Oral Health Include Dental Myths and Facts
The oral hygiene and dental health are very important. Since childhood, we have been taught how to clean teeth. However, there are still many myths about dental health that are misguided. So, knowing the dental myths and facts is important. The myths sometimes make people lazy to maintain oral health.
Dental Myths and Facts
To maintain oral and dental health, you just need to follow the simple rules about brushing your teeth twice a day and changing your toothbrush every 3 or 4 months. In order not to misunderstanding the myth, the following are some dental myths and facts that you need to know.
Myth: If remove the upper tooth that is ache will affect the eye's nerves
Fact: The nerves that supply the upper teeth are different from those of the eye. If someone has a toothache due to caries in the upper tooth, the spread of the infection can indeed reach the cheeks to the eyes. However, the upper teeth extraction will not cause the eye’s nerves.
Myth: A toothache can be cured by taking painkillers medicine
Fact: The painkiller medicine only helps to relieve pain temporarily. The bacterial infection in the teeth remains and sometime the pain will arise again. So, if caries occurs, the tooth must be treated. If caries has not reached the nerve tissue, the tooth can still be patched.
Myth: Teeth do not need to be revoked and may be left alone if the remaining roots are left
Fact: When cavities are left and are not treated, over time these remain teeth can break little by little because of the pressure of chewing. In the end, the crown of the tooth runs out and only the roots remain. Usually, the teeth have no complaints anymore.
However, it does not mean the problem is over. Roots of teeth that exposed to the dental environment can still be a source of infection. Therefore, even if there is no toothache, it must still be revoked and the replacement denture is made.
Myth: Children who have finger sucking habits can make bucktoothed
Fact: Many studies reveal that the thumb sucking habit can cause their front teeth becoming bucktoothed but depend on how long the child has this habit, and how often sucking thumb. Finger sucking habits that last between 36 and 48 months can significantly increase the risk of advancing front teeth.
Myth: If having a toothache, it is better to be revoked than patched up
Fact: Actually, tooth extraction is the last alternative if other treatments are not possible. The teeth are retained as much as possible in the mouth because losing one tooth can reduce the effectiveness of mastication. The missing teeth should be replaced with dentures, but no matter how good the denture is, the original teeth are better.
Myth: Bad breath is caused by problems in digestion
Fact: Many studies have stated that 85% of bad breath comes from the teeth and mouth. The bad breath that caused by stomach is very rare. Bad breath is caused by bacteria that nest in the mouth or can be in inflamed gums, cavities, tartar, leaking patches, and especially on the back of the tongue.
Bacteria that develop in an environment without oxygen produces the smelly gas called "volatile sulfur compound". This is what causes bad breath. Therefore, it is important to maintain our oral health by regularly brushing teeth.
Myth: Tooth extraction should not be done when a woman is in her period
Fact: Hormonal changes experienced by women also affect the condition in the oral cavity. During menstruation, there are hormonal changes that increase levels of estrogen and progesterone which can cause the gums to be more susceptible to inflammation.
However, the tooth extraction can still be done when a woman is menstruating. To avoid risk, extraction should be delayed until the last week of the menstrual cycle (days 22-28) where estrogen levels are low.
Myth: Mouthwash can eliminate bad breath
Fact: According to a study that tested the effectiveness of mouthwash, the number of bacteria is significantly reduced 12 hours after use. The mouthwash is only effective in a short period of time. In fact, the selection of mouthwash must be done carefully because alcohol-based mouthwashes can make bad breath worse.
If you use it excessively, the alcohol content can make the mouth dry. To eliminate or at least reduce bad breath, cleaning the teeth is not focused on the surface of the tooth but on the entire surface of the oral cavity, especially in tongue and gums.
Conclusion
There are still many myths about dental health that are misguided. However, after knowing the dental myths and facts above, hopefully, you can maintain you oral health better.