Let’s begin with the you-can-brush-any-way perception. There is a correct way of brushing and there is only one such way. Check out one of our earlier posts on how to brush your teeth.

There is a small group of people who think too much brushing can harm the teeth. Well, brushing is bad only at one time, when it is done too soon after a meal. Otherwise, brushing doesn’t harm at all.

There is a general perception that children’s teeth don’t need care. Well, the truth is that they need as much care as an adult’s teeth because they lay the foundation for permanent teeth.

People believe that one should not brush if the gums bleed. No, you should not stop brushing because if you do, you may support the reason your gums are bleeding. However, don’t ignore it; see you dentist at once.

I know a lot of people who think they have healthy teeth because their teeth are white. While sparkling teeth is one of the indicators of good dental health but it does not necessarily mean that you do not have a dental problem.

Hope this post helped bust some of the myths about dental care. We will explore some more in one of our following posts.

Happy smiling!

• Myth# 1: One can brush any way one wants.
  There is no correct way of brushing.
• Myth# 2: Eating chocolates is bad for your teeth.
  You just need to ensure that your mouth is cleaned thoroughly after you have had a piece.
• Myth# 3: Children’s milk teeth do not need dental care.
  They need as much care as an adult’s teeth because they lay the foundation for permanent teeth.
• Myth# 4: Too much brushing is not good for teeth.
  Brushing never harms; however, make sure
• Myth# 5: One should discontinue brushing the teeth if gums bleed.
  You should see your dentist if your gums bleed frequently. However, you should never stop brushing.
• Myth# 6: If the teeth are stain-free, there are no dental problems.
  Sparkling teeth is one of the indicators of good dental health but it does not necessarily mean that you do not have a dental problem.
• Myth# 7: Your teeth become loose if you get the tartar removed.
  Tartar is not supposed to be on your teeth in the first place. Removal of tartar may make you feel lighter but it definitely does not make your teeth loose.
• Myth# 8: If you keep an aspirin beside your aching teeth, your toothache will subside.
  Instead of helping you, the aspirin in your mouth will erode the enamel of your teeth.

Now that we have busted some of the dental myths, we hope you will start asking questions about dental care instead of assuming things.

Happy smiling!

• Myth: Dental health is hereditary.

Truth: Dental health is completely dependent on the way you treat your teeth and mouth. Your genes are not responsible for great teeth.

• Myth: One set of dentures will last a lifetime.

Truth : One set of dentures cannot fit you for a lifetime. The tissue beneath your teeth changes over time; the teeth can adjust itself with the changes, the dentures cannot. Therefore, you should change dentures regularly in consultation with your dentist.

• Myth: Removal of tartar leads to tooth loosening.

Truth : When the tartar is removed from your mouth, your teeth will get more space and will lighter, however that does not indicate that your teeth have become loose. The tartar was not supposed to be there in the first place, so the feeling of lightness is a false feeling.

• Myth: Keeping an aspirin beside your aching teeth relieves you of toothache.

Truth : Pills like aspirin are acidic in nature; they erode the outer surface of our teeth, the enamel.

• Myth: Milk teeth do not need dental care.

Truth : It is important to take good care of the milk teeth as they lay the foundation for wisdom teeth.

• Myth: Eating chocolates is bad for your teeth.

Truth : Eating chocolates is not bad, at least for your teeth, provided you brush your teeth every time you eat chocolate.

• Myth: Too much brushing is not good for teeth.

Truth : Some believe that brushing too many times a day erodes the teeth enamel. Brushing helps clean your teeth; it does not harm your teeth in any way. Brush regularly for healthy teeth and gums.

• Myth: Dental treatment means tremendous pain.

Truth : Gone are those days when dental procedures were painful. In the days of technological advancements, visiting a dentist is no longer synonymous with pain.

• Myth: Tooth loss is inevitable with age.

Truth : Age has nothing to do with tooth loss; however, with age, we tend to stop taking care of ourselves, thus resulting in various ailments as well as dental problems. Take care of your teeth no matter how old you are.

Happy smiling!

Here are a few common dental care myths.

• Myth #1: Milk teeth do not need dental care.
  If the milk teeth or primary teeth are not taken care of, the base for the permanent teeth will not be strong.

