When it comes to achieving optimum oral health, there is often a lot of confusion about the best ways to reach this goal. Your dentist in Toronto is here to bust the myths that may have gotten you into trouble without realizing it. Here is what you should know.
Myth #1: If My Teeth Don't Hurt, I Don't Need to See the Dentist
In the world of dentistry, prevention is everything. Unlike your medical doctor, who will see you when you're sick or hurt, your dentist needs to see you every six months for preventive appointments. By the time your tooth feels pain, the damage has likely already been done.
Don't wait until your teeth hurt! By visiting your dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning, you can avoid many costly and painful issues.
Myth #2: Brush Your Teeth Right After You Eat
50% of people surveyed worldwide feel it's important to brush your teeth right after eating your meal. The truth is, you should actually wait at least 30 minutes after eating before you brush your teeth. This avoids spreading any acidic food around your teeth that can weaken your tooth enamel. Drinking water during and after your meal can help rinse away food particles and bacteria that cause tooth decay or cavities.
Myth #3: More Brushing Equals Healthier Teeth
Brushing twice daily is recommended for maintaining excellent oral health, but as long as you're being effective in brushing your teeth with the proper techniques in the morning and before bed, twice a day should be sufficient.
Myth #4: Flossing Creates Spaces Between Teeth
This is untrue. Flossing is meant to remove the plaque and bacteria that hide between teeth. It helps prevent cavities (which can get between teeth) and gum disease.
Myth #5: Rinsing With Water After Brushing Your Teeth Improves Your Home Care Routine
While many people in Brazil, Canada, South Africa, Mexico, and India practice this method, it is actually better not to rinse after brushing to receive all the benefits of fluoride in toothpaste.
Myth #6: Drinking Fruit Juice Instead of Soda is Better for Your Teeth
How do you feel about fruit juice versus soda? Around half of the population in countries such as India, South Africa, Poland, and Brazil think that it's a healthier choice. However, fruit juice is often just as high in sugar as soda, and even though it doesn't have the fizzy bubbles that can also contribute to enamel breakdown, it can still cause tooth decay and cavities.
Myth #7: Sugar-Free Gum Can Replace Brushing
Nothing replaces the benefits of daily brushing and flossing. You should brush twice daily and floss once to remove the plaque and bacteria buildup that remains in your mouth after meals.
Myth #8: I Shouldn't Go to The Dentist During My Pregnancy
This is very untrue. It may be beneficial to see your dentist every few months during your pregnancy for a cleaning and checkup. The reason your oral health is so important while you're pregnant is that the hormones that you experience during this time can increase your risk of developing gum disease.
Also known as pregnancy gingivitis, gum disease can negatively impact your pregnancy, such as an early delivery or low birth weight for your baby, if it's not successfully controlled. Partnering with your dentist to monitor your oral health throughout pregnancy will ensure a safe delivery and a healthy baby.
Myth #9: Baby Teeth Are Not Important Because They Fall out in a Few Years Anyway
Your child's baby teeth actually have many important jobs aiding in their oral development, such as:
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Holding space for adult teeth and guiding them into place when the time comes.
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Helping your child learn to form words and speak.
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Assisting in the navigation of solid foods.
You should begin to brush your child's teeth as soon as they arrive and schedule their first dental visit around the age of one year old or six months after the first tooth erupts.
It is also important that your little one visit their Etobicoke children's dentist every six months for checkups since tooth decay and cavities in baby teeth can cause pain and infection, which can affect a child's eating, speaking, and learning.
Maintain Your Dental Care at Our Etobicoke Dental Clinic
The good news is that 77% of people surveyed around the world believe that visiting their dentist at least once a year is important for maintaining good oral health. Dr. Joo and Dr. Moore actually recommend that their patients visit them at least twice per year in order to monitor their oral health for conditions such as gum disease, oral cancer, and tooth decay, and also clean their teeth in order to remove the excess plaque that causes these conditions.
Contact our Etobicoke dental office today to learn more!