Tooth and gum disease affects almost 100% of the world's population. The most common — caries. It appears imperceptibly, gradually destroys the enamel, spreads deep into. This is how holes appear in the teeth, and complications begin a little later. All this leads to serious illnesses.
Often we are able to prevent or minimize the damage, but we are hindered by misconceptions about dental health. Let's figure out how harmful sugar is, whether to treat caries of wisdom teeth and why the whiteness of the enamel does not in any way indicate health. It's time to debunk popular myths.
Myth # 1. Doubt: "Is wisdom tooth caries treatable, if it is removed anyway?"
Wisdom teeth can cause a lot of trouble. They often grow in the wrong direction, cause discomfort, and treat — sheer punishment. Therefore, many people deliberately doom the "eight" to death and remove as soon as possible. It shouldn't do that. If for some reason you lose the "seven", thanks to the "eight" you will be able to put a full-fledged bridge and keep the functionality of your teeth.
The American Dental Association recommends removing G-8s if:
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deep caries has developed;
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wisdom teeth have caused frequent gum disease;
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there is pain, "shooting" in ear or temple;
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a tumor appeared;
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due to the peculiarities of the direction of growth, the "eight" damages adjacent teeth or soft tissues of the oral cavity.
In other cases, the question of whether to treat caries or remove the "eights" should not be raised. You need to do everything possible to keep your own teeth as long as possible. The general state of health directly depends on this.
Read also: Causes of caries: how to protect your teeth
Myth # 2. Pregnant women should avoid dentists
Treat caries — it's painful and scary. You can't do without local anesthesia. Pregnant women fear that the anesthetic injection will harm the fetus, and often avoid dentists. This is a bad practice. It is worth acting exactly the opposite: carefully monitor the condition of the teeth and treat the disease at the first signs of caries.
Carrying a fetus — a serious burden on the female body. Often teeth suffer. If you start caries, it can quickly give complications, so you need to treat it right away. The anesthetics that dentists use are safe. They penetrate the blood in a small amount, and cannot harm the developing fetus or provoke a miscarriage. So the dentist — a pregnant woman's best friend.
Myth # 3. "Teeth grinding" — sign of worms
People have had a misconception for generations that strong clenching of the teeth, sometimes resulting in a grinding sound, is a sign of parasites. It is believed that when such symptoms appear, one should be treated for worms, and it is not necessary to go to the dentist at all. This myth has nothing to do with reality.
Strong compression (bruxism) damages the teeth. This increases the degree of wear and tear, becomes the cause of inflammatory processes. Ideally, the cause of bruxism should be identified and eliminated, but this can be problematic because it occurs due to stress, pain, and many other factors. The only person who will definitely help, — dentist. He prescribes a special unloading cap.
It is possible and necessary to fight bruxism, because it often accompanied by headaches, ringing in ears and other unpleasant phenomena. But it is worth treating with with the help of relaxation and dental caps, and not anthelmintics.
Myth # 4. Braces damage tooth enamel
Brackets themselves are safe for teeth, but pathogenic bacteria can multiply on them, which cause symptoms of caries, gingivitis and other diseases. To prevent trouble, systems should be carefully looked after: use special orthodontic brushes, dental floss.
You can damage the enamel with braces if you gnaw on hard apples, nuts or abuse toffee. But after orthodontic treatment, the teeth will be healthier, because the load on them will be distributed evenly, which will reduce the risk of diseases.
Read also: Dental floss: how to choose and correctly use
Myth # 5. White teeth are healthier than yellowish or grayish teeth
That's not so. Enamel color has nothing to do with disease risk. Owners of dazzling white teeth are just as prone to caries and periodontitis as are those people who have complexes because of yellow teeth. However, all this applies only to the natural color of the teeth, and not to the plaque that can cover the enamel. Dangerous bacteria grow in deposits, so they need to be removed regularly in the dentist's office.
Myth # 6. Sugar is bad, fruit is good for teeth
Sugar by itself does not cause tooth decay, but serves as food for bacteria that cause disease. Processing sugar, microbes secrete acids that destroy enamel. These same substances are also found in fruits, so they are no less dangerous for teeth. But everything is solved. To prevent problems, it is enough to rinse your mouth well after any meal, sugary and carbonated drinks, juices.
Myth # 7. After eating, use a toothpick or brush
We have been so intimidated by caries that many people brush their teeth after every meal, and if this is not possible, they use toothpicks, removing even the tiniest pieces of food. All this only harms. Too frequent brushing of the teeth wears away the enamel, and the toothpick leaves microtraumas on the gums, which is fraught with inflammation. Ideal — dental floss and as cavity rinse.
Myth # 8. It is not worth paying for treatment: a crown is cheaper
Lots of people ignore the advice to visit the dentist twice a year. They are convinced that doctors came up with this for profit. Simple calculations with calculator say that it is cheaper to come and put a crown once than to pay regularly for preventive cleanings and spend time on examinations.
Practice shows that in health issues the principle of "wholesale cheaper" does not work. Caries not cured in time creates many problems that will later bring more pain and expenses.
Read also: Crowns for teeth: which ones are better to put and why
Highlights on popular dental health myths
In the information age, it is not a problem to verify any information. When it comes to health, it's worth doing. Preserving your teeth is easy:
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Brush your teeth well twice a day, but not more often;
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Use dental floss and rinse after meals;
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visit the dentist twice a year
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don't skip your scheduled professional teeth cleaning;
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don't trigger dental disease and see doctor at the first sign of problems, but be sure to let them know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Don do not hesitate to ask questions. Listen less to prejudice and consult experts more often. This will help to get rid of harmful superstitions and learn the basics of proper care teeth.
Read also: Teeth darkening: a wake-up call
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