Let's face it, dental fears go back to the days when dentistry was pretty barbaric and yet, they are still prevalent even in today's era of modern dentistry and outstanding technologies that make dental procedures easier than ever before. So what are we hearing that keeps us stuck with unrealistic dental fears?
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| Credit: mimiandeunice.com |
Some of the information I uncovered is blatantly out there on the Internet, spoken as if gospel. Others are from stories that people have passed on to me first-hand. Like the story which was presented as "fact" by the young man who insisted that it was FAR better to go without brushing your teeth or having a cleaning at the dentist because once you disrupted the natural state of things in your mouth, you were BOUND to get a cavity!!! (Hmmm....wonder how many he has by now without his dental visit!) He was actually convinced that going to a dentist would make him get a cavity.
Here, I've compiled a list of what "facts" (actually false) that I saw the most. See which ones you've heard, then follow with the facts:
1) Root canals hurt like hell.
2) Pregnant women should not have dental care during pregnancy.
3) Fluoride in our drinking water is dangerous.
4) You shouldn't use toothpaste with fluoride because it's already in our water.
5) If you lose a tooth, it's okay to just leave it alone.
6) Smoking doesn't affect your teeth.
7) Tooth extraction is necessary when you crack your tooth.
8) Wisdom teeth always need to be removed.
9) It's okay to delay dental treatment if you're not in severe pain.
10) If it doesn't hurt, it's okay.
11) Nutrition isn't important to teeth.
12) If I haven't been to regular visits, my dentist may take it out on me.
Here's the facts:
1) Root canals don't have to hurt. Modern dentistry has blessed us with many options to reduce and/or eliminate pain during procedures. Modern equipment is better than ever. Even the dreaded dentist's drill is far less scary than forty or fifty years ago. The plain truth is that the root canal procedure is designed to help save your tooth/teeth.
2) There is no evidence that dental procedures cause harm to mother or baby. In fact, the opposite may be true. Women who maintain their dental health during pregnancy have less risk of passing infection to their unborn baby.
3) Despite some scrutiny on the use of fluoride in public drinking water, the Centers for Disease Control and American Dental Association stand by the practice. Facts seem to back them up.
- Since 1960, total tooth loss in adults has dropped 60%.
- Cavities among adolescents has decreased from 90% to 60%
- The number of teeth with cavities dropped from 6.2 to 2.6
- When factoring in all age groups, the cavity rate drops to just 40%.
4) The amounts of fluoride used in drinking water and toothpaste combined are not considered dangerous levels.
5) If you lose a tooth due to decay, gum disease or an injury, it's important to see the dentist to have some type of replacement made. The options generally are denture, implant or bridge. The primary reason is to prevent jaw problems, pressure on other teeth, change in your bite, help with speech and chewing, as well as aesthetic reasons.
6) We've heard of the dangers of smoking for decades, but there is now far more evidence on the extent. Smoking can affect your teeth, gums, tongue, mouth and throat as well as other parts of your body. In addition to causing smoker's breath, it can cause oral ulcers and cancers. Luckily, twice-yearly dental exams can help identify these early when treatments are more effective.
7) This may have been commonplace fifty or a hundred years ago, but today, a cracked tooth can be fitted with a crown to restore the tooth to full function. Modern equipment is now available that delivers same-day crowns in a single visit.
8) Wisdom teeth don't always need to be removed. If there is sufficient space in your mouth, and they are not problematic (such as impaction) they can stay forever. Many people do need to have wisdom teeth removed, however, and can be helped greatly with sedation options if they are nervous or fearful of the procedure.
9) Some patients delay visits because they can't afford treatment right now, are fearful, or feel they don't have the time. Whatever the reason, it's usually not a good idea as delaying can only make your existing problem worse, cause more pain, and may even end up costing you more money.
10) Even though pain is sometimes a good indicator that there is a problem that needs attention, not all dental problems cause pain. People have different pain tolerances. Different dental problems cause different amounts of pain. And, pain can be intermittent. If something has changed in your mouth, you'll want to discuss it with your dentist just to be sure.
11) There is overwhelming evidence that nutrition is very important to oral health. And it's not just milk that creates strong teeth! In addition to what you eat, there is now some evidence that shows it may be equally important how you eat! (We'll take a look at this in more detail in a future article.)
12) I actually had a friend who believed this! Yet, I have never encountered a dentist who didn't realize that going to a dentist can be difficult for many people. Don't let it prevent you from starting a new routine and instead of avoidance, you ask your dentist for help in forming new healthy habits!
What I've concluded from my unscientific research into this is that fearful people generally like information that gives them the excuse not to have to go to the dentist. Unfortunately, there is a lot of bad information that is abundant on the Internet and is often passed along from person to person unchecked for fact. If in doubt, check out the facts by visiting websites that are reputable. The American Dental Society and WebMD. have sites which are based on fact.
There are more dental fallacies, I'm sure. Stories I didn't uncover, or haven't heard before. I hope it does get you to take a look at the information being given and to do your own research into it if something sounds suspect. Of course, what makes a lot of sense is to get a visit with your favorite dentist and ask him or her! I find that a good dentist loves to give the right information.
Got a story you'd like to share?
RESOURCES:
ADA - American Dental Association
WebMD - WebMD
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