Teeth are one of the most essential components of our body. They are essential for eating food, speaking in a correct manner, and many more functions. A lot of people do not realize the effect of teeth on our confidence and self-esteem. But we usually tend to overlook our teeth. A simple toothache can keep a person awake at night.
Most dental problems can be prevented and treated by a simple method – maintaining good oral hygiene. This only requires regular and proper teeth cleaning and regular visits to your dentist.
However, there are several teeth cleaning myths. This article will tackle all these teeth cleaning myths and tell you all the correct teeth cleaning facts. We will also explain what is right and what should be done for excellent oral hygiene.
Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye:
- Scaling loosens the teeth
- Don’t brush the teeth if gums are bleeding
- The more you brush, the healthier will be your teeth
- Teeth whitening can harm your teeth
- White teeth are healthy teeth
- Dental Procedures are painful
- Flossing can widen the gap between your teeth
- Babies don’t need teeth cleaning
- Chewing gum is as good as brushing teeth
- Expensive toothpaste are always better
1. Scaling loosens the teeth
There is a common myth surrounding scaling that it weakens and loosens the teeth. This could not be less true.
Scaling is a procedure that is done to remove tartar or calculus (hardened plaque) from the teeth. Scaling is essential for people who have a layer of tartar over their teeth. This forms an excellent environment for bacteria to grow and cause damage to their teeth and surrounding structures.
Sometimes, there can be gaps between the teeth or between the teeth and the gums, and the tartar can get stuck inside it. After scaling, this tartar plug is removed, and the patient might feel a gap between the teeth. But this does not mean it is caused by scaling. This is crucial to remove for the prevention of periodontal infections.
Some patients can experience a little sensitivity after scaling for one to two days which will eventually go away. Thus, scaling is not harmful to your teeth and helps in preventing teeth and gums infections. But it is important that you get scaling done only by the best dentist in South Delhi.
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2. Don’t brush the teeth if gums are bleeding
Bleeding gums can be a sign of poor oral hygiene. Thus, it is advised to brush your teeth twice daily and floss properly for proper teeth cleaning and prevention of infections.
Brushing your teeth very hard can cause your gums to bleed because of trauma. But it does not mean that you should stop brushing your teeth. Consult a dentist who will teach you proper brushing techniques.
If you suffer from bleeding gums, consult with a dentist who will advise you on further treatment.
3.The more you brush, the healthier will be your teeth
This is probably one of the most common misconceptions that people have about brushing and oral health. While brushing is essential for good oral hygiene, overdoing this can be harmful for your teeth. Several harmful effects of over brushing your teeth are listed below:
- Tooth abrasion: this condition refers to teeth structure loss because of chronic mechanical trauma as caused by overbrushing.
- Tooth sensitivity to heat, cold, sweet, or sour tastes.
- Gum recession
- Gum bleeding
Brushing your teeth gently with a good-quality toothbrush with soft bristles, two times a day is healthy and enough for your teeth. In addition, flossing is crucial for proper teeth cleaning and good oral health.
Read Also: How to maintain oral hygiene during & post COVID-19?
4. Teeth whitening can harm your teeth
Our teeth are composed of 3 layers. The outermost visible layer is made up of enamel. Enamel is the hardest tissue of the human body.
The gels used during teeth whitening do not harm the enamel. In addition, the majority of these gels are picked up by the second layer of the tooth, the dentine. This helps in lightening the underlying dentine stains.
Some people can experience some sensitivity after the teeth whitening procedure which is normal. But there is no harm or damage to your teeth during the teeth whitening procedure.
5. White teeth are healthy teeth
Having white teeth may look nicer but this in no way means that white teeth are healthy teeth. Our teeth can be stained because of many food items that we consume regularly, such as tomato curries, tea, coffee, and more.
You can have highly white teeth and still have tooth or gum infections. Conversely, people with yellowish, off-white teeth and good teeth cleaning habits can have good dental health. Most people have this off-white yellowish color of their teeth.
6. Dental Procedures are painful
While we accept that all dental procedures and instruments can look very daunting to you, rest assured that most of these procedures are entirely pain-free experiences. With the recent advancements in science and technology, most ancient dental procedures now have newer, safer, less painful, and less invasive alternatives.
In addition, your dentist will give a local anesthetic before any major dental procedure, which will completely numb the area. Hence, you will feel absolutely no pain during the procedure.
Teeth cleaning in South Delhi is a completely pain free procedure. At Dr. Sahni’s dental clinic, you will get the best procedure at the most reasonable teeth cleaning charges.
Read Also: Is it safe to go see a dentist during the COVID-19 pandemic?
7. Flossing can widen the gap between your teeth
Flossing does not cause gaps between your teeth. The gaps you feel after flossing are because the plaque stuck in the already present gaps has now been removed from those gaps. The presence of gaps between your teeth or teeth and gums is a sign of unhealthy teeth. You should consult with your dentist for the same.
That being said, improper flossing can cause damage to your teeth and gums. Thus you must know the right way to floss. Consult your dentist and learn how to floss the right way.
8. Babies don’t need Teeth Cleaning
Dental care for your babies should ideally start even before they have their first teeth. You can begin wiping their gums with water and a clean and soft wash towel or gauge when they are about three months of age. This makes the child ready to clean the teeth when they appear.
You can use a soft infant toothbrush to clean your baby’s teeth until about two years of age or keep using a washcloth. Use only water for 1 to 1½ years till your dentist recommends something else.
9. Chewing gum is as good as brushing teeth
In short, chewing gum is not an alternative to brushing teeth. There is a general misconception that chewing gum can help clean your teeth and can be used as a substitute for brushing teeth. This is completely wrong.
While chewing gum can help combat bad breath, it can not clean your teeth and spaces between your teeth properly and cause several teeth and gum infections.
Read Also: What Should You Eat and Avoid After a Tooth Extraction?
10. Expensive toothpaste are always better
This statement is not entirely true. The correct teeth cleaning fact is that while it is essential to use good toothpaste for good oral health, it does not mean the most expensive toothpaste is the best.
Only your dentist could decide which toothpaste you should use depending on the condition of your teeth, what they need and which toothpaste will suit them best.
Take Away
We hope that this article helped you with the teeth cleaning myths and you learnt some new teeth cleaning facts. If you have further doubts, feel free to consult us at Dr. Sahni’s clinic. Dr. Sahni’s clinic is the best dental clinic in South Delhi which provides the best service at the most affordable teeth cleaning charges.
At Dr. Sahni’s Dental Clinic all your doubts and dental problems will be dealt with expertise and care.