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Dental health is vital to overall well-being, and it is very important to take it seriously. In addition to regular visits to the Upper Hunt Club dental center in Ottawa for a dental check-up, it is good to educate yourself on dental health. There are several myths and misconceptions about dental care that can easily fool you. Here are ten common myths explained and exposed so you can make the right choices for you and your teeth.
Myth #1: Dentists only serve when there is a problem
You definitely need to see a dentist when you have problems with your teeth, but regular and preventative care is just as important. If you wait until you feel discomfort to make an appointment, it will cost you more and you will go through difficulties and pain that could have been avoided. Visit the Upper Hunt Club Dental Center in Ottawa twice a year for a cleaning and checkup to keep your teeth healthy.
Myth #2: Dental health is separate from general health
While dentistry is often considered separate from regular medicine, it should come as no surprise to you to learn that your teeth are part of the human body and not separate from it. Tooth decay and dental problems can cause infections and life-threatening illnesses for the body in general, and that’s why you should take your dental health to heart.
Myth #3: You can brush your teeth anytime during the day
Surely you have often heard that you should brush your teeth in the morning and before bed, and you might be tempted to think that this schedule is arbitrary. Isn’t timing important as long as brushing is done twice? No, timing is important. Brushing your teeth in the afternoon is important to prevent a night with dirty teeth, and brushing in the morning helps clean up the saliva that you weren’t able to clean up during sleep.
Myth #4: Sugar-free liqueur is fine
We’ve heard a million times that sugar is bad for the times, so we might think that sugar-free liquor is an acceptable replacement instead of a regular Pepsi or Coke. Although it is true that it does not contain sugar, it is still highly acidic. The acid in the liquor eats away at tooth enamel for 20 minutes after each sip.
Myth #5: Baby teeth don’t matter
When you have a young child, you may think that the health of the baby teeth, or milk teeth, does not matter since they will fall out soon anyway. In fact, baby teeth are vitally important since their role is to hold space for future permanent teeth. Cavities in baby teeth can cause them to fall out too soon, and that means there will be an empty space for some time before the permanent teeth emerge. In addition, poor maintenance of baby teeth can lead to gum disease.
Myth #6: Teeth always lose health with age
We may believe that teeth lose health with age, but to accept it as a fact is to admit that we have lost the battle, when with good care, we could win it. With a conscious effort for dental health, teeth can stay healthy into old age.
Myth #7: Flossing increases space between teeth
No matter how much you floss, you don’t have to worry about creating more space between teeth. In fact, flossing removes debris and prevents cavities.
Myth #8: Brushing harder gives better cleaning
Brushing harder or more firmly does nothing to improve efficiency, and may in fact have the opposite effect by damaging the protective enamel on the surface of the teeth.
Myth #9: Sugar is the main culprit
While sugar is certainly a major cause of cavities, it is far from the only culprit. Starch and carbohydrates, as in potato chips and crackers, join the cavity-causing sugar with the bad tendency to stick to the teeth.
Myth # 10: A week of good brushing can compensate for past neglect
It may seem that we can ignore our teeth for months and then brush them well for a few days to restore them to new condition. In fact, lack of regular brushing results in tart buildup and inflamed gums that cannot be cleaned in a week.
Having a good knowledge of dental health allows good maintenance of teeth. If you have questions about your dental health, ask them at your next appointment at the Upper Hunt Club Dental Center in Ottawa. In addition, you can contact us at any time to ask us your questions!