Preserve Those Teeth!

Dos, Don’ts and Myths Busted!

In our daily practice we come across so many queries and doubts and fears and most of them turn out to be nothing but myths! Dr. Nilofer Currawalla, Parsi Times Guest Columnist and Orthodontist, addresses and busts relevant dental myths.

Myth: Removal of teeth (especially on the upper-jaw) causes headaches / altered vision.
Fact: Pain is transmitted through nerves. The nerves connected to your eyes and teeth are totally different and unrelated! There’s no scientific basis for headaches or impaired vision.
Do: Get that tooth extracted, after sound advice and counsel from your dentist.
Don’t: Follow your dentist blindly – always clarify your doubts and queries.

Myth: Professional cleaning of teeth loosens the teeth
Fact: Teeth are held in position by bone. If cleaning is not done regularly, the bone levels start dropping and teeth are held in position by plaque and calculus instead! If this tartar gets beyond control, cleaning makes the teeth slightly mobile, however with proper care (as mentioned in the previous two articles), teeth will strengthen again and can be preserved for longer.
Do: Get cleaning done regularly and follow a good oral hygiene regimen.
Don’t: Neglect an annual dental check or cleaning.

Myth: Crowning/Capping teeth after Root Canal Therapy (RCT) is not necessary.
Fact: After RCT, the tooth becomes weak as it has no blood supply left. Hence it becomes brittle and may break with time.
Do: Get a cap/crown placed within a span of a week of RCT. A well done RCT could last a lifetime or at least an average period of ten years.
Don’t: Wait to get a permanent crown for your tooth post RCT for more than a week. If this is not possible, ask your dentist for a temporary crown which prevents the teeth from the adjacent areas to shift and also maintains the shape of the RCT treated tooth.

Myth: “My parents had bad teeth and I have gone on them”
Fact: Heredity has a minor role to play when it comes to healthy teeth and gums; but a major role to play with regards the positioning of jaws and teeth. So if your parents have a big or small jaw you are more likely to have that, but the overall dental health is your responsibility. See the picture alongside, The Hapsburg family was the royal family of Germany, at one time look at the lower jaws and see the hereditary pattern of the size!
Do: If you have a problem with the size of a jaw or positioning of teeth, show your child to an Orthodontist and Dentofacial Orthopaedist, at a young age. They are trained to alter the positions of jaws at a young age, modifying the growth of a child. Post puberty, the same problems would need surgical correction.
Don’t: Show problems related to tooth and jaw positioning to a general dentist or someone from a different field of specialization. The branch of Orthodontics has developed dramatically! A common misconception is to show a general dentist with a different specialty, problems related to tooth and jaw positioning. Only an orthodontist can guide you correctly on the right treatment required. According to American Dental Association, the first Orthodontic consultation should be at 7 years of
age!

Myth: The more you brush the better it is!
Fact: Over-zealous brushing can cause the hard protective layer of enamel to wear off, causing microtubules of dentine being exposed to the oral environment, causing sensitivity.
Do: Use a soft brush, brush gently.
Don’t: Don’t brush your teeth too hard, it causes more harm than being beneficial.