As kids, we have this inherent fear of visiting the dentist. Whenever we see that reclining chair in the dental clinic, we feel uneasy and twitchy. Statistics reveal that 12 percent of American adults experience anxiety when visiting the dentist. In addition, a report by the Surgeon General’s Office revealed that 4.3 percent of Americans have this fear of dentists that they simply don’t go.

It is because of these fears and anxieties that have given a bad light on the dental practice. In this article, we shall debunk several myths so that people will not be afraid whenever they search for answers to the question “Where can I find a dentist near me?” When it comes to dental health, it pays to have the correct information.

Bleaching Weakens Teeth

We all like to have pearly white teeth that sometimes brushing and flossing isn’t enough. There is a bevy of bleaching products on the market to help with maintaining healthy and white teeth. However, there is a misconception that bleaching products will do more harm to the teeth than good. The truth of the matter is that bleaching products are relatively harmless if you follow the directions for using.

Bleaching only affects the color of the teeth and not its health or strength. It removes some of the teeth’s pigmentation. You will notice that after using the bleaching product, your teeth might begin to appear translucent. You might mistake this translucency for weakening but this is not the case—it is just color change.

Brushing Harder is Better

Similar to a dirty dish or sink that you would scrub to make it squeaky clean, you would want to brush your teeth hard as well to make it sparkly clean. Brushing harder will do more harm to your teeth than good. It can damage tooth enamel, irritate gums, and can other severe oral health problems such as sensitivity and an increased chance for cavities.

Brushing Is Bad For Bleeding Gums  

If your gums are bleeding, it seems logical that you would leave them alone until they heal. On the contrary, bleeding gums is a sign that plaque and food particles are accumulating along your gum line and that the gums have become irritated and inflamed. To stop the gums from bleeding, you need to brush to remove the gunk. Also, bleeding gums is a sign that you’re flossing harshly or flossing for the first time in a while and your gums are not used to it.

Dentists recommend holding your toothbrush so that your bristles are at a 45-degree angle to your teeth with the bristles pointing toward your gums.

You Should Rinse After Brushing

After brushing teeth, we commonly practice to spit, rinse, spit, and rinse again. However, the best cleaning practices recommend passing on the rinse. Instead, you should spit on any excess toothpaste. This will allow the fluoride to continue protecting the teeth over time.

If You Don’t Have A Problem, You Don’t Need To See A Dentist

This is often a common notion among people. They only tend to see a dentist until they have a problem. When it comes to your teeth, the best way to prevent a problem is to visit your dentist at least twice a year.