26 Apr Dental Myths that Could be Damaging Your Teeth
Are you unknowingly damaging your oral health because you are misinformed? Common falsehoods about dental health continue to prevail in many communities. Unfortunately, misinformation about your oral health can harm your teeth and gums. The first step to dispelling common myths and protecting your oral health is to arm yourself with information. The second step to protecting your teeth and gums is to visit our dentist for regular cleanings and checkups.
If you ever have questions or concerns, we welcome you to discuss your oral health with our team. We are happy to help empower our patients with accurate information and provide recommendations when necessary.
Myth 1: White Teeth are Healthy Teeth
Even though white teeth are pleasant to look at, the color of teeth is not always an accurate indicator of their health. In fact, teeth can appear white and be severely decayed or infected. The only way to be certain teeth are healthy is to receive regular checkups with our dentist and diagnostic imaging such as X-rays, where the structure of teeth can be examined beyond what one can see.
Myth 2: Flossing is not Necessary
Many people think that brushing is the most important part of an oral hygiene regimen and believe that flossing is not important or even unnecessary. While brushing should be a part of everyone’s oral hygiene routine, it is not enough to clean teeth thoroughly. Flossing must be done to clean between teeth and along the gums. In fact, without flossing, you leave about 30% of your mouth dirty.
Myth 3: Everyone’s Gums Bleed
Bleeding gums is typically a sign of gum disease. Some folks mistakenly believe that everyone has bleeding gums from time to time when brushing or flossing. If you find blood on your toothbrush or dental floss, continue with your oral hygiene routine as normal and schedule an appointment with our dentist. At your appointment, we can determine if you have gum disease and how best to address it.
For questions or to reserve an appointment, call our office today!