Busting common oral health myths

There’s a lot of misinformation around the best ways to keep your mouth healthy – and for Dental Health Week (August 5-11) the Australian Dental Association (ADA) wants people to be aware of the very close link between what happens in the mouth and its knock-on effect on the rest of the body.

Here are some of the most common mouth myths the ADA hears about – along with the right way to do things so your mouth and whole body will thank you.

1. Myth: What goes on in my mouth won’t affect the rest of my body.

Truth: Dental researchers have found mountains of evidence to show how oral health affects the rest of your body, particularly in relation to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, stroke, asthma and low birthweight babies where gum disease is not only a risk factor for these conditions, but also a factor in causing these conditions. For example, research has shown that people with untreated gum disease (also known as periodontitis) have a 2.5 times increased risk of having a heart attack compared to the same group of people without untreated gum disease.

2. Myth: It doesn’t matter what toothpaste you use, so long as you brush.

Truth: There’s a whole industry of wellness products filling supermarket shelves – but without fluoride, the toothpaste may not provide optimum protection. There’s a very large body of evidence showing that fluoride toothpastes prevent more tooth decay than non-fluoride toothpastes. It’s in our water too and Australian studies show this reduces tooth decay in children by 26 per cent to 44 per cent, and 27 per cent in adults. Tooth decay is a largely preventable disease, and the addition of fluoride to 89 per cent of Australian water is a substantial help in preventing decay.

3. Myth: The longer you brush, the cleaner your teeth will be.

Truth: If you’ve done it correctly, two minutes will do the job. Brushing beyond that time isn’t needed if you’ve done a thorough job during the recommended two-minute period.

4. Myth: Brushing once a day is enough.

Truth: This is not the case. One study showed that on average, less than half of dental plaque was removed when bushing with a manual toothbrush for 2 minutes. With so little plaque removed and it then building up again throughout the day, brushing teeth twice a day is recommended to control plaque levels.

5. Myth: Charcoal toothpaste is healthy for teeth.

Truth: This is not the case for all toothpastes or powders containing charcoal. A report in the British
Dental Journal showed that for people with gum disease, there was the potential for charcoal particles to collect under the gums and cause the gum tissue to appear grey/black in colour, or build up in the grooves of the teeth or surface defects on white fillings. Needless to say if this happens at the front of your mouth it will show! The report also found that most charcoal toothpastes in the study didn’t contain fluoride and that the charcoal may cause wear of the tooth surface.

6. Myth: Brushing alone will keep teeth and gums healthy.

Truth: Studies show brushing removes only 60 per cent of detritus and plaque on the teeth – you need to also clean between your teeth every day, in addition to twice-daily brushing which can’t reach these areas no matter how well you do it. Cleaning between the teeth with interdental brushes or floss helps keep gums healthy – gums are hugely important as they’re a part of the foundation that holds the teeth in place.

7. Myth: I can eat something sweet so long as I brush straight after.

Truth: After eating or drinking something containing sugar, only rinse your mouth with water straight after as it can take at least an hour for your teeth to recover from acid attacks caused by sugar. So wait that 60 minutes before brushing as doing it any sooner may damage the tooth enamel softened by sugar.

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.