Myths About Brushing Your Teeth

Time and time again, dental health would always play a significant part in dealing with our daily hygiene. You cannot forego basic tooth care if you plan or are reaching a better and cleaner overall mouth. There is more to basic concept of brushing your teeth that meets the eye to achieve overall dental health.

One might think that a simple soft-bristled toothbrush and avoiding a sugary drink is all you need to gain a better-looking smile. There is so much that we neglect in the name of a healthy mouth. This article shall tackle some of the biggest myths and misconceptions about tooth care that you may find on the internet.

 

Flossing is Not Essential

One of the most common dental practices that fewer and fewer people would find themselves foregoing would be to floss their teeth regularly. The problem with oral care and the media is that most people would find themselves focusing on the normal brushing aspect or even the quality of toothpaste that you use. However, flossing is not only something that you should focus on to remove something stuck between your teeth, such as food debris.

Instead, a regularly flossed tooth can bring about a host of benefits that can significantly improve your dental hygiene. Some of the benefits that can be had when it comes to using dental floss include the following:

● Drastically lowering the chances of bad breath, especially in the morning.

● Creating a better and consistent whiter tooth colour.

● Delaying or even removing the formation of gum disease.

Possible bleeding while flossing is common in those that are new to the experience or a sign of gum disease from a milder form of plaque which is soft in nature called Gingivitis to a severe form of tartar build up which is hard like cement called Periodontitis. However, a regular dental checkup and oral health routine will cause your gums to become stronger naturally due over a period of time.

 

Gaps Can Form When You Excessively Floss Your Teeth

This dental myth correlates with the previous floss-related entry. Some people would advice others to only floss when there is food stuck in between their teeth. Although the floss itself will go in between the corners of your tooth, there is no cause for concern as it would not push out the tooth in another direction. There are various other factors that come to play in the separation or creation of space between teeth which we can explain in another blog. Instead, flossing would only ensure that you can remove all manners of food particles left behind after eating.

 

The Whiter The Teeth, The Better Your Dental Health

Mainstream media would have you believe that the only way a person can be perceived as someone with a good sense of tooth care would be to have a natural white tooth color. You can even find plenty of websites or pharmacies that would go out of their way to actively and heavily promote teeth whiteners to people to entice the need to go white.

Healthy teeth do not emit a natural bright white smile, but that does not automatically mean that you are exhibiting poor brushing or experiencing tooth decay. Most people should learn about the colour of their tooth because they would also be differing shades of lightness varying from person to person, their ph level, natural plaque build-up on their enamel, certain medications they might be taking, underlying medical problems that have gone undetected, smoking, certain food & beverage intake. That’s why it’s so important to value the importance of proper dental care/dental check up by visiting your dentist regularly on a 6 monthly or on a yearly basis.

 

Brushing Harder Would Scrape Off More Plaque and Bacteria

Bacteria that comes from poor oral care can result in some tooth decay and cavities. The most common myth out there is that a stronger and harder brushing would result in more plaque and bacteria being scraped off. This myth is not only wrong, but it can potentially cause more harm than good to your teeth.

The harder you brush, the higher likelihood of you damaging your tooth enamel which protects you from having lower tooth sensitivity. You can also increase the risk of tooth decay due to the lack of protection from following this false myth.

Your best bet at gaining better oral hygiene is maintaining a consistent daily habit of proper cleaning and brushing techniques which you can read in our other blog using suitable fluoride toothpaste.

 

Dentists are Only for Those With Toothache

Common usages for an emergency dentist appointment is when you experience a dental issue. However, it would be best to treat your teeth as though it is no different from your regular GP. It is a general medical myth that dentists are only there to help people suffering from various dental issues such as bad breath or tooth extraction.

You should regularly maintain a consistent schedule for your dental appointments as it can help ensure that you maintain your teeth healthier and stronger than ever before. You can also learn some practical medical advice about various harmful bacteria that can cause significant issues around your mouth. There are professional dental services like a Scale & Clean that your dentist can do to clean your teeth using a special enamel friendly dental toothbrush with some pumice paste which is slightly abrasive but not damaging to the enamel to get rid of the superficial stains.

 

Gum Disease Can Only Lead to Bad Breath

Everyone would want a fresh breath to start their day. You can find that there would always be people that would have a hard time bringing about a fresh breath despite properly and routinely brushing their teeth. This scenario might be the cause of a gum disease that is plaguing your mouth as we speak.

One thing that you need to note about gum diseases is that it is commonly linked to other health-related issues as well. Inform your dentist or nurse about health complications such as diabetes, blood clotting, or hypertension issues which make your mouth dry hence creating good anchorage & environment for the bacteria to adhere, multiply & turn into gum disease.