• Myth #2: Eating chocolates is bad for your teeth.
  The problem is not with the chocolate but its traces that are left behind in your mouth long after you have had the chocolate. Clean your mouth properly to get rid of the chocolate traces in your mouth.

• Myth #3: Brushing too much and too frequently is not good for the teeth.
  Brushing does not erode the teeth enamel. Frequent brushing helps keep the teeth clean. Just make sure you leave a gap of at least an hour after a meal before you brush.

• Myth #4: Salt and charcoal help cleaning the teeth.
  Being abrasive in nature, salt and charcoal are harsh to the teeth enamel. Though salt can be used with baking soda to whiten teeth instantly, this should not be done frequently.

• Myth #5: One set of dentures will last a lifetime.
  While teeth can adjust themselves to changes in the mouth, dentures cannot. You will need to change dentures periodically.

• Myth #6: Spotless teeth implies there are no dental problems.
  White teeth may not indicate a visible dental problem but they do not necessarily indicate the absence of a problem. In fact, white teeth may make it difficult to diagnose a dental problem if there is one.

• Myth #7: Brushing does not have any rules.
  There is one and only one correct way of brushing the teeth. Brushing this way ensures maximum cleaning.

• Myth #8: Teeth should not be brushed when the gums bleed.
  Visit your dentist immediately if your gums bleed. However, do not stop brushing as the bacteria in the mouth will aggravate problems.

• Myth #9: Keeping an aspirin beside your aching teeth relieves you of toothache.
  Pills like aspirin are acidic in nature; they erode the enamel of the teeth. Keeping an aspirin in the mouth should be avoided at all costs.

• Myth #10: Removal of tartar leads to tooth loosening.
  Removal of tartar often leads to the feeling of lightness but that is not because the teeth have become loose. It is a false feeling which is temporary.

• Myth #11: Tooth loss is inevitable with age.
  You lose teeth if you don’t take care of them. Age has nothing to do with teeth loss.

• Myth #12: Dental health is hereditary.
  Dental health comes to those who take care of their teeth, not necessarily to those whose parents or grandparents had sparkling teeth.

Happy smiling!

• Myth #1: It is important to put pressure on the teeth while brushing.
  You may end up eroding the enamel of your teeth if you brush to hard. Teeth also become sensitive if they are being brushed hard.

• Myth #2: Bleaching is extremely harmful for the teeth.
  Bleaching used to be a mechanism of tightening the gums. It later became a popular whitening procedure. Professional dental bleaching does not harm the teeth.

• Myth #3: Brushing should be avoided when gums bleed.
  Stopping brushing may aggravate the problem that is causing your gums to bleed. If the bleeding continues beyond a couple of days, make an immediate appointment with your dentist.

• Myth #4: Dental health is hereditary.
  Not actually. Irrespective of how good your parents’ teeth were, you cannot expect to enjoy good dental health if you do not follow a proper dental care routine.

• Myth #5: Lemon juice can whiten the teeth.
  With acidic properties, lemon juice will erode the enamel of the teeth instead of acting as a whitening agent.

Happy smiling!

Milk teeth need attention and dental care.
Most of us do not pay much attention to the dental health of our children, thinking that the primary teeth or milk teeth are not permanent and hence do not need much care. However, on the contrary, it is important to take good care of the milk teeth for making a strong base for wisdom teeth.

Brushing should not be discontinued when gums bleed.
You should see your dentist immediately if you find blood in your gums. However, do not stop brushing; your dentist will tell you why. Any break in brushing opens up opportunities for bacteria to feed on your teeth, causing problems.

There is one right way of brushing.
If you have been following the posts in this blog regularly, you already know that there exists a correct way of brushing. Brushing this way ensures maximum cleaning.

Myth# 9: My teeth are white, hence there are no problems.

If you think white teeth indicate healthy teeth, you are in for a surprise. White teeth may still be feeding cavity-causing bacteria. If your teeth are white, it may be a little more difficult to diagnose the problem at home. You should visit your dentist every six months for regular check-ups.

Myth# 10: You don’t need to see a dentist unless there is a problem.

