This four-part article series sets about explaining and dispelling the many common myths and misconceptions surrounding oral health and hygiene and certain dental procedures.
When it comes to your teeth, oral health and the various dental procedures out there, people are full of opinions, old wives’ tales and misconceptions. Some are harmless and even quite humorous; for example, it was believed that tying a frog to your jaw would firm up loose teeth. Granted, this belief is archaic and has long since faded. But there are other myths and misconceptions about oral health that are actually dangerous, because they perpetuate ignorance and a fear of dentists and dental treatment. So, we sat down with some teeth implants specialists in Arizona and spoke to them about the dental myths they most want to see busted. What they had to say is presented to you in this four-part article series.
Dental Myth # 1: If you’ve got toothache, put an aspirin next to it to kill the pain.
The Facts: “Aspirin’s pharmaceutical action is to cease the production of prostaglandins, which function as pain transmitters,” explain denture specialists in Arizona. “In other words, they let your brain know which part of your body is hurting and how badly. However, the aspirin itself must first be absorbed into the bloodstream and the best and most effective way to achieve this is by ingesting it orally.”
Placing aspirin next to your tooth is not going to render it less painful. In fact, you could do serious damage. Aspirin is quite acidic and this could cause the adjacent soft tissues to become irritated and inflamed. Worse still, it could cause corrosion of your dental enamel, which could end up in further sensitivity, pain and the formation of cavities.
The Solution: “If you’ve got a persistent toothache, there is an underlying problem that needs to be treated,” explain teeth implants specialists in Arizona. “Since the tooth is a closed structure (encased by hard enamel) the chances of it healing on its own are very slim, so you should book an appointment with your dentist right away. Swallowing pain medication will only treat the symptoms. If you ignore tooth pain, you could end up losing the tooth.”
Dental Myth # 2: You shouldn’t brush your teeth if your gums bleed. You certainly shouldn’t floss!
The Facts: It’s understandable that you wouldn’t want to stress your gums by brushing or flossing them if they have been bleeding, but unlike torn skin, which one would put a Band-Aid over and leave to heal; the complete opposite is true of your gums. In order to understand this, you have to appreciate why gums bleed in the first place.
“Gums tear easily and bleed when they’ve become weakened by infection,” explain denture specialists in Arizona. “If you don’t brush and floss frequently and/or thoroughly enough, bacteria and food debris build up between your teeth and just below the gum line. This irritates the gums, causing them to become inflamed and infected, resulting in a condition we refer to as gingivitis. The compromised tissue tears and bleeds more easily.”
This explains why not brushing and flossing makes your problem so much worse!
The Solution: If your gums are bleeding when you brush them, you may very well have a bacterial infection. You will need to increase the frequency and duration for which you brush on a daily basis, as well as start flossing in the evening. You may also want to incorporate an anti-bacterial mouthwash into your daily hygiene routine. If it’s been more than a year since you’ve been to the dentist and oral hygienist, get booking!
Stay Tuned...
To read more dental myths and misconceptions join us next week for the second installment of this four-part article series, courtesy of teeth implants specialists in Arizona.
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