The Tile Barn

BUSTING DENTAL MYTHS

Myth 1: If you brush frequently, you don’t need to floss

Brushing does not always remove the food stuck between your teeth. Some go even so far as to get lodged in your gums. These things can breed the kind of bacteria that cause gum infection, tooth decay and bad breath. As the food lodged between your teeth start to ferment, it becomes an even bigger breeding ground of harmful oral bacteria.

Myth 2: As long as you brush your teeth, you shouldn’t have bad breath

The problem here is people typically brush their teeth for about 20 to 30 seconds, which is not a sufficient amount of time to get the gunk off the surface of the tooth’s enamel. These are bacteria not visible to the naked eye, but may cause bad breath, tooth decay and gum problems. To properly clean the teeth, it is recommended that you brush for a minimum of two minutes. You also need to floss. Finally, you have to gargle an ADA-approved mouthwash with antiseptic properties.

Myth 3: Wisdom teeth have to be removed

Yes and no. Yes, wisdom teeth have to be removed when after a bout of toothache, you have yourself checked and find out that they are impacted, or that it could be a source of other problems like gum swelling which could lead to an infection causing gum disease. No, you do not have to have them extracted if they are growing correctly and do not pose any sort of oral problems. To find this out for sure, have your local dentist give you a thorough oral examination as your wisdom teeth are starting to grow in.