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Last Updated: Nov 04, 2019
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Dental Myths!

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Dr. Puneet KansalDentist • 27 Years Exp.MDS - Orthodontics, BDS
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The common dental myths that everyone believes to be true.

When it comes to dental hygiene and care, no measures can be considered too much. You should make regular trips to a good dentist as well as take good care of your teeth yourself as well. However, there are certain myths that have come to associate themselves with dental hygiene, not all of which are true. Read on to know the differences between the fiction and the facts about dental care.

Dental myths Facts vs. Fiction
1) White teeth equal healthy teeth.
One thing that everyone believes is that if a person has teeth that are white, it is an indication that they are healthy. The fact is, however, the colour of the teeth is not indicative of their good health. Dentists ascertain the health of your teeth by checking the gum health, cavities (or lack thereof), and health of the jaw bone. You should always concentrate on having healthy teeth, even if they are not pearly white.

2) Braces are for children.
Another myth that is quite common is, only children can get braces for their teeth. This is also untrue as, in fact, braces can be put in place by anybody. While it is true that braces work best when they are used at an early age, even adults can get them to make sure that they have a well-aligned set of teeth. 

3) Brushing and flossing.
There is a misconception that goes hand-in-hand with dental hygiene is that if a person brushes properly, he or she does not need to floss. No measure can be considered excessive when it comes to dental care, so even if you brush your teeth twice every day, the need to floss remains, as it cleans the area between the teeth, something that toothbrushes tend to miss.

4) Bleeding gums is commonplace.
This is one of the more interesting myths. It is actually a sign of gum disease and necessitates a visit to a dental clinic without delay. When hard deposits that stick to your teeth get accumulated for a long time, it leads to the gums becoming swollen and starts to bleed. If left untreated, a disease in the gums can result in the loss of teeth.

5) Scaling damages teeth.
Scaling is the process that removes the deposits that get stuck to your teeth over a period of time. Getting your teeth scaled at regular intervals makes sure that these deposits are removed and also gives a healthy look to your teeth. However, nothing done in excess can be good, so if you are prone to go for scaling your teeth at frequent intervals can damage the enamel. Doing it on a yearly basis has no risks involved as long as the dentist has good hands.

As evident from the above points, the myths do not have any truth attached to them. Now that you know about their fallacy, you can care for your dental hygiene in a better way.
 

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