Let's see what common dental myths people have about teeth.
Myth - Tooth extraction weakens eyesight.
Fact - Tooth extraction does not weaken eyesight.
Many people have common misunderstanding that tooth extraction can lead to weakened eyesight because they have the general notion that the blood supply of all the organs are connected, but this is a myth because the nerves that supply teeth and eyes are completely different, so tooth extraction cannot lead to weakened eyesight.
Myth - Applying heat will relieve toothache.
Fact - It will lead to more exacerbation of the problem.
There's a misconception about applying heat when experiencing toothache, which is a myth because if there's an infection the heat may cause the infection out leading to more swelling. Always APPLY COLD during toothaches.
MedBound Times reached out to Dr. Ali Chunawala (BDS, MDS) for his insights on the common dental myth people have related to applying heat on the offending tooth.
There is a myth that if swelling occurs cause of tooth pain, mostly everyone thinks of that swelling like the swelling or the muscle spasm they have in hands or legs and try to do hot massage or warm gargles of that particular tooth and that area but it will increase the spread of infection and cause more discomfort and make the situation worse.Dr. Ali Chunawala (BDS, MDS Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon)
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to any infection. Heat increases inflammation. Ice helps to relieve inflammation. (1)Dr. Paul Silberman, Dentist in Waldorf
Myth - Scaling weakens teeth.
Fact - It makes them healthy by removing gum disease.
There's a misconception that getting scaling done will weaken the teeth leading to more damage than doing good, but this is a myth because scaling helps in removing plaque and tartar which are responsible for gum disease, hence scaling does not weaken teeth. (2)
Medbound Times reached out to Dr. Jhanvi Vaghela (BDS, MDS) for her insights on how scaling can help in preventing gum disease.
Scaling can help strengthen the gingiva, which ultimately results in good gingival health which helps in longevity of the teeth.Dr. Jhanvi Vaghela (BDS, MDS R2 Resident Periodontics)
Myth - The longer and harder you brush the teeth, the stronger they become.
Fact - It will lead to loss of enamel over a period of time.
There's a misconception that if you brush hard and for a longer time, will lead to healthier teeth which is a myth because brushing harder will cause more damage to your enamel and gum tissue leading to tooth sensitivity, enamel loss, gum irritation, exposed dentin, and tooth loss.
Myth - Child's milk teeth are not important as permanent teeth will come.
Fact - They are equally important as they help in child's growth and development.
Milk teeth, also known as baby teeth, are not important is a MYTH because milk teeth are responsible for preserving the space for the permanent teeth and help in child's growth and development. Milk teeth act as a guiding point for the permanent teeth, when they are about to come. If a milk teeth falls out, it can lead to crowding of the permanent teeth because of the lack of space. (3)
References:
Silberman Dental Group. "Apply Heat or Cold to Toothache?" Silberman Dental Group. Accessed February 2, 2025. https://www.silbermandentalgroup.com/blog/apply-heat-or-cold-to-toothache/.
South Simcoe Dental Care. "4 Myths About Teeth Scaling." South Simcoe Dental Care. Accessed February 2, 2025. https://southsimcoedentalcare.com/4-myths-about-teeth-scaling/.
Walker Pediatric Dentistry. "Clearing Up Myths About Baby Teeth." Walker Pediatric Dentistry. Accessed February 2, 2025. https://walkerpediatricdentistry.com/blog/clearing-up-myths-about-baby-teeth/.
Silberman Dental Group. "Dr. Paul B. Silberman." Silberman Dental Group. Accessed February 2, 2025. https://www.silbermandentalgroup.com/about/dr-silberman/.
By Anam Khan