Do you really know what April fool’s day means? Have you been pranked before? April Fool is a day for practical jokes and hoaxes. A day set aside for jokers to play their pranks freely. In the past years, these jokes have sometimes caused lifetime incidents. We would advise while trying to play those pranks, be careful. This year’s April Fool’s day would come special as we have decided to dispute several dental myths. Most times these myths have lived for a long time and have not seen any corrections. In a bid to make your April Fool’s Day special we have decided to correct these dental myths and fill you with the right thoughts.
- You Only Need To Go The Dentist If Your Teeth Hurt
Have you heard the term ‘prevention is better than cure’ or ‘dentistry is not expensive, neglect is? Diagnosing a dental problem at an early stage is better than when it has become complicated. Even if you are not experiencing any pain in your teeth, it is expected that you visit the dentist twice a year for regular cleanings and exams. During these cleanings, there is a high probability that your dentist may see pending issues as regards your dental health. So, this is the first April fool dental myth we have debunked.
- Flossing Can Create Spaces Between Your Teeth
Flossing does not create spaces between your teeth. In fact, flossing helps prevent decay between your teeth. When you floss, you are removing food debris nestled around the teeth and gums, which helps keep them healthy and removes harmful bacteria. When you are faithful to flossing, your dental health would be perfect.
The truth is when you kick off a flossing routine you may experience bleeding gums, but after a while, they would stop. If your gums still bleed with flossing over time, the gum disease might be more severe and I recommend that you see the dentist. Sometimes if you have plaque and tartar buildup in between and behind your teeth, it can be difficult to floss. We can help you remove them.
- It Doesn’t Matter What Time of Day I Brush
While we recommend each of our patients brush their teeth at least twice a day, brushing at a certain time does have an impact on your oral health. At night when we sleep, our salivary glands produce less saliva. During the day our saliva flow is higher and it provides a cleansing effect that we don’t get at night. In general, those with dry mouth (whether naturally or due to medication) have more cavities because they have less natural saliva cleansing their mouth and washing away food particles. So, when we don’t brush our teeth at night before bed, those food particles sit on our teeth all night and contribute to tooth decay over time. Brushing in the morning not only fights decay but also helps fight bad breath.
Furthermore, choice of diet plays an integral role in oral health. It is recommended to brush right after consuming food and drink high in sugar and carbohydrates to prevent cavities.
- Oral health is not connected to the rest of the body.
Your oral health is connected to your systemic (overall) health and there are many correlations between your mouth and body. A mouth with severe tooth decay and periodontal disease is more likely to cause bacteria to enter into the bloodstream and result in other health issues. Studies have found a link between periodontal disease and heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and more. Learn more in our blog post about oral health and heart health.
- Be Proactive About Your Dental Care
We encourage you to be proactive in keeping your teeth healthy. Putting off regular dental check-ups will likely lead to problems. A little time invested each day can save you countless hours of trouble – not to mention money – in the future. If you’re experiencing problems or have questions about your oral health, request an appointment with us to keep your oral health in check.
