There have always been myths surrounding dental care and while some of the common ones like “tooth decay is only caused by excess sugar” have been proven wrong, many still exist. We debunk a few more here:
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- White teeth mean healthy teeth
If someone has a sparkly set of teeth, the common belief is that the person must have healthy teeth; this is not always true. In fact, since yellowing is a part of the tooth aging process, yellow teeth are often more healthy than ultra-white ones. Too much fluoride or a calcium deficiency may be the cause of excessively white teeth.
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- Flossing does not really help
Another common misbelief is that if you brush regularly, then there is no need to floss daily; false. There are places in your mouth where your toothbrush cannot reach; you need dental floss to root out the food remains that hide in these corners. By doing so, you prevent plaque and ultimately, tooth decay.
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- Gum disease is not that common
“I’ve never seen anyone with gum disease, have you?” How many times have you heard someone say this? Well, the problem is that many people that have gum disease do not even know that they have it. According to the CDC, 47% of adults over 30 years (and 70% of adults over 65) have some form of gum disease. Visit a dental clinic today to ensure that you are completely healthy.
If you have questions regarding dental information you’ve heard about or researched please contact your dentist. If you do not have one, please visit us at Pearland Family Dentistry in Houston, Texas. You can call 832-649-7344 to book a consultation.