Most of us understand the basics of good dental
Dental Hygiene Myth #1: You have to brush harder to get cleaner teeth
Truth: Using too abrasive or firm of a toothbrush or exerting too much strength in brushing can harm your teeth as it erodes the enamel that protects the inside of the tooth.
Dental Hygiene Myth #2: You don’t need to floss daily.
Truth: The recommendation to floss regularly was recently debated on due to a lack of strong medical evidence. However, a lack of strong medical evidence doesn’t necessarily mean that flossing is not effective. In fact, logically it makes sense to floss daily as there is buildup from our daily food intakes and activities that you can remove only by flossing.
Dental Hygiene Myth #3: It is normal for gums to bleed when you floss or brush your teeth.
Truth: Most of the time, the reason why our gums bleed is due to inflammation from poor dental hygiene. Inflammation happens when bacteria and plaque get stuck in between our teeth and bleeding occurs. When you make flossing and brushing a regular daily habit, you will see the bleeding will go away with time.
Dental Hygiene Myth #3: It is normal for gums to bleed when you floss or brush your teeth.
Truth: It is not just sugar that is the main culprit. Crackers and chips are worse for your teeth as these foods are starchy and the carbohydrates contains sugars that break down and stick to the teeth.
Dental Hygiene Myth #5: Having sensitive teeth means you have worn away the enamel on your teeth.
Truth: Sensitivity can be caused by other factors such as gum recession and the use of whitening toothpastes. If you are using a whitening toothpaste and you find out that it is making your teeth sensitive, switch to a gentler toothpaste to improve the condition.
Dental Hygiene Myth #6: Bad breath is a symptom of gum disease
Truth: Bad breath can also be a sign of other complications such as digestive issues, acid reflux or bowel obstruction. Consult with our dentists or visit a GP to find out the real cause.
Dental Hygiene Myth #6: Bad breath is a symptom of gum disease
Truth: Patients with gum diseases are more prone to have health issues such as diabetes and hypertension.
Dental Hygiene Myth #8: Clean white teeth are healthy.
Truth: There are unhealthy factors that will cause our teeth to become yellow such as smoking. However there are also healthy or natural factors that can affect the appearance of your teeth such as medication, food colourings or aging.
Dental Hygiene Myth #9: There is no need for regular dentist visits if you are not facing any issues.
Truth: You will not feel pain or discomfort right away with most dental issues, like cavities and gum disease. If you only visit the dentist when the symptoms appear, it also indicates that the problem had became more severe. Don’t wait until there is decay and pain in your cavity to see a dentist, you might end up needing more costly treatment or lose your tooth.
All of which can be discovered earlier with regular dental checkups.
Dental Hygiene Myth #10: Going to the dentist is too much pain.
Truth: This is one of the most common misconceptions as we are naturally averse to facing physical pain. We also have a tendency to over visualise and imagine things that we fear. If you practise good dental habits, visits to the dentist will be a walk in the park. We are here to help you improve your dental health and will prepare you if there will be any discomfort in our procedures.
It is also important to talk to our dentists about your fears and they will prepare you for the procedures that will be happening during your visit. And if you are apprehensive about the pain, we have options to ensure your oral care is pain-free.
Hope we have helped in clearing some doubts you may have on dental health. Maintaining your dental health with good oral habits and regular dentist visits are the keys to a bright and cheery smile. If you have any questions or wish to get more information, please feel free to contact us.
Your dental family, Le MinT’S, is here for you.