SPECIALITY_DENTAL

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Myth - Charcoal, salt, rice husk, tobacco, etc, in powder form is better than toothpaste in cleaning teeth.

Fact - The objective of cleaning the teeth is to remove the plaque and food particles on and around the teeth by the bristles of a toothbrush with the help of a toothpaste or powder. A standard paste or powder contains proper sized particles, which are not harmful to the teeth. However, other powders are coarse and can erode the outer layer of the teeth and permanently damage them. Hence, only standard toothpaste or powder should be used with a toothbrush. Toothpaste is better than powder as it can easily be dispensed on the brush and it may contain fluorides, anti-tartar chemicals, etc. The foaming action of the toothpaste also helps to freshen the mouth. Tobacco should not be used. Users enjoy the euphoric effect of nicotine present in tobacco rather than cleaning of the teeth and slowly become addicted to it. Hence, it should never be used.

Myth - Thumb sucking by children leads to forward placement of upper teeth .

Fact - Thumb sucking is a normal infant habit, which makes the child feel secure and happy. It usually decreases after the age of 3 years. However, if the habit persists beyond the age of 3 – 4 years it can cause problems of the teeth including forward placement of the teeth. In these children, depending upon the frequency and severity of the habit an intervention of the habit by a dental surgeon may be required.

Myth - A child never needs cleaning of milk teeth.

Fact - It is a myth that we need not clean a child's teeth. Children are as much prone for dental decay or gum diseases as adults. In fact children tend to have sweet food including sweetened milk and juices which can promote dental caries. So it is advisable to start the habit of cleaning the infant's teeth soon after they appear in the mouth. In fact it is advised to clean baby's gum pads everyday by gentle massage even before the teeth erupt.

Myth - Milk teeth need not be cared for because they last only for a few years, and these teeth will anyway be replaced by permanent teeth.

Fact - Early loss of milk teeth will interfere with chewing and affect the child's nutrition. Early loss of milk teeth leads to drifting of the adjacent teeth and closure of some of the space that is required for the succeeding permanent teeth to erupt into. Such a loss of space will cause the permanent teeth to erupt in irregular position and result in crowding. Therefore milk teeth need to be cared for as much as permanent teeth.

Myth - When the gums bleed, it is better not to brush the teeth.

Fact - Bleeding of gums is a sign that they are inflamed and are not healthy. This usually is a result of plaque and food particles accumulating around the teeth. Until this collection is removed, the gums continue to bleed. This is an indication that the individual needs to visit a dentist for opinion and treatment. Brushing the teeth with a soft toothbrush by the proper technique removes the plaque and helps the gums recover. Initial bleeding seen during brushing gradually reduces over a period of time.

Myth - Keeping an aspirin tablet beside a painful tooth reduces the tooth pain.

Fact - A toothache cannot be relieved by placing an aspirin tablet anywhere in the mouth. In fact this is a dangerous habit as it causes burns of the soft tissues around the area of placement. Hence, aspirin tablets should not be placed in mouth but swallowed after eating some food to relieve the pain.

Myth - When an artificial set of teeth are worn, the upper denture logically has to fall down in the mouth and create problems, however the lower denture that should rest in place does not stay.

Fact - Although the lower denture rests on the ridges of jaw, it does get easily dislodged because of the interference of the muscles of check, lips tongue and movement of the jaw during function. However, with time the muscles learn to co-ordinate with the lower denture and the patient overcomes this problem. The upper denture, on the other hand stays in its place due to creation of suction under the palate.