We live in a wonderful age where we can find any information at the click of a button. Of course, that means you can come across bad information. Our San Antonio TX dental office makes every effort to give our patients the best information possible. This comes through providing quality dental cleanings and examinations.
We also use this website to give you quality information about your teeth and mouth. Unfortunately, there is a lot of bad information out there, and if you’re not careful, you can fall down the rabbit hole. We don’t want that for any of our patients. So today, we want to share five dental myths that you need to stop believing or avoid at all costs. Here they are.
Floss is not important. MYTH.
We dentists don’t just tell you to brush AND floss for no reason. Floss has a purpose. About 65 percent of your tooth is above the gum line. The best way to clean this area is with brushing, but even the most malleable toothbrush cannot clean beneath the gum. That’s where floss comes into play. When you floss, you reduce your risk of cavities and gum disease, which is the leading cause of tooth loss. Some dentists say “You only need to floss the teeth you want to keep.” There is a great deal of truth to that, given the effects of gum disease. Do yourself a favor, and don’t skip on the floss!
My tooth doesn’t hurt, so I do not have cavities. MYTH.
It’s possible to have tooth decay and experience severe pain, but it’s also possible to have tooth decay and feel nothing. It’s a fact that tooth decay starts out small. You likely will not be aware that you have a problem. That’s why it’s so important to visit your dentist every six months and to restore a tooth whenever a problem arises. If you wait until you are in pain, you could have a serious cavity or root problem.
Bleeding gums are normal. MYTH.
This is perhaps one of the most dangerous dental myths out there. Bleeding gums are in no way. In fact, bleeding or swollen gums is the first sign of gum disease, an infection that can lead to tooth loss. Gum disease occurs in stages, and it can quickly spread throughout the mouth. The most serious form of gum disease is periodontitis.  Here is a great tip to live by, your teeth and gums should not hurt. If you have pain or bleeding, something is wrong.
Root canals make you sick. MYTH.
This myth is shattered around the internet, and it comes up occasionally with my dental patients. Most people don’t realize that is myth was created in the 1920s, and it was debunked long ago.
Root canals are not only safe and completed with a 98 percent success rate, but they save the tooth from extraction. During a root canal, a dentist cleans out the infected canals and then strengthens the tooth with filling material and a lifelike restoration. We use the most malleable materials to clean out infected roots, and the procedure can be completed with very little pain. It’s typically no more uncomfortable than needing a filling.
Teeth-whitening is not safe. MYTH.
Teeth whitening is one of the safest cosmetic procedures used in dentistry. Patients can have problems if they use whitening unsupervised or if they overuse whitening. We’ll never run into that problem in our office. We carefully monitor your teeth and gums to determine if whitening can help. Our modern whitening treatments are safe and comfortable, and you can improve the brightness of your smile by up to eight shades.
Schedule an appointment today
The best way to avoid taking bad information is visiting a professional dentist. Our San Antonio dental office is always open to new patients. We love teaching patients about their oral health. Contact us today to see how we can brighten your smile and help you overcome your pesky dental problems.