18/07/2016
Dental Myths -Don't Attracted by Misbeliefs
1. Myth – Scaling/removal of tartar loosens the teeth
Fact – Teeth are held in position by the bone. Tartar can sometimes bind the teeth together. Tartar causes inflammation of the gums and hence need to be removed. After removal of this tartar there may be slight mobility of the teeth, however this is necessary to ensure recovery of the health of the supporting structures.
2. Myth - Removal of upper teeth affects vision.
Fact - Vision is not affected in any way by undertaking treatment of the upper teeth including its extraction.
3. Myth – Dental treatment cannot be done during pregnancy.
Fact – Dental treatment can only be done during the second trimester of pregnancy (4-6 months). During the first 3 or last 3 months of pregnancy only emergency dental procedures to provide pain relief can be carried out.
4. Myth – One set of dentures will last a lifetime
Fact – Tissues beneath the dentures change over a period of time. Hence dentures need to be modified accordingly and hence cannot be assumed to last a lifetime without any modifications.
5. Myth – Dental Procedures are always painful
Fact – Most dental procedures are nowadays done under local anesthesia and hence are painless.
6. Myth – An infant doesn’t need cleaning of teeth
Fact – As soon as the teeth start erupting they require regular cleaning to prevent dental decay.
7. Myth – Milk teeth decay need not be treated as they are going to fall off anyways.
Fact – Milk teeth need to be cared as much. They could cause pain if decayed and also lead to difficulty in chewing food. Hence they should be treated. Also if there is an early loss of a milk tooth it could cause drifting and malalignment of the erupting permanent teeth.
8. Myth – When the gums bleed, better not to brush the teeth.
Fact – Bleeding is a sign of inflammation of the gums. Bleeding gums usually have plaque and tartar and require scaling (cleaning of teeth) to treat the underlying inflammation. Stopping brushing will accumulate more tartar thereby aggravating the problem. Hence cleaning followed by regular brushing with a soft toothbrush is recommended.
9. Myth – Toothache can be relieved by placing an aspirin tablet inside the tooth.
Fact – Aspirin tablet can cause burning of the soft tissues around the tooth. If placed inside the tooth, will not have any effect on the toothache. However if the tablet is swallowed can provide some relief. However the cause of the toothache should be investigated and treated.
10. Myth – Root canal treatment is very painful.
Fact – Nowadays with better anesthetic techniques, root canal treatment is almost become painless.
11. Myth – If the tooth is not painful, there is no need for a root canal treatment.
Fact – Sometimes after the acute phase is over, the decayed tooth may not be painful. However if the infection is reached the tooth pulp/nerve then a root canal treatment is mandatory irrespective of whether the tooth is painful or not.
12. Myth : Having the wisdom teeth removed will prevent crowding of the teeth.
Fact- There are very few cases when wisdom teeth cause crowding of the teeth. In many cases, they don’t so removing them will not solve the crowding problem or will not re-straighten the teeth. If pain or discomfort is felt with the emerging wisdom teeth, a dental visit is necessary.
13. Myth-The more you brush the healthier your teeth will be.
Fact-brushing the teeth can wear the teeth due to the abrasive property of toothpaste. This could lead to dental problems. In between the twice-a-day brushing regimen, rinse after eating and chew sugar free gum to avoid plaque build-up.
14. Myth-Women lose a tooth for each child they have given birth to.
Fact- of an ‘old wives tale’ than a myth, this is untrue. Hormonal changes while pregnant can exaggerate bacteria in the mouth that can cause bleeding gums or gingivitis. Tooth loss is unlikely with a thorough and regular cleaning regimen.
15. Myth-Dental X-rays are unnecessary.
It is necessary to have dental X-rays to detect decay and other problems and it should not be feared because the radiation dose is very small especially when dentists use digital radiography.
