Written by: Dr Madhavi Shetty,Endodontist and Co-founder-The Funcdent,The Functional Dentistry Centre

When it comes to oral health, there are numerous myths and misconceptions that can confuse patients and lead them astray. It’s crucial to separate fact from fiction to ensure that you have accurate dental knowledge and make informed decisions about your oral care. In this article, we will debunk some of the most common dental myths,

#Myth: The harder you brush, the cleaner your teeth will be

#Fact: Brushing too hard or using an abrasive toothbrush will only leave your enamel eroded. Eroded enamel will cause sensitivity as the underlying dentin will be exposed. Not only tooth structure but the gums will also be adversely affected leading to recession. So proper brushing techniques like brushing with light pressure and in a circular motion will clean your teeth and gums.

#Myth: Teeth cleaning/ scaling and polishing will abrade the enamel and cause sensitivity issues

#Fact: This is the most common misconception that we often face. Scaling and polishing is a procedure that we advise our patients to undergo every 6 months. This removes the accumulated plaque and calculus which causes gingival inflammation leading to bleeding gums and mobile teeth. Scaling and polishing do only good to the patient especially those suffering from gingival diseases.

#Myth You don’t need to floss your teeth if you brush regularly

#Fact: Flossing your teeth at least once a day is a crucial part of a good oral hygiene routine. Flossing allows you to clean areas of your mouth that are hard to reach, such as in the small gaps between the teeth, enabling you to remove food particles and debris which can lead to bacteria development, causing oral health problems such as tooth decay and cavities.

#Myth: If nothing is bothering you, you don’t need a dental checkup.

#Fact: With a lot of dental issues, you don’t necessarily feel pain right away.The problem is once the symptoms appear, it’s often a bigger issue. If you wait until a cavity hurts to get it checked out, you could end up needing a root canal or an extraction that could have been prevented with regular check up.

#Myth: You can only get cavities from sugar.

#Fact:While you may think that sugary snacks are the only culprit when it comes to causing cavities, starchy carbohydrates such as those found in chips and crackers can also be responsible. Carbohydrate-rich foods often contain sugars.The best advice is to read food labels before you buy, so you can check the sugar content for yourself.

#Myth: Gum disease only affects your mouth

#Fact:You’d be forgiven for assuming that gum disease is only a problem for your mouth. However, as the mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body, oral health conditions such as gum disease can lead to health problems in other parts of the body leading to increase in risk of a heart attack or other cardiovascular diseases and certain type of cancer.