Fact or fiction? 14 things you've always wanted to know about teeth

from Family First - Winter 2021/22

Back-to-school nutrition

Fact or fiction?

14 things you’ve always wanted to know about teeth

There have always been strange myths bounded around about teeth and dental health, but are they actually real or were they just dreamed up by exasperated parents to stop the daily teeth brushing battle?

Celebrity dentist Dr Robbie Hughes sorts the facts from the myths for some of the biggest questions around dental health and teeth

1. You have to brush your teeth twice a day for them to stay healthy

FACT: Probably unsurprising, but yes, this is a fact. You need to brush your teeth last thing before you go to bed and then ideally first thing in the morning. This removes plaque and bacteria, which prevents decay and gum disease, as well as giving you minty-fresh breath.

2. Chewing gum cleans your teeth MYTH: Unfortunately, this is a myth. It doesn’t clean your teeth, but chewing sugarfree gum does neutralise the pH in your mouth and stimulates saliva flow, which reduces the risk of tooth decay. 3. Eating cheese can protect your teeth FACT: Chewing cheese helps to rebalance the pH in your mouth, reducing acidity through the production of saliva. This not only preserves and rebuilds enamel, but also plays an important role in washing the bacteria and plaque off the teeth. Cheese also contains calcium and phosphate, both of which are essential components of healthy teeth.

4. Bad teeth are inherited FACT: Gum disease is partly genetic, but it is also affected by environmental factors such as smoking, diet and oral hygiene. If you don’t have it in the family and you look after your teeth, you should be able to avoid it as much as possible.

5. Yellow teeth means they are unhealthy MYTH: Teeth come in all different sizes and colours, and this doesn’t necessarily mean they are unhealthy. Having white teeth may be trendy, but teeth that are more yellow in colour can be just as healthy and do everything they are designed for.

6. You can’t brush your teeth for 30 minutes after eating

FACT: This is actually a really important fact. You need to allow time for your teeth to recover after you have eaten before brushing, especially if it was something sugary. Physically brushing your teeth at this time can cause damage, so instead try rinsing with mouthwash or sugar-free gum after meals to bring the pH balance down.

Chewing cheese helps to rebalance the pH in your mouth

7. Diet drinks don’t damage your teeth as sugar-filled drinks do

MYTH: Drinks marketed as ‘sugarfree’ can still be damaging to the teeth. Fizzy drinks are all carbonated, which causes tooth erosion.

8. Your teeth will get damaged during pregnancy

FACT: During pregnancy, your increased hormone levels mean that your body has an increased response to bacteria. This puts you at a higher risk of gum disease, so see your hygienist if you are suffering from bleeding gums. Pregnancy can also mean you are eating more sugary foods to combat sickness and pregnancy cravings, which can lead to tooth decay, so make sure you are keeping up good oral hygiene twice a day. Don’t forget that all NHS dental work is free while you are pregnant and in the first year after your baby is born, so be sure to make the most of it.

9. The best way to deal with a knocked-out tooth is to jam it back into the hole

FACT: If you get a tooth knocked out, pick it up, lick it clean and put it back in the hole – then get to a dentist quick sharp. If you find you are unable to put the tooth back into the hole, put it in milk and take it with you to the dentist. Make sure you never try to re-insert a baby tooth.

10. Only kids have braces

MYTH: You can have braces at any age. If you want to work on your smile or any issues such as an overbite, then the time is now. Some of the biggest stars in the world have been seen rocking metal braces and retainers, so if it’s good enough for them, why not give it a shot?

11.

Rinsing after brushing is bad/ mouthwash strips teeth of paste benefits

FACT: This is so important. After you have brushed your teeth, be sure not to rinse out with anything. Let that lovely fluoride do its job. 12. Veneers are unaffordable MYTH: They aren’t cheap, but like anything that has an impact on your life and is of high quality, it comes with a price tag. Veneers are an investment and the price is a reflection of the quality and experience of the clinician. If you are considering having dental work done, be sure to find a clinician who is registered with the UK

General Dental Council.

You need to allow time for your teeth to recover after you have eaten before brushing

13.Humans didn’t struggle with crooked teeth until agriculture came into existence

FACT: Research shows that as we have evolved our teeth have become more crooked and our jaws weaker. While there is no concrete evidence to suggest one specific reason for this, it could be numerous reasons, such as the softer texture of our food in modern times and the way we consume food with a knife and fork; also fewer babies are breastfed, which helps develop strong jaw muscles.

14. Charcoal toothpaste is better for your teeth

MYTH: AND FACT: : Unregulated charcoal toothpaste can contain large particles of charcoal, which can be abrasive and damaging to the teeth. If you want to use charcoal toothpaste to remove staining, ensure you use one that is safely formulated by a dentist.

Dr Robbie Hughes is the principal director at Dental Excellence. Find out more at:

dentalexcellenceuk.com

A simple change to help keep you healthy

Interdental brushing is a smart and hygienic choice for your health

There’s nothing to focus the mind on your long-term health goals like having children in the house. For many of us that means thinking about keeping fit, but before you dash out to hit the gym, you might want to pause to think about your oral health too. Because good oral hygiene isn’t just a matter of looking after your smile. Gum disease has been linked to broader health issues, including cardiovascular disease. Which means it’s worth putting on your list of healthy habits.

Now, you might be thinking that you’ve already got this covered. And of course, brushing twice a day and regular visits to the dentist are great. But have you considered that your toothbrush only reaches up to 60% of the surface of your teeth? The other 40% can only be cleaned by getting in-between the teeth. That’s why TePe has spent so many years perfecting the Interdental Brush, your teeth just aren’t completely clean without them.

Boots Expert/TePe interdental brushes have been designed in collaboration with dental professionals using carefully selected materials to give the very highest levels of comfort and safety for your teeth and gums. They come in a range of sizes with a simple colour-coding system that makes it easy to find the size that fits your teeth perfectly, so you get the best possible clean. Your dental hygienist can help you find the right size.

Boots Expert/TePe believes that achieving the highest standards of oral health doesn’t have to come at the cost of the planet.

They have put years of research into reducing their environmental impact without compromising the clinical levels of performance. As well as powering their factory with solar energy and reducing plastic in packaging, TePe use the mass balancing approach to replace non-renewable materials with European pine oil. This reduces the carbon footprint of their interdental brushes by 80%.

So, you can add interdental brushing from Boots Expert/TePe to your routine knowing that it’s a smart, hygienic and responsible choice. It’s also a simple change that can help get your teeth up to 100% clean and helps maintain your health.