There are so many untrue ideas about teeth floating around, and we don’t know where they came from. They can occur when people don’t ask questions at the dentist, and make assumptions about what’s going on instead of truly understanding. Other times these ideas can come from other people, blog articles, or even Hollywood movies (which take liberties to make the story more dramatic or interesting). Regardless, it’s time to clear up some misconceptions about teeth.
Baby Teeth Don’t Need To Be Brushed
This is completely not true. Setting your child up with proper dental hygiene and habits before they get their adult teeth is important to future health. Understanding how to keep their teeth healthy is key to your children being able to establish good habits by the time their adult teeth come in. Also, it may be harder for you teach your child quickly enough when they have their adult teeth, which is just going to make it harder to maintain a good routine.
Sugar is Sugar
With Easter in the near past and summery treats upon us, we do have to stress that sugar isn’t good for your teeth. It never will be. So, the less sugar you can eat, the healthier your teeth will have a chance to be. Granted, you still may have some bad intel regarding sugar and cavities.
When you reach for that sugary cookie at a BBQ, think twice about how you’re eating it. That’s right, HOW. When you consume sugar, the bacteria in your mouth take about 20 seconds to convert that sugar to acid, which then stays in your mouth for about 30 minutes. Think about the time the acid stays on the surface of your teeth when snacking. Eating that cookie all at once is actually better for your teeth than a few bites spread out over a few hours. But remember, less sugar will always be better for your teeth.
Sensitive Teeth Mean Cavities
Sensitivities can sometimes indicate cavities or broken teeth, but the chances are good that it could be something else that’s much more harmless. You may just have a sensitivity that requires some sensitive toothpaste and nothing more.
Interested in learning more about teeth, or looking to schedule a visit? Call us today at (701) 839-1299 to schedule an appointment.