It’s not as easy as it used to be to sift through fact and fiction in today’s 24-hour news cycle and the surge of online information being thrown at us on a constant basis.
That’s why our team at Bayou Dental Group in Monroe, LA wants you to know, when it comes to your oral health, you need to tell the difference between the truth and the hype.
In that spirit, here are a few dental myths you should ignore for the sake of your healthy smile!
*Only Sugar Can Cause Tooth Decay*
Since childhood, you’ve been warned of the dental dangers of sugar, but many people are surprised to learn that sugar hides in almost everything you find in grocery stores!
Maybe you’ve heard it said by nutrition and diet experts that we should stick to the outside perimeters of the grocery store because that’s where natural, whole foods are kept. You tend to find all the highly-processed packaged foods that are loaded with refined carbs and other hidden sugars in the middle aisles.
This fact is just as important to your smile as it is to your waistline. So if you want to keep your sugar intake low, be careful that you’re not unwittingly consuming too much of this ingredient simply because it’s hiding in all your favorite snack foods under a different name.
*Pain Is The Only Reason You Need To See The Dentist*
Don’t fall for the myth that you only need to see the dentist when there’s a problem, like a toothache or a dental injury of some kind.
Making the mistake of assuming regularly scheduled dental cleanings and exams aren’t that important can be detrimental to your oral and overall health, in fact.
Daily brushing and flossing is necessary to prevent dental problems, but hardened tartar on your teeth and around your gumline can only be removed by a professional who has the proper tools and training. Without doing this at least twice a year, you significantly increase your risk for gum disease, and consequently, tooth loss.
*Bleeding Gums Are Nothing To Be Concerned About*
Brushing and flossing, when you think about it, scrub and dig at your teeth and around your gumline, so it’s not exactly hard to believe that bleeding might be a common occurrence.
But the truth is, bleeding gums when brushing and flossing, or any time for that matter, are something to be concerned about and should be addressed by one of our skilled dentists as soon as possible!
Gum disease is treatable in its early stages, but given enough time without treatment, it can advance and cause irreversible damage to your oral and overall health, tooth loss being only one example.
*Whitening Treatment Is Harmful To Your Teeth*
Despite being an easy way to enhance your smile and boost your self-esteem, some believe teeth whitening treatment is harmful to your teeth.
This would actually be true if you went the cheap route and opted to whiten your teeth with an over-the-counter product. Even weak levels of bleaching chemicals found in store-brand whitening kits can harm your teeth and gums because they’re not suited for your mouth with a customized fit.
But it’s a myth when you choose to whiten your teeth the right way!
The key to effective, safe treatment is putting a trained professional, like Dr. Finley, in charge of your cosmetic procedure.
It takes experience and skill to safely administer whitening treatment properly without exposing your teeth and gums to harmful bleaching agents.
Make An Appointment
If any of these myths have come at a surprise, then it could mean a routine cleaning and exam at Bayou Dental Group is in order. We can make sure your oral health is on track and that any developing dental problems don’t have a chance to wreck your healthy smile!
To schedule your appointment in Monroe, LA, call us today at 318-302-4236 or fill out our online form.