In the network, blogs, forums and debates circulate a multitude of myths about oral health: homemade whitening, new mouth rinses, revolutionary tricks… We ask the experts how much truth there is in these ‘miraculous’ treatments.
Home whitening, lack of treatment of milk pieces and poor hygiene of the gums can cause irreparable damage to the smile. Poor practices or lack of proper hygiene can cause tooth erosion and increase the risk of decay, gingivitis and even periodontal disease. For this reason, professional dentists from Parkwood Green Dental help us dismantle the ten most popular myths related to oral health.
The high volume of information on oral health that can be found on the Internet in forums, blogs and debates causes concern among professionals. Today, patients seek information on the network. And professionals should alert about this content online because it is often wrong, inaccurate or inaccurate and can cause severe damage to health. It is common to find many entries on home bleaching or solutions for toothache. But do not trust what we read on the Internet, always have to consult a dentist.
- Wash your teeth with baking soda and lemon to whiten them. The citric acid contained in the lemon weakens the enamel, the external part of the tooth; while sodium bicarbonate is an abrasive that will take advantage of that erosion to eliminate the first layers of this surface.
- It is not necessary to bind the milk teeth. Experts explain that cavities in a temporary dental piece can hurt as much as in a definitive tooth” because they also have a nerve. In addition, infections in milk teeth can reach the final pieces, therefore, it is essential to carry out proper oral hygiene since childhood.
- Pregnancy causes damage to the mouth. The hormonal changes of the gestation period make women more prone to inflammation of the gums. In addition, nausea and vomiting increase the acid in the mouth and with it the propensity to tooth erosion.
- Teeth cause bad breath. According to this expert, halitosis can be caused by pathogenic bacteria found in the mouth due to poor oral hygiene and gastrointestinal problems.
- The electric brush is better than the manual. Both brushes are just as good as long as the correct technique is used. In addition, it is recommended using a soft bristle brush to avoid damaging the gums and enamel. On the other hand, specialists deny that chewing gum can have the same results as brushing. It is true that chewing gum increases the salivation and pH of the mouth but cannot replace brushing and flossing.
- Nothing happens when you lose a tooth. When losing a tooth, our body tries to reorganise itself to be effective at the time of chewing. For this, the rest of the pieces move, tilt and move out of the bone. Therefore, we have not stopped spending a lot of time between losing a tooth and replacing it. In addition, it ensures that teeth can be preserved despite years of age. An adequate oral hygiene and periodic visits to the dentist to avoid problems, help to extend the life of our teeth despite age.
- It is normal for the gums to bleed with brushing. The most frequent cause of bleeding gums is the accumulation of bacteria. Therefore, it is recommended brushing and using dental floss.
- For toothache, an aspirin should be placed on the tooth and rinsed with cognac. This habit is very harmful because aspirin causes a deficit of protection in the mucous membranes and cognac irritates and burns. With this popular remedy can get a major issue in the mouth.
- I only go to the dentist if something hurts. Every six months or at most a year, you have to go to the dentist because with periodic reviews, we can take preventive measures. Acting when cavities begin to form and improving the health of our gums with professional cleaning.
- Teeth are formed during pregnancy. Although they usually appear between four and 18 months of age, the teeth begin to form in pregnancy, at six weeks of gestation. From that moment, they continue to develop inside the gums until they sprout in the mouth.
- Vitamin D deficiency can delay tooth eruption. If at around fifteen months, your child still does not have any teeth, it is advisable to consult a specialist to assess whether the late rash is due to a disease or not, such as hypothyroidism or lack of vitamin D.
- Babies can be born with teeth. From time to time we read news of babies who come to the world with teeth, but the truth is that despite being uncommon, it is not a rare thing. In fact, one in every 2,500 babies comes to the world with natal teeth
- Sometimes bone teeth come out before baby teeth have fallen. This is called shark teeth. In some cases, the dentist may decide to tear out the baby tooth.
- Fragility. Even though they are very hard structures that are preserved for a long time, and that also fossilise easily, thus becoming protagonists of the great archaeological sites, the teeth are susceptible to fractures.
Another way many people have to hurt their teeth is to tighten them, especially at night. They do it in 3 or 4 periods of about 10 to 30 minutes each and use an unprecedented force, around 100 to 200 Kg. Some people, in addition to clenching their teeth, rub them and, consequently, wear them out more. Dentists can avoid this process by making discharge plates for night use.
- The enamel. The enamel of the teeth is an adamantine structure that miraculously forms delicate cells called ameloblasts. It consists of subtle crystalline prisms of hydroxyapatite with 10% collagen. It has a hardness that is only surpassed by diamond, hence the working strawberries of dentists are made with bits of this precious stone.
Contrary to what is believed, the molars do not come into frank contact with each other during chewing. It is surprising that the true physiological contact between the upper and lower molars is produced by swallowing any food, including water or our own saliva.
Remember that here at Parkwood Green Dental you will find a team of expert professionals willing to help you and ensure you feel well.