Most of us believe when someone tells us about this amazing new product that they have been using which has worked so well for them. Or how some product was a total mishap. The most common case of such is tooth concerns. We all know exactly how Stacy got her teeth ruined by using some product but we never even give it one thought to whether she used it correctly or maybe it could not have just suited her but it does suit other people with different tooth condition or different food habits. These dental myths just spread mouth-to-mouth and most of us just believe it. I m not blaming you as this just comes out of concern. But it is time they are busted.

MYTH: Brushing for longer duration means better oral hygiene.

TRUTH: on the contrary, brushing for more than 2 minutes maximum can injure your gums and teeth. An example, keep scrubbing an area over your hand with a brush for just a minute and see how you feel. Same applies here. Your gums and teeth cannot take brushing for too long either. Brushing for about 15 seconds over an area covered by the bristles of a toothbrush is all your teeth require to be clean and healthy.

MYTH: Brushing twice daily means no need of floss anymore.

TRUTH: One couldn’t be more wrong! Brushing, flossing, and rinsing are three completely different methods of oral hygiene targeted to clean three very different areas in your mouth. To maintain your teeth healthy and all surfaces clean, you must, MUST, follow a complete oral hygiene routine which includes

 MYTH: If you maintain a thorough oral hygiene you do not need to visit your dentist.

TRUTH: Sorry ladies, hate to burst the bubble but no matter how thorough oral hygiene you maintain there are still areas of your mouth that will need attention which only a professional can give. Doesn’t mean you should stop the precautions thinking you have to go to a dentist anyway. Better care for your teeth does prolong the duration between the visits. Think of it as another precautionary method: only a dentist can inform you any dental problem that is in an initial stage before it gets out of hand. A stitch in time saves nine!

 MYTH: Controlling your sugar intake would control tooth decay.

TRUTH: No, it doesn’t work that way. There are many more reasons that can cause tooth decay even if you cut out the sweets completely. The culprit here is not the sweets that you consume, but any foods that contain processed sugar, small fragments of which gets stuck in between your teeth and gets consumed by the bacteria in your mouth. These bacteria then produce acids that dissolve the layers of your teeth.

So you cut out all foods with processed sugar in it? GOOD NEWS: You don’t need to! Two things you need to keep in mind and your routine:

 MYTH: Bad breath is caused by not brushing properly.

TRUTH: Halitosis, clinical term for bad breath is caused due to a variety of other medical conditions, most of which are related to you gastric tract, bad oral hygiene is just one of them. But no one can live with their own bad breath, let alone be others’. So what other than brushing properly, can reduce bad breath. First, make sure your stomach is healthy. Reduce your smoking habit, if not stop completely. If halitosis is solely a dental problem, visit your dentist and get oral prophylaxis (cleaning) performed which will reduce this problem almost completely. You can also ask your dentist to prescribe you a good mouthwash for the same.

 Life is short, so smile while you still got your pearly whites, ladies.