5 myths about dental health

Myth 1. Less is more

Barely waking up, half opening our eyes, we go to the bathroom. Toilet. Shower. Thorough brushing of teeth (5 minutes! No less!). After all, we know ourselves very well: in the evening, tired at work, we will most likely “forget” to clean them.

This is where the myth is born that teeth can supposedly be brushed once a day. The main thing is carefully.

Do not follow the lead of your own laziness. Dentists all over the world are unanimous on this issue: teeth should be brushed twice a day, for 2-3 minutes, after (!) The first and last meal.

Myth 2. Sugar causes tooth decay

Omnipresent advertising and even doctors themselves recommend eating as little sweet as possible. Sugar destroys tooth enamel. It would seem an indisputable fact.

But in reality: it is not sugar itself that spoils teeth, but the duration of its effect on them. Tooth decay is caused by acid secreted by bacteria, which in turn feed on glucose and carbohydrates. And the longer the bacteria "eat", the more acid they release.

Therefore, chocolate candy is less harmful to our teeth than regular candy. Provided, of course, that after eating it, we rinse our mouth.

Myth 3. Removal of tartar leads to the extraction of teeth

All dental procedures are fearful. Perhaps this is what gave rise to the myth that even such a simple operation as cleaning plaque damages the teeth, loosens them, causes microcracks on the enamel and, ultimately, leads to their loss.

In fact, calculus is a foreign body in the mouth. Not removing him, but he himself spoils the teeth. In addition, modern professional dental cleaning methods (such as ultrasound) are safe and painless.

Myth 4. Children have nothing to worry about

Many parents do not follow, or they do it very carelessly, for the teeth of their babies. What for? After all, these are just baby teeth - they will fall out anyway.

From 2, 5-3 years old, the baby, under the supervision of parents, should brush his teeth

Such children grow into adolescents with crooked teeth and an irregular bite. And their parents have to spend huge amounts of money on braces and orthodontists.

And all it would be worth knowing that the lack of oral hygiene of the child leads to caries and premature loss of milk teeth. The "holes" are filled with permanent teeth. As a result, the replacement of milk teeth with permanent ones occurs unevenly, the teeth grow crooked.

Remember: from 2, 5-3 years old, a baby under the supervision of parents can brush teeth with fluoride-free toothpastes. By primary school, the child must independently exercise and maintain oral hygiene.

Myth 5. If they don't hurt, then they are healthy

My mom is terribly afraid of dentists. She drinks painkillers for weeks, does not listen to any admonition, and only goes to the doctor when she becomes unbearable. And alas, she is not alone here.

Most of us only go to the dentist when our teeth start to hurt. Meanwhile, pain is an emergency siren. This is the dying groan of a dying tooth. Painful sensations (including reactions to hot and cold) appear when bacteria have penetrated deep inside and reached the nerve endings.

But do not rush to scold yourself. Only a doctor is able to identify the problem in the early stages. Just spare the time and money for preventive dental check-ups. For these purposes, it is recommended to visit the dentist's office at least once every six months.