A Dental Office in La Mesa Debunks Popular Oral Health Myths
As a dental office in La Mesa, we treat patients who are in need of emergency care, routine dental treatments, and preventative care. Regardless of why you come to our office, if you are experiencing discomfort, we will identify what the issue is, treat it, and discuss ways that you can prevent it from occurring again. Very often, this involves refuting common oral health care myths. Things like “milk is good for the teeth” has led parents to send their babies and children to bed with a bottle or cup of milk. Since there is a lot of sugar in milk, this leads to baby bottle tooth decay in countless toddlers. Common myths, while seemingly harmless, can significantly impact your oral health. For this reason, we have compiled a list of oral health myths and our responses to them.
Myth – Diet soda is okay for the teeth.
While we recommend drinking things low in sugar, diet soda has not solved the entire problem. Soda is full of acid, and when you place acid on your teeth, it can lead to erosion. You only have a set amount of enamel, and once it has eroded, it will not grow back. This makes it important to watch what you expose your teeth to and that includes diet soda. We recommend that you limit how much of it you drink and that you rinse your mouth with water after doing so. If you drink a lot of soda, you should also brush three times a day with a fluoride toothpaste to strengthen your teeth and visit our dental office in La Mesa for regular teeth cleanings.
Myth – Men are the only ones who get oral cancer.
The largest group of people who are diagnosed with oral cancer are men over the age of fifty. For this reason, many people assume that this is a male exclusive disease. It is not. Both men and women can get oral cancer, and it does not matter how old you are. In fact, one of the leading causes of oral cancer is the HPV virus, so if you have been diagnosed with it, be sure to have regular cancer screenings. For more information on oral cancer, schedule an appointment with our dental office in La Mesa.
Myth – If you did not get cavities as a child, you will not get them as an adult.
Your oral health as a child can indicate how healthy your teeth will be going forward. However, it is up to you to keep them that way by brushing and flossing regularly, receiving ongoing dental care, and eating a healthy diet. Your oral health and the condition of your mouth will change with age, so you cannot take your health for granted. Additionally, things like medications can increase your risk of developing cavities if it gives you dry mouth.
Oral health, like all aspects of your health, is complicated, and it is best to receive your advice from an expert. To have your questions answered, call and schedule an examination with our dental office.