There have been a lot of myths within public since ages. Despite the advancements in dentistry, the myths persisting in public are yet to change. Some of the common myths in dentistry are:
MYTH 1
I should not brush my teeth if my gums are bleeding.
REALITY : Bleeding gums are often caused when dental plaque or food debris is not properly removed by regular brushing and flossing. If you notice that your gums are prone to bleeding, it is a good idea to brush gently and thoroughly at least twice daily.
MYTH 2
Scaling loosen the teeth.
REALITY : Teeth are held together by surrounding bone and not mere calculus. Sometimes, if poor oral hygiene is practiced, there may be abundant calculus, which may superficially hold teeth together. This calculus causes bone loss and gum diseases, which eventually loosen up the teeth from its bony socket and make them fall out. Hence, removal of calculus via scaling is mandatory. As it will promote better healing and grip for teeth.
MYTH 3
Dental procedures are always painful.
REALITY : Most of the dental procedures are done under Local Anaesthesia and hence painless. Nitrous oxide sedation is another method to achieve painless procedures. Highly fearful and anxious patients can undergo dental treatments under general anaesthesia.
MYTH 4
Root canal treated tooth do not require crowns.
REALITY : After RCT, the respective tooth may become brittle. The brittle tooth is reinforced and strengthen by a crown over it. Most patients do not opt for crowns after RCT and finally end up fracturing the tooth.
MYTH 5
Cleaning teeth with charcoal / salt is very effective.
REALITY : Charcoal and salt have very coarse particles, which may abrade the tooth structure badly, thus leading to problems like sensitivity. Cleaning of teeth should be done with fine fluoridated toothpaste with soft tooth brush regularly twice a day.
MYTH 6
There is no need to replace a lost posterior tooth.
REALITY : Every tooth in oral cavity has a specific function. Posterior teeth help in chewing food. Loss of posterior teeth on one side shifts the chewing forces to another side of posterior teeth and front teeth and thus causing Temporomandibular joint disorder. It is mandatory to replace a lost tooth as early as possible.
MYTH 7
Chewing sugar free gum after a meal is as just effective as brushing.
REALITY : Chewing a sugar free gums increases salivation in your mouth, thus flushing away the major food debris from the exposed tooth surfaces. It does not thoroughly clean your teeth like brushing or flossing to remove dental plaque and occult food debris.
CONCLUSION
Any persistence of myth / misconceptions will only dissuade patients from maintaining proper oral care and hygiene, which will result in dental pain and sufferings. It is hence wiser to discuss every single small or big myth / misconception with your dentist.
Spread awareness… Spread smiles… Spread Health!!
