9 dental myths busted

The facts you need for a healthy smile

94

From brushing your teeth for two minutes, to using coconut oil for bacteria removal – you may have heard of several ways to keep your mouth and teeth healthy. But these tips aren’t always accurate.

‘When it comes to dental care, it’s very easy to get caught up with the big complicated stuff,’ says Dr Uchenna Okoye, cosmetic dentist and clinical director at the London Smiling Dental Group. ‘Often it’s the simple things, such as the toothbrush you use, that can make all the difference.’ We look at which common dental myths are true or false.

1 YOU ONLY NEED TO SEE THE DENTIST IF YOU’RE IN PAIN FALSE

‘Gum disease and dental decay can be asymptomatic for long periods of time,’ says dental hygienist and therapist Theodora Little. ‘By the time you start to experience pain, a lot of damage may have been done and this is often irreversible. Prevention really is better than cure. By seeing a dentist or hygienist regularly, this can help to diagnose disease early, stop it in its tracks with preventative care and help you to avoid many invasive and costly treatments. Ideally, you should see your dentist at least every six to 12 months, and a hygienist every three to four months.’

2 SUPPLEMENTS CAN IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF YOUR TEETH AND GUMS TRUE

‘There are a number of key nutrients that can help to keep your mouth healthy,’ says Theodora. ‘These include vitamin C, which supports the connective tissue in your gums. A deficiency can lead to bleeding gums and gum disease. Studies also show that calcium and vitamin D can help to protect against gum disease and bone loss.’ You need calcium to keep your bones and teeth strong and vitamin D plays an important role in bone and tooth mineralisation. Research also shows that taking coenzyme Q10 supplements can help to reduce inflammation in the gums that causes gingivitis (early gum disease).

✢ TRY Solgar Vitamin D3 (£10.75 for 100 gels, solgar.co.uk). Healthspan Coenzyme Q10 (£16.95 for 60 capsules, healthspan.co.uk)

3 DENTAL PROBLEMS MAY BE A SIGN OF POOR HEALTH TRUE

‘There is an abundance of scientific research that links our mouth to other parts of the body,’ says Theodora. ‘Poor oral health can contribute to other health conditions, such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes have a three times higher risk of developing gum disease, while moderate to severe gum disease can also increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.’

She adds that dental conditions cause inflammation, which impacts the immune system, and this can lead to the development of other diseases.

4 YOU SHOULD BRUSH YOUR TEETH FOR TWO MINUTES FALSE

‘To clean teeth properly – the outer surface, the tops, sides and in between the teeth – this can take about five minutes, or longer,’ says Dr Uchenna. ‘Everything that goes wrong with teeth and gums is down to plaque. So, it’s important to keep it under control.

‘A good way to check how long to brush teeth is to use a plaque disclosing tablet. To do this, you chew a tablet and then rinse your mouth with water. This will leave residual stains (such as red or blue) that show up all the areas of plaque (sticky film of bacteria) in your mouth.’

Brush your teeth until all the staining is gone. Disclosing tablets are usually for kids, but they work just as well for adults.

✢ TRY Boots Kids Plaque Reveal Tablets (£2 for 10 tablets)

5 POOR DENTAL HYGIENE CAN LEAD TO HEALTH PROBLEMS TRUE

‘Once bacteria that causes gum disease enters the bloodstream it can travel to other parts of the body and have an effect,’ says Theodora. ‘More so, if you already have an underlying health condition such as diabetes. Research shows women with gum disease have an increased risk of premature birth as the bacteria can cross the placenta. Gum disease is an inflammatory disease, and a chronic inflammatory process can place an extra strain on the body in many ways.’

For instance, gum disease may exacerbate heart disease, as the inflammation and bacteria entering the bloodstream is thought to cause damage to blood vessels and valves in the heart.

6 IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT TOOTHBRUSH YOU USE, AS LONG AS YOU BRUSH YOUR TEETH REGULARLY FALSE

‘Your toothbrush needs to be small (to get to the back of the teeth) and of medium stiffness,’ says Dr Uchenna. ‘A hard toothbrush can be too abrasive and only use a soft one for a short time, for example, if you’ve got a mouth ulcer. Whether you opt for an electric, sonic or manual toothbrush is a matter of preference. The most important thing is you use it correctly.’

An electric toothbrush rotates at around 2,500-7,500 strokes per minute and sonic ones oscillate at about 22,000-42,000 strokes, compared with 300 strokes with a manual brush.

In a recent study*, electric toothbrushes resulted in 22% less gum recession and 18% less tooth decay over 11 years.

✢ TRY Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro Toothbrush (£149, curaprox.co.uk), which has ultra-fine gentle filaments, rather than nylon.

‘A good way to check how long to brush teeth for is to use a plaque disclosing tablet’

7 COCONUT OIL PULLING CAN MAKE TEETH HEALTHIER TRUE

Oil pulling is an Ayurvedic practice that involves swishing coconut oil in the mouth to remove bacteria and stimulate saliva. ‘For best results, this needs to be done for around 20 minutes,’ says Theodora. ‘Studies suggest that oil pulling may reduce streptococcus mutans, the bacteria involved in dental decay. It has also been shown to be as effective as a chlorhexidine mouth rinse. However, oil pulling should not replace daily oral hygiene care with a toothbrush and floss. I would only recommend oil pulling as a supplementary method.’

✢ TRY Georganics Oil Pulling Mouthwash (£6.99, hollandandbarrett.com)

8 IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT TIME OF DAY YOU BRUSH YOUR TEETH FALSE

‘You should brush your teeth at least twice a day and always before you go to bed,’ says Dr Uchenna. ‘If you’ve been eating or drinking, wait about 45 minutes before brushing your teeth. This allows saliva to buffer the effect of bacteria and bring your mouth back to a neutral state. If you brush too soon, especially after a sugary drink, there’s too much acidity in the mouth and this can erode the enamel.’

✢ TRY My Smile Whitening Toothpaste by Dr Uchenna (£17.99, londonsmiling.com). It whitens, brightens and protects without any harsh preservatives

9 OSTEOPOROSIS CAN LEAD TO TOOTH LOSS TRUE

‘Research shows that women with osteoporosis are at greater risk of tooth loss,’ says Dr Uchenna. ‘The bone in the jaw supports the teeth and when this gets less dense, this can lead to tooth loss. There are also oestrogen receptors in the mouth, which impact the production of saliva. So the drop in oestrogen during the menopause can cause a dry mouth, making you more prone to tooth decay. The best way to protect your teeth and gums is to take action (in your 30s and 40s) before you hit menopause.’ To keep bones and teeth strong:

✢ EAT A BALANCED DIET with ✢ plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, wholegrains and calcium-rich foods.

✢ MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET ENOUGH VITAMIN D – from sunlight and also your diet.

✢ DRINK IN MODERATION as alcohol can affect hormones and impact bone density.

✢ QUIT SMOKING

✢ DO REGULAR RESISTANCE

WORKOUTS as this helps to keep bones strong. Do body-weight movements or use weights to add even more resistance.

✢ TRY Dentavital Bone Complex (£16.90 for 60 capsules, cytoplan. co.uk). They contain calcium, boron magnesium, and vitamins D and K.