We've all heard healthy myths through the years, so we're here to clear them up and get you on the right track with your dental health.
Health on Female First
TePe, the experts in oral hygiene has acknowledged, that when it comes to differentiating between what is factual and what is mere myth we often struggle.
Professionals understand that, much of the British public, still believe that ‘the whiter your teeth are, the healthier they are’ or that ‘it’s ok to rinse your mouth out with water after brushing’ – both of these are misleading.
Consequently, TePe is coming to the rescue, and educating people on the truth behind these common misconceptions, ensuring a healthier future for our teeth and gums.
According to a recent survey conducted by TePe, many of us struggle to know what is good practice when it comes to taking care of our teeth, with 20% of those questioned brushing only once a day and 45% never having heard of floss or interdental brushes. This lack of knowledge can do more harm than good.
MYTHS INCLUDE:
- Eating fruit before you go to bed cleans your teeth
Incorrect – while containing necessary nutrients, a lot of fruit contains sugary substances that are not good for your teeth before bed. Eating fruit before bed provides sugary and acidic conditions for plaque bacteria to thrive. Coupled with the reduction in the protective saliva flow that occurs naturally at night, eating fruit before bed puts teeth at risk of damage
- There is no harm in sharing toothbrushes
Wrong – it is always best to keep to your own toothbrush because your unique bacteria does remain on the brush and some bacteria simply should not be shared in this way.
- All mouthwashes do the same job
Not true – mouthwashes, like toothpaste contain different ingredients that are included to achieve different results/outcomes. Some of the ingredients are not suitable for all individuals. People with a dry mouth, who suffer with mouth ulcers or who have sensitivity should avoid mouthwashes that contain alcohol.
78% of UK consumers in fact believe that the daily use of mouthwash cleans away the build-up of plaque left between the teeth. This is incorrect and it is only the use of interdental brushes or floss that properly cleans in between the teeth.
- Brushing your teeth harder than normal is a better way to keep them clean
False – to maintain a healthy mouth, it is recommended that we brush for 2 minutes, twice a day with a soft to medium toothbrush, using a gentle circular brushing motion with fluoridated toothpaste and cleaning the spaces in between the teeth with floss or an interdental brush. With 1:5 of the adult population reporting that they only brush x1 daily it may not come as a surprise that more than half the adult population in the UK suffer from gum disease.
Elaine Tilling, dental hygienist at TePe Oral Hygiene says; “Finding a solution for achieving a healthy mouth suffers the same confusing messages from myth, legend and marketing as most aspects of our health. Establishing myth from truth can be difficult, and our oral hygiene habits taught and established during childhood can be difficult to change. The mantra for all is two minutes brushing twice daily and for adults to additionally clean in between the teeth with either floss or an interdental brush once a day. Just using a mouthwash and toothbrush won’t reach the plaque built up between the teeth.”
Tagged in Dental Health Oral health