Many people in Mississauga are highly informed about their dental health, and St. Lawrence Dentistry would like to be another resource for you.
However, just like any subject, there are myths. It’s important to dispel some of these untruths as they can unnecessarily create confusion about dentistry and what people should do to maintain their oral health.
Myth: Cavities are caused only by refined sugar.
Truth: Dental decay forms around the presence of dental plaque, a combination of bacteria, acid, saliva, and food particles. Carbohydrates are foods for the mouth bacteria, which secrete acid. It is this acid which the main culprit of tooth decay. Examples of carbohydrate-containing foods are rice, potatoes, fruits, slices of bread, and vegetables. Eating simple, refined sugars is a risk factor for dental decay, but many nutritious foods are also. Acidic foods such as citrus fruits and juices or soft drinks are not the cause of cavities, but they will damage your enamel leading to tooth decay. Acids can weaken your tooth and damage the enamel. Losing the tooth’s enamel protection and exposing the dentin will increase your susceptibility to decay. The key is to practice proper home care. Make sure plaque is not sitting on your teeth, and any acid exposure is limited.
To learn more about fixing cavities at St. Lawrence Dentistry, please visit us here:
White Fillings Mississauga On
Myth: Kids Are a Lot More Likely to Get Cavities Than Adults.
Truth: Sealants, fluoridated water, and preventive care have helped cut decay in school-aged children by half in the last 20 years. However, in the case of senior citizens, there has been an increased incidence of cavities. Its caused by different circumstances, such as the effects of medicines that cause the mouth to be dry by reducing saliva production. Saliva helps fight tooth decay because it neutralizes acids. In addition, many older adults have bone loss around their teeth which means the roots of their teeth are exposed. In this circumstance, it is very easy to get root decay on teeth, which can be more challenging to fix.
To learn more about “Dry Mouth”, please visit our blog article:
Dry Mouth: Causes, Symptoms, Prevention And Treatment
Myth: Aspirin Placed Next to a Tooth Will Help a Toothache.
Truth: Only ingested Aspirin will help reduce toothache pain. If you place Aspirin beside the tooth, you can burn your gum tissue because Aspirin is acidic. Aspirin is almost as strong as stomach acid, and you should not place it on the tissue next to a tooth. It’s meant for swallowing, just as the instructions laid out by Health Canada indicate. You can create a large hole in your gums, creating a medical emergency for yourself by doing this.
Myth: All Fillings Eventually Need Replacing.
Truth: Newer Composite resin while filling material is durable if used properly. It is pretty common for these fillings to last many decades. However, proper technique is essential during their placement. Dr. Hawryluk will ensure the engineering of your white filling restoration to the highest standards. If a white filling does have some breakdown around it, most of them only need to be repaired or resurfaced. In other words, the whole filling does not need to be drilled out, just the section breaking down.
Please visit us here to learn about modern white filling material:
Advantages Of Premium Dental Filling Products
Myth: If You Have a Cavity, You’ll Know It.
Truth: There are usually no symptoms with mild tooth decay. Only when tooth decay is in a more advanced stage does pain manifest. In deeper decay, the breakdown has reached the area around the dental nerve, which causes you to feel the pain associated with cavities. If you wait for the symptoms to manifest, tooth decay has already advanced, and it can lead to more extensive dental procedures. It is the reason why we recommend Dr. Hawryluk regularly check your teeth.
Myth: Every Dental Crown (Cap) needs a root canal treatment first.
Truth: If possible, Dr. Hawryluk will try and do porcelain dental crowns without getting involved in root canal treatment. Statistics show that only about 25% of teeth needing dental crowns will need root canal treatment. Dr. Hawryluk will carefully assess your situation to see if you can do your dental crown without root canal treatment. If you have extremely deep decay on the tooth in question, or if the tooth is very sensitive, there may be a higher probability you could need root canal treatment on those teeth planned for a dental crown.
To learn more about dental crowns, please visit us here:
Dental Crowns And Bridges Mississauga On
Myth: Root canals are painful.
Truth: Most root canal procedures are painless. Some patients fall asleep at our office during this procedure. Dr. Hawryluk will ensure the placement of an adequate local anesthetic. We often use Ativan (lorazepam), which gives a nice relaxing feeling. Dr. Hawryluk did say that about 5% of teeth in which local anesthetic can take more time to set in for root canal procedures. We call them “hot teeth”. For situations like this, Dr. Hawryluk uses a different delivery system for local anesthetic called X-Tip, which is highly effective. Rest assured, we will make your dental visit comfortable.
To learn more about root canal treatment at our Mississauga Office, please visit us here:
Microscope-Assisted Root Canals – What To Expect
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