Four Unexpected, Honest Dental Tips

Dispelling Common Dental Myths

Everyone wants to have a healthy, white, beautiful smile, and we all--at least we should--have a routine we follow to help us achieve this goal. What may be surprising is that the oral hygiene routine we have adopted could be based on some common dental health myths that dentists will easily dispel when asked. Here are some honest and unexpected dental tips you should consider.

Aligned Teeth are More Important than “Straight” Teeth

Many of us are under the assumption that having straight teeth is a sign of having a healthy smile. What may be surprising is that making sure teeth are properly aligned is much more important than the appearance of being straight. For instance, individuals with a gap in their front teeth may not have “straight” teeth, but as long as their lower and upper teeth are aligned, their smile is perfectly healthy. Braces and other orthodontic treatments are not necessarily used to straighten teeth, but are actually used to prevent any alignment issues like over- and under-bites.

A Healthy Smile is More Important than a “Perfect” Smile

Our smiles are part of what make us unique – if every person had the same cookie-cutter smile, life would be rather boring! And healthy smiles come in all forms--this is why dental professionals insist that a healthy smile is the most beautiful smile anyone could have. When visiting a dentist’s office, one of the most common questions patients are asked is what they like about their smile and what changes they may want to make. The dentist’s job is to help his or her patients understand their oral health and reach their smile goals in a healthy way.

Over-Whitening Can be a Bad Thing

Many people associate a beautiful smile with bright, white teeth, but over-whitening can be just as damaging to teeth as not brushing or not seeing the dentist on a regular basis. While at-home and professional whitening treatments are great for making people more confident about their teeth, there comes a point where some patients are getting too much of a good thing. Over-whitening can result in sensitivity, soft tissue chemical burns, and loss of protective tooth enamel.

Seeing a Dentist is Important, Even with Good At-Home Oral Care

Even though we have been told the most important dental work happens at home with a good oral hygiene routine, truly the most important thing for a healthy smile is making sure to visit the dentist at least every six months for a check-up. Doing this helps make sure your oral hygiene routine is on track and also helps detect any possible issues before they become full-blown, serious problems.

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