True or false: three myths busted

Everyone’s got one or two habits that they wish they didn’t have. However we’ve heard a couple of myths recently that we feel need to be discussed. So here’s our take on three statements we’ve heard people make over the last couple of months.

Number 1
Scrubbing your teeth when brushing will cause damage.
This one is actually true. When we ask people how they brush their teeth, more than a handful of them will tell or show us that they scrub really hard to “remove all the buildup”. Unfortunately scrubbing away at your teeth is actually harmful and can cause enamel wear, gum recession and increase tooth sensitivity. On top of all these disadvantages, it’s not an efficient way of removing plaque either. If you’re feeling a little confused as to what is the best brushing technique, don’t panic. All you have to do is simply book an appointment with our hygienist who will be more than happy to show you the best brushing technique for your teeth.

Number 2
Sipping drinks causes less damage to your teeth
It may surprise you to find out that this statement is false. In fact, you would be much better downing a drink in regards to your oral health. With recent news highlighting the sugar content in some of the nation’s favourite drinks, you’re probably aware that they are very bad for your teeth. If you sip on a drink, it increases the time that sugar is in contact with the surfaces and therefore can increase levels of tooth decay. It can take up to an hour for the mouth to recover after a small amount of sugary liquid is drank; therefore sipping a drink is similar to your teeth bathing in sugar.

Our advice? Stick to water or milk wherever possible and if you do have a sugary drink, don’t sip it.

Number 3
Chewing gum is bad for your teeth
This is false. Chewing gum can actually have a positive effect on your teeth. Let us explain: When you chew gum, the action stimulates saliva which can somewhat counteract the harmful effect that sugar can have on your teeth. This positive effect is time-limited though as the person must chew the gum almost immediately after eating sugar. When choosing your gum, try to pick a sugar free one, preferably with the ingredient xylitol in it which has a very mild anti-decay property to it.

Whilst chewing gum isn’t essential after every meal, it may make a significant difference to those who like to graze or snack throughout the day. We like to keep a pack with us, just in case we fancy an afternoon snack.