Commonly Misunderstood Dental Facts
- Posted on: Nov 15 2018
Understanding more about what we do, and learning more about your teeth can help you ask better, more well-informed questions when you come to see us. Also, if you have children, you may be interested in learning more about how baby teeth differ from adult teeth.
Sugar is Sugar
First, let us get this out of the way, sugar is not good for your teeth! That we do not want to question. But, what’s interesting is that we’re learning more about sugar and cavities.
It’s not so much the amount of sugar you eat, but how often you eat it that determines your risk of developing cavities. How often your teeth are exposed to sugar is more important than how much you eat it. When you munch on that leftover Halloween candy, it takes the bacteria in your mouth about 20 seconds to convert that sugar to acid, which then lasts for about 30 minutes. Essentially, think about the time the acid stays on the surface of your teeth. If you eat a handful of candy all at once, it’s actually better for your teeth than just eating a few pieces over a longer period of time.
Baby Teeth Don’t Need Brushing
Unfortunately, that’s not true. Setting your child up with proper dental hygiene habits before they get their adult teeth is key to helping them understand how to keep their teeth healthy. Chances are it will be harder to teach your child to brush their teeth every day when they have their adult teeth if you try to start instilling brushing habits then.
Sensitive Teeth Mean Cavities
If you have a sensitivity, you may start to panic, thinking you have a cavity. Yes, sensitivities can sometimes hint at cavities or broken teeth, but not always. Get your tooth checked by your dentist, but understand that it may not mean anything serious. You may just need to buy a new toothpaste and start brushing more gently.
Interested in learning more about teeth, or looking to schedule a visit? Call us at (610) 861-0190 for our Bethlehem location or (610) 973-2090 for our Allentown location.
Posted in: Dental Health