When it comes to your smile, the better you take care of your teeth and gums on a daily basis, the healthier and more attractive it will be! Just like showering or taking a bath every day helps you look and feel your best, your mouth needs to be cleaned as well, especially since you are feeding oral bacteria whenever you eat and drink.
Here are some common oral hygiene myths to help you to dispel unsightly issues like cavities and gum disease.
1 – Your teeth need a hard toothbrush to clean effectively.
A hard-bristled toothbrush actually damages gum tissue and tooth enamel. It can’t reach the crevices where food particles and plaque hide, but a soft-bristled toothbrush’s flexible bristles can, and does it without harming your teeth or gums.
2 – Sugar is the main cause of cavities.
When it comes to tooth decay, acid from oral bacteria is the leading culprit. Both sugar and carbs feed those acid-producing bacteria, so just be sure to brush and floss well after eating or drinking to keep cavities away.
3- Bleeding gums are normal after flossing.
Your gums shouldn’t be bleeding every time you floss! Flossing daily usually takes care of that problem unless you have gum disease. If your gums bleed whenever you floss, you want to get checked for gum disease.
4 – Mouthwash is the best way to cure bad breath.
Minty mouthwashes can make your breath smell better but if it is alcohol-based it will dry out your mouth instead, leading to even worse breath. The best way to prevent bad breath is to brush twice a day, floss once and scrape your tongue once a day and drink lots of water throughout your day to remove odor-causing bacteria.
5-White teeth mean they are healthy.
If you frequently whiten your teeth they might look nice on the outside but that doesn’t mean they are healthy on the inside. You could still have cavities hiding inside them or have infections.
6-I don’t need to floss as long as I brush every day.
Brushing alone can’t get rid of the harmful, plaque-causing bacteria hiding in between your teeth and around the gum line. Flossing cleans those areas of the tooth’s surfaces your toothbrush can’t effectively reach or clean.
Dispel those unhelpful myths and keep your smile clean and healthy every day. Your best defense against tooth decay and gum disease is your daily oral hygiene combined with routine dental cleanings to remove hardened plaque (tartar/calculus). If you want to schedule your next cleaning and exam, give us our Valley View Dental team a call today!