Dental Mythbusters

myth

Drs Hill and Schneidmiller hear some interesting faux facts from time to time…

 

Ever hear of putting an aspirin on the gumline of a tooth that hurts?

The idea is that the pain on the tooth subsides as the aspirin eventually dissolves.  Drs Hill and Schneidmiller find that the actual result is quite different!  The pain from the tooth will persist AND gumline pain because of salicylic acid burn will ALSO be present.  Depending on conditions, a true ulcer may form from the burn, which also needs professional treatment.  Their advice:  Don’t do this!

 

How about the old story that having a new child in the family means that the parent will lose a tooth?

Interesting.  It is true that there is a redistribution of calcium during pregnancy however no proof that this necessarily leads to tooth loss.  Altered diet due to morning sickness and morning sickness itself can cause dental problems, but none that are not easily prevented by counseling with one of the doctors or their hygiene team.  And it definitely does NOT apply to tooth loss in the non-pregnant partner!

 

Speaking of pregnancy, one ‘old wives tale’ states that dentistry cannot be performed for a pregnant patient.

This is a question best answered by the individual’s personal OB-GYN.  Any of the doctors or our hygiene specialists are happy to give a quick call to the patient’s MD if the patient has not already done so.  No worries!

 

Do your gums bleed when you floss??

Oh oh, better stop that flossing!  Just kidding; bleeding gums are infected gums.  To remove the infection you must clean away the bacteria, most of which colonize underneath your gumline.  So clean it up:  brush, floss, waterpik, rubber tip, interdental picks, superfloss.  The bleeding will improve daily as the tissue heals up from bacterial invasion.  Actually, flossing will become easier and you will be more aware of debris (and halitosis) once you establish an excellent hygiene routine.

 

What about baby teeth?  They don’t really matter do they?  Drs Hill and Schneidmiller find that ‘baby’ teeth only matter if your child wishes to:

  1.  chew today,
  2.  smile today,
  3.  speak clearly today and in the future,
  4.  save space for ‘big kid’ teeth in the future and
  5.  have a chance to avoid orthodontic intervention in the future.

The doctors are onboard with all of the above and want the very best for the newest generation of smiles.  If you have questions or need dental advice, give us a call!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Leave a Reply