There are many misconceptions about tooth decay, the most common dental disease worldwide. It is important to understand that dental problems should be evaluated and treated by a doctor. Following myths and advice from the internet without timely and proper treatment can lead to your condition progressing. In this article, we have gathered seven common misconceptions about tooth decay that can prevent you from recognizing the problem early and keeping your teeth healthy.
1. Sweets are the only cause of tooth decay
This myth has been familiar to many since childhood, but sugar alone does not destroy tooth enamel. Tooth decay is caused by cariogenic bacteria that live in the oral cavity and feed on carbohydrates. These bacteria excrete acid that washes calcium and fluoride out of the enamel. The carbohydrate source for bacteria is not only sweets or chocolate, but also bread, cakes, fruit, white rice, or pasta. Therefore, avoiding sweets doesn’t completely protect against cavities.
2. If a tooth doesn't hurt, it means it's cavity-free
Many people consider the absence of pain a sign of optimal oral hygiene, but this is a dangerous misconception. Cavities in their early stages (in the form of a white spot) and superficial damage to the enamel are completely painless because there are no nerve endings in the enamel. Pain and sensitivity only occur when the infection penetrates deeper into the dentin or even to the dental nerve. Therefore, the absence of symptoms is no guarantee that no damage has occurred.
3. Baby teeth in children can go untreated
Some parents believe that there is no need to treat baby teeth since they will fall out anyway. In fact, infection progresses much faster in a baby tooth than in a permanent tooth and can easily spread to deeper tissues. Beneath the root of a baby tooth lies the germ of a permanent tooth, which can be damaged or die due to untreated cavities. Moreover, the premature removal of a damaged baby tooth can lead to jaw shift and later to a misaligned bite.
4. Cavities can’t develop under a filling
Placement of a filling repairs the immediate damage, but it doesn’t completely protect the tooth from bacteria. Over time, the filling material wears down, shrinks naturally, and microscopic cracks form at the interface between the filling and the enamel. With inadequate oral hygiene, bacteria can easily penetrate under the filling and cause secondary cavities, which often go unnoticed for a long time and destroy the tooth from the inside out.
5. Thorough brushing guarantees complete protection against cavities
Good oral hygiene with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss significantly reduces the risk of cavities, but it does not offer 100% protection. Susceptibility to tooth decay is influenced by many factors, including genetic characteristics of enamel composition, density and quality of saliva, the anatomical shape of the tooth fissures, the presence of systemic diseases, and the oral flora. Even people with perfect oral hygiene need regular checkups and professional preventative care.
6. Tooth extraction is the best way to get rid of tooth decay permanently
Some patients believe that with deep decay, it is cheaper and easier to remove a tooth than to treat it. However, the loss of a single tooth triggers a chain reaction: neighboring teeth shift into the resulting gap, bone tissue recedes, chewing is impaired, and the temporomandibular joints are overloaded. Preserving one's own tooth through timely root canal in Bushwick is always a priority in modern dentistry.
7. Tooth decay can be cured with home remedies and mouthwashes
Neither home remedies, herbal infusions, propolis, nor special toothpastes can restore already damaged tooth structure. If a cavity has already formed, it can only be treated by the mechanical removal of the bacteria-damaged tissue and a filling at the dentist's office. Home remedies only mask the problem and give the bacteria time to penetrate deeper into the tooth.
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