Mouth Myths - BUSTED!
Mouth Myths - BUSTED!
FAKE NEWS! It’s not just for television. Given all of the misinformation that exists online and among friends and family, we thought we’d take a stab at some of the more pervasive myths related to oral health. So, whether they’re related to the food and drink you consume, the good and bad habits you foist upon your mouth, or the bevy of over-the-counter cosmetic and functional smile-fixes that exist in the marketplace, we’re here to set the record straight!
A hard brush is better: FAKE NEWS.
A hard-bristled brush is often more appropriate for cleaning your house than it is your teeth. Dentists and hygienists recommend a soft- or medium-bristled brush because most of us brush too hard as it is. Aggressive brushing is destructive to gum tissue and enamel; a soft-bristled brush can save you from brushing your gums away. Contrary to popular belief, plaque is soft. That stuff your dentist is scraping away with the sharpest metal tool in the toolbox isn’t for plaque, that’s for tartar – the result of not removing plaque. SO, you don’t need a hard-bristled brush to disturb it from your teeth!
“Why are they even available, then?” you might wonder. The simple truth is, product manufactures create products where a demand exists, and as long as people believe a hard-bristled brush is better, you’ll still be able to find them on the shelves. No doubt, however, you’re noticing their numbers decline – and you’ll never know how many people DO buy them to scrub their grout, tools and sinks!
My kid doesn’t really eat a lot of sugar: MAYBE.
We’d all like to think our kids are eating squeaky clean, but we also know birthday treats and traded lunch items sneak in here and there. There’s also juice, fruit and grains – carbohydrates that do affect the teeth. So, remember, carbs are sugar, sugar is carbs, and you’ll be able to perform the mental calculations necessary to understand sugar consumption. Now, we’re not saying you need to switch up your entire meal plan here, just know what’s what.
Cavities are caused by too much sugar: FAKE NEWS.
Surprise! Cavities are largely caused by exposure to ACID. When we think about what causes cavities, most of us naturally think about sugar. However, it’s important to understand it isn’t the sugar itself that destroys your teeth, it’s the digestion of that sugar by certain bacteria in the mouth that does the damage. The final result of that digestion process is a byproduct you won’t be surprised by: acid.
So, basically, think of avoiding sugar as essentially avoiding acid, and you’ll be thinking about sugar as it relates to your teeth in the proper fashion.