How many of these dental myths have you heard before? And how many of them do you believe?

You only need a dentist when your teeth hurt

One of the difficulties of dental disease is the fact that many conditions can often begin and worsen over time without many signs or symptoms. Even if you are not experiencing any pain, it