Dental Secrets
Most of us only go to the dentist when we are in pain, but there are some very important and interesting secrets that no dentist will ever tell you.The top among them are here, have a look…
- Your main issue is not pain.
You would rush to the dentist if you were experiencing dental pain, but as any dentist will tell you, dental pain is not your primary concern. The last pit stop is pain. Teeth, like any other body part, must be kept healthy and primed. Cholesterol does not cause pain, but it kills. Similarly, dental decay, infected gums, and poor oral health can lead to heart problems and other diseases without causing pain. Look for infections in addition to pain. Infection is your main concern, not pain!
- Brush your back teeth more than your front teeth.
Many of my patients have periodontal disease in their back teeth but healthy teeth in the front. Clearly, most people only brush what they can see! Every day, ten minutes should be spent brushing and flossing your teeth. The average adult spends two or three minutes total, and children do even worse, and most of us only brush the front of our teeth, not the upper back. The key to maintaining healthy teeth is to use the proper brushing technique for the back of your teeth as well.
- Flossing is essential
Most dental hygiene advertisements emphasize brushing and toothpaste, but very few mention flossing. Brushing does not reach the plaque that causes bad breath deep enough into the gums. Floss every day, and have a professional cleaning done every few months.
- Don’t be concerned about germs on your toothbrush.
Sanitizing a toothbrush is unnecessary unless you share it with others. UV lights and other germ-zappers are completely unnecessary. Replace your toothbrush every 3 months or if you’ve been sick and have had mouth sores.
- The truth about toothpaste…
Toothpaste can contain any number of ingredients, from salt and clove oil to fluoride. But what exactly does toothpaste do? It can remove surface stains but not whiten them like professional bleach. Fluoride is beneficial, but it cannot strengthen your teeth on its own; this is dependent on the foods you eat and your oral hygiene. Toothpaste is a useful supplement for proper brushing, but it is not a great medicine or treatment in itself. Any toothpaste will work as long as you brush correctly.
- Baby teeth need as much attention as permanent teeth.
The majority of dentists will not tell you the truth about baby teeth, but they are more important than you think. Children who have dental cavities and teeth that are rotten down to the gums are more likely to have bad permanent teeth when they grow up. In fact, young children with tooth problems and dental cavities frequently struggle in school due to pain.
Because baby teeth fall out, parents believe there is no reason to pay attention to them. When a tooth falls out too soon, other teeth crowd in to fill the gap. It becomes a problem if not treated properly. Baby teeth need as much attention as permanent teeth.
- Cold drinks are more damaging to your mouth than you realize.
No one ever told you that soda in tall glasses with ice is a sure tooth killer! And it’s not just the sugar that stains and erodes enamel and teeth; it’s also the acid. Soda reduces the pH of the mouth and softens tooth enamel. The acidity of the sweeteners, combined with the carbonation, can cause tooth decay.
- Brushing your teeth at night is required.
Brushing at night is more important than brushing in the morning because bacteria ruin your teeth while you sleep, especially if there are lodged food particles, sugar extracts, or milk remains, so brush at night before you go to bed to prevent dental decay.
- Dentists appreciate it when you ask questions.
Contrary to your belief, dentists enjoy explaining what is wrong with your teeth and how to fix it if you are interested. So, go ahead and ask as many questions as you want about your oral problems and what they can do about them, what the cost is, and so on; any good dentist will be happy to help and counsel you.
Dentists can only work when you cooperate with them, and good oral health is only possible when both patient and doctor work hand in hand.
Hence, these are the secrets your dentist may not tell you, but they are actually life-changing if you decide to follow them!