How would you know if you have a problem in your teeth? You would say that pain, change in color, and visible tartar and cavities are indications to problems with your teeth. Unfortunately, these are not indications but the problems. You should let your dentist diagnose problems. Even if you don’t have any, visiting your dentist regularly just makes sure you do not develop any.

Myth# 11: I should not brush my teeth when my gums bleed.

You should see your dentist immediately if you find blood in your gums. However, do not stop brushing; your dentist will tell you why. Any break in brushing opens up opportunities for bacteria to feed on your teeth, causing problems.

Myth# 12: There is no correct way of brushing.

If you have been following the posts in this blog regularly, you already know that there exists a correct way of brushing. Brushing this way ensures maximum cleaning.

Myth# 13: The costlier the dental care products, the better their effect.

While you may choose your clothes with this perception, do not buy dental and oral care products based on how much the cost. A less expensive toothpaste or toothbrush may just work as fine or may be, better than a very expensive toothpaste or toothbrush. Invest in fluoride-based toothpaste or ask your dentist for the one that would suit you.

Myth# 14: Dental treatment means tremendous pain.

In the days of technological advancements, visiting a dentist is no longer synonymous with pain. Click here to read about technological developments in dentistry.

Myth# 15: Tooth loss is inevitable with age.

This is the strongest myth that holds for ages. Age has nothing to do with tooth loss; however, with age, we tend to stop taking care of ourselves, thus resulting in various ailments as well as dental problems. Take care of your teeth no matter how old you are.

Have a great weekend!

Happy smiling!

Myth# 4: Removal of tartar leads to tooth loosening.

Some of us believe that cleaning or scaling the teeth professionally can loosen the teeth. This is completely a false notion. When the tartar is removed from your mouth, your teeth will get more space and will lighter, however that does not indicate that your teeth have become loose. The tartar was not supposed to be there in the first place, so the feeling of lightness is a false feeling. However, you must consult your dentist before going forany kind of treatment.

Myth# 5: Salt and charcoal are good for cleaning the teeth.

People think that the abrasive nature of some substances like charcoal and salt help clean the surface of the teeth. However, these substances do more harm than good to the teeth as they are too harsh for the teeth. If you have been using these substances, get in touch with your dentist to see if your teeth are alright.

Myth# 6: Keeping an aspirin beside your aching teeth relieves you of toothache.

This one is an age-old perception but a wrong one. Pills like aspirin are acidic in nature, thereby eroding the outer surface of our teeth, the enamel.

Myth# 7: Milk teeth do not need dental care.

Most of us do not pay much attention to the dental health of our children, thinking that the primary teeth or milk teeth are not permanent and hence do not need much care. However, on the contrary, it is important to take good care of the milk teeth for making a strong base for wisdom teeth.

Myth# 8: Too much brushing is not good for teeth.

This is one of the most popular myths. People wrongly believe that brushing too many times a day erodes the teeth enamel. Brushing helps clean your teeth; it does not harm your teeth in any way. Brush regularly for healthy teeth and gums.

We will be back with more myth-busting information tomorrow.

Happy smiling!

Myth# 1: Dental health is hereditary.

You may inherit great complexion and good hair from your parents, but you cannot inherit their good oral health. Dental health is completely dependent on the way you treat your teeth and mouth. Your genes are not responsible for great teeth. However, proper oral care will ensure good dental health. Go to your dentist for regular check-ups once every six months.

Myth# 2: Eating chocolates is bad for your teeth.

Well, I am sure that the fact of the above perception being a myth has brought a grin to your face. Yes, indulging in chocolates is not bad, at least for your teeth, provided you brush your teeth every time you eat chocolate. If you cannot brush for some reason, make sure you rinse your mouth properly after you had chocolate. Eating chocolates or sweets is not bad if taken in moderation. However, you need to make sure that you do not let traces of the food stay in your mouth for long.

Myth# 3: One set of dentures will last a lifetime.

If you think a set of dentures is a one-time investment, you are mistaken. The same set of dentures will not fit you all the time. The tissue beneath your teeth changes over time; the teeth can adjust itself with the changes, the dentures cannot. Therefore, you should change dentures regularly in consultation with your dentist.

We will tell you about more dental care myths tomorrow.

Happy smiling!