“Don’t brush your gums if they’re bleeding.”
Absolutely brush your gums. Bleeding gums are a bad sign that you may have advanced gum disease, but this doesn’t mean you should stop cleaning them. The disease is caused by harmful bacteria, so it’s very necessary to continue brushing and flossing to the best of your ability. If you are bleeding more frequently, contact us right away to get examined by Dr. Taler.
“Dental implants aren’t as effective as dentures.”
While dentures have been a long-standing dental device tradition, they are also a thing of the past. Depending on each patient’s case, it could be that they need dentures more than implants; however, if they are only missing one or more teeth, dental implants are best. They are permanently placed and help the jawbone to recover from the tooth loss. Dentures can’t do that!
Tell Us Your Dental Myth
Got a dental myth that you’re not sure is true? Let us know about it! Here at Advanced Family Dentistry, we want to make sure that our patients have the right information for the sake of their oral health. Are you also interested in dental implants? Dr. Taler can help!