Atlantic Ave March 2017 Edition

►
health & beauty ║ Your Dental Health
Five Dental Myths That
Could Be Hurting Your Smile
BY Craig Spodak, DMD, PA
{
Knowledge is power,
especially when it comes
to your oral health
If you have a white smile and all of your
teeth, then you’re taking great care of your
oral health, right? Wrong. Research – new
and old – shows that there is more to your
smile, and great oral health, than just having
bright teeth. Forget the myths, learn the
truths, and take the recommendations of
your dentist and hygienist!
Myth: Sugar causes cavities.
Sugar doesn’t cause cavities, the acid from
bacteria does. When you eat sugar, the bacteria
in your mouth eat the sugar as well, creating
acid in your mouth. This acid combines
with saliva to form plaque. Plaque starts
building up after every meal, and if it isn’t
brushed away properly, it can erode the hard,
outer enamel of a tooth, resulting in tiny holes
in the tooth’s surface. These holes mark the
first stage of cavity formation. Remember to
brush (and floss!) after every snack or meal to
reduce the chance of the bacteria buffet.
Truth: Sugar feeds bacteria, bacteria
produces acids, acids cause cavities.
Myth: Teeth whitening will damage
your enamel.
The key ingredients in over-the-counter
whitening products are hydrogen peroxide
or carbamide peroxide, which work as oxidizing
agents to remove stains on the surface
of the enamel. The whitening strips, trays
and pastes you can find in your local supermarket
and online usually contain about 3 to
10 percent of these active ingredients, and
are generally considered safe for at-home
use. However, there are some risks, so it’s
best to be under the supervision of your dental
professional. They will be able to safely
administer the whitening product and erase
the possibility of overusing or misusing the
product. The most common side effect is
tooth sensitivity and your dental team will
whiten your teeth with a goal to lessen the
amount of sensitivity afterward.
Truth: Tooth whitening won’t harm your
enamel, but is best done under professional
care.
Myth: Mercury fillings are harmful
to your health.
Silver fillings were commonly used in dentistry
in the past few generations. While
they are a very good dental material, most
people prefer tooth-colored fillings that
don’t contain mercury, so opt to have
their “mercury fillings” removed. The
truth is, mercury is present in the
mouth on placement
and on removal
of these
fillings. The
best thing to do
is to heed your
dentist’s advice
when he/
she says a
mercury
filling
needs to be replaced, but not to do so because
of the fear of mercury.
Truth: Silver fillings only need to be
changed if there is breakdown or new
decay.
Myth: Mouthwashes that burn are
best.
“No pain, no gain” doesn’t relate to
mouthwash. Alcohol in mouthwash (and alcohol
in general) is dehydrating, and alcohol
is linked to a higher incidence of oral cancer.
Additionally, using a mouthwash with alcohol
may lead to the formation of plaque, bad
breath and an unpleasant tingling sensation
in the mouth. There are several options for
alcohol-free mouthwash on the market, and
most of them contain ingredients to prevent
tooth decay, periodontal diseases (gum diseases),
dry mouth, bad breath and plaque
and tartar buildup.
Truth: Healthy mouths require no
mouthwash at all.
Myth: Wisdom teeth must be
extracted.
Wisdom teeth usually appear in the
mouth between the ages of 17 to 25, which
is how they got their name. They don’t have
to be extracted just because they’re there.
As long as they’re in good position and can
be kept clean, you can keep them. Problems
arise when they’re malpositioned, can’t
come in all the way, or can’t be kept clean.
Even if you don’t have pain, you should
have your wisdom teeth evaluated because
the best time to have them removed is before
they pose a problem, including cysts in
the jaw, infections and pain. Just make sure
you’re visiting your dentist regularly so they
can monitor their growth.
Truth: Healthy, clean wisdom teeth can
be part of a healthy mouth.
Spodak Dental Group
3911 West Atlantic Avenue
Delray Beach - 561-498-0050
www.SpodakDental.com
54 March 2017 | www.AtlanticAveMagazine.com