Myths & Facts | Focus Dental

Frequently Asked Questions

Myths

Facts

	Any type of dental treatment is very painful.		Not anymore. Advanced dental technologies make dental treatment painless by using proper anesthetic agents.
	Extraction of a tooth can lead to loss of vision!		There is no relation between extraction of a tooth and loss of vision. If this were true, patients who have had all their teeth removed should be totally blind.
	Brushing the teeth several times a day harms the enamel.		Daily brushing for 2-3 min and flossing is important as it helps prevent cavities or tooth decay.
	Only the sugar in sweets and desserts are bad for teeth.		Many foods have natural sugars in them. Both natural and processed sugars can cause tooth decay if they stay on teeth. It is important to limit the amount of sweets you consume and to brush and floss twice a day.
	A hard bristled toothbrush is best for removing tartar.		Brushing too roughly with a hard bristled toothbrush may cause irritation & erosion of your gums. Soft bristled toothbrushes should be preferred as they clean teeth thoroughly and do not damage the teeth.
	Whitening toothpastes bleach teeth.		Whitening toothpaste alone isn’t strong enough to make your smile whiter. Though when it is used in conjunction with other at-home whitening products or as a follow up to an in-office whitening treatment can help whiten or keep white.
	Braces for correcting malpositioned teeth can be put for children only!		Although the ideal age for putting braces to correct tooth positions is between 11 to14 years, people of all ages up to 45 years can gain much by using braces. Adult treatment can take slightly longer time and may not be ideally finished but certainly the gross problem can be corrected.
	Using a toothpick creates gaps between teeth.		Toothpick usage does not cause gaps or spaces between teeth. Spaces between teeth are frequently related to gum disease.
	All wisdom teeth need to be extracted.		Wisdom teeth need to be extracted when there are issues with the teeth. Often a wisdom tooth needs to be extracted because the tooth is impacted, infected, has a cavity or decay, or there is not room for the tooth in the jaw bone.
	“My parents did not have any cavities or dental problems, so I will not either.”		Genetics plays a small role in dental health. The main component in predicting dental health is the level of oral hygiene that a patient has. Brushing twice a day and flossing once a day, along with regular dental visits, will help keep your teeth and gums healthy.