Comedian Soupy Sales once said, “Be true to your teeth and they won’t be false to you.” In other words, take care of your teeth if you want to keep them.
The basics of oral hygiene are familiar to everyone, such as brushing regularly, flossing and getting routine dental exams. But you may have heard other things about dental health that sound familiar, but simply aren’t true.
Take a look at some common myths about dental health…
A Cavity is Obvious and Noticeable
This isn’t necessarily true. While some cavities, particularly those that are severe, do cause noticeable pain, small cavities can go unnoticed. Cavities that are just starting to develop typically don’t cause any pain. With routine dental checkups, even the smallest cavities can be identified and properly treated before they grow into bigger problems.
Cavities are Only Caused by Sugar
Eating too much sugar can result in cavities, but it isn’t the only thing that can cause decay. In fact, a majority of cavities are caused by acid, which is created by bacteria that resides in your mouth. So, cavities are the result of not taking proper care of your teeth and not getting rid of the acid-producing bacteria in your mouth. This bacteria can be caused by sugar, as well as bread, fruit, vegetables and other food.
Pulling a Tooth is Better Than a Painful Root Canal
A root canal actually relieves pain, rather than causing it and the best reason to have one is to save your natural tooth. Wouldn’t you rather keep as many natural teeth as possible as you age? With artificial teeth or dentures, you might have to avoid eating certain foods. With natural teeth, you won’t feel the discomfort of wearing dentures and can enjoy a varied diet.
Baby Teeth Don’t Need to be Fixed
Baby teeth are temporary, but their health is still very important. Primary teeth help children eat and speak. They also hold proper spacing in a child’s mouth and help guide the eruption of permanent teeth. Just as with adults, healthy teeth and a healthy smile play a big role in a child’s confidence and self-esteem.
Oral hygiene is extremely important, but some of the things you may have heard over the years aren’t necessarily true. If you’re unsure, ask Dr. Albright. Call us at (510) 658-1996; or email us.