Taking care of your teeth and gums sounds simple enough, but there’s actually more to protecting oral health than many people realize. Compounding this problem are a number of oral health myths that many of us are guilty of falling for.
It is important that you educate yourself on proper oral health so that you can steer clear of the myths and protect yourself from developing oral health issues down the road. Longmont, CO dentist Dr. Amy Farmer places special emphasis on patient education; here she discusses three common oral health myths you should be aware of.
Are You Falling for These Three Oral Health Myths?
Here are three of the most common oral health myths you shouldn’t fall for:
- White Teeth Are a Sign of Healthy Teeth. Many people believe that just because teeth look white, they are automatically healthy. This isn’t always the case. Teeth whitening can certainly make the teeth more attractive, but it won’t address the root causes of gum disease or cavities. Even if you do have pearly white teeth, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t food particles, bacteria or excess acidity residing in your mouth.
- Only Sugar Causes Cavities. While sugar is one of the main causes of cavities and gum disease, simply avoiding sweets isn’t the only answer for disease prevention. In fact, refined carbohydrates — like those found in white bread and pasta — can break down into sugar relatively quickly in the mouth. Once broken down, these simple sugars can increase the level of acidity in the mouth, causing tooth erosion. Also, switching to diet soda from sugar-sweetened soda may not help, because diet soda still contains acid that will erode the enamel over time.
- Flossing Isn’t Necessary. Brushing the teeth is the most important thing you can do to prevent cavities, but flossing is a close second. Many people don’t floss because they think brushing is sufficient; however, flossing covers hard-to-reach areas of the mouth that brushing might miss. In fact, flossing helps remove food particles that are lodged in between the teeth. These food particles can break down and contribute to bacterial growth in the mouth.
Contact Dr. Amy Farmer
If you’re ready to separate fact from fiction when it comes to your oral health, please contact our practice at (303) 776-1480. Our friendly, experienced dental team at Crossroads Dental Cosmetic Dentistry of Longmont not only provides excellent dental treatment and services, we also empower our patients with the knowledge they need to protect themselves from cavities, gum disease and other oral health problems.
