One downside to constant internet access is being exposed to vast amounts of misinformation, debunked theories, and blatant lies. Unfortunately, the realm of dentistry is not excepted from this phenomenon. Our team urges our patients to contact our office with their questions before trusting a web page or the opinion of an unlicensed individual.
Dental Misconceptions
There are online sources that will try to convince our readers to brush their teeth with intense force. Doing this will damage the gums and the teeth's enamel, especially if our patients use a medium-bristled or hard-bristled toothbrush. When the government removed flossing from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, many sources claimed that flossing was nonessential. The truth is that flossing daily is an essential part of good oral hygiene. Some sites – especially those trying to sell products – claim that chewing sugar-free gum or xylitol gum is as effective as brushing.
However, there is no substitute for brushing and flossing. Some people will advise a patient with bleeding gums to leave the gums alone. This is the opposite of what the patient should do: call our office immediately and continue good oral hygiene as well as can be expected up to the appointment date. A cosmetic misconception is that white teeth are a surefire sign of good oral health. The truth is that white teeth can still have cavities, abrasions, and hard-to-see plaque buildup.
The biggest misconception is when a patient believes that they do not need to see our team when there's nothing wrong with their mouth. This is wrong for two reasons: gingivitis can be asymptomatic, yet still detectable by our team, and there is no home remedy for removing built-up plaque and tartar from the teeth and gumlines.
When it comes to oral health care, it's better to ask a question than to make a mistake. Call our office to schedule a consultation where our professionals can answer your questions.
Dental Blog | Dentist Normandy Park, WA | Watermark Dentistry Our team at Watermark Dentistry has provided this educational blog as a resource to our patients. Click here to learn about procedures, home care and more! Watermark Dentistry, 18537 First Avenue South, Suite A, Normandy Park, WA 98148-1888 ^ (206) 242-5808 ^ watermarkdentistry.com ^ 11/10/2024 ^ Page Keywords: dentist Normandy Park WA ^