“My teeth don’t hurt, so I don’t need to go to the dentist.” or “I brush my teeth fast and hard so the plaque is removed faster and better.” or “My teeth are fairly white so they’re fine.” or “Gum disease only affects my mouth.”
These are all common dental myths that people often fall victim to believing. As a result, patients suffer the consequences due to a lack of information. In an effort to educate, let’s dive into some myths.
“My teeth don’t hurt, so I don’t need to go to the dentist.”
Maintaining good oral health is linked to a person’s overall health. However, many people think that they can go years without visiting their dentist. There are many reasons why this could happen. People might have dentist fears, financial issues, think no pain means that they’re OK, etc. Whatever the reason, it is important for people to visit the dentist twice a year. During these visits, we will have the opportunity to examine your teeth. When examining, we see cavities, damaged teeth, discolorations, etc. It’s important to have these opportunities so that we can replace existing dental work through cosmetic and/or restorative dentistry. Visiting twice a year will ensure a happier and healthier life.
“I brush my teeth fast and hard so the plaque is removed faster and better.”
Brushing your teeth harder or faster is not considered a good thing. The notion of “brushing your teeth” is often thought of as “scrubbing your teeth.” Scrubbing is not the correct word, as scrubbing can be too harsh on our teeth and gums. It is important to be gentle with our smiles. We should be brushing our teeth twice a day for 2 minutes each time. Check out this video of our hygienist, Rachel, properly explaining how to brush your teeth.
“My teeth are fairly white so they’re fine.”
Just like the rainbow, there are a plethora of shades for each color. Teeth come in a wide range of white shades because each person has a different shade of white. However, no one wants to have dark or discolored teeth. If you look at your teeth in the mirror and aren’t 100% satisfied with the color, you would be a good candidate for a smile makeover. Smile makeovers fix your smile aesthetically by changing the color, shape, spaces, bite, etc. These changes are proven to boost the patient’s confidence, as a smile is usually the first thing others see. However, smile makeovers don’t limit themselves to aesthetics. Smile makeovers cover functional aspects such as gum disease, infection, decay, tooth loss, etc.
“Gum disease only affects my mouth.”
Gum disease, otherwise known as gingivitis, does affect your oral health. It can cause you to have bad breath, tooth loss, pain, and more. So much more, that it doesn’t stop at just affecting your oral health. Gum disease can affect the rest of your health as well. Gum disease may increase your risk for heart disease or strokes, diabetes, and premature birth. If you want to have a healthier smile and life, consider coming in for a free gum disease assessment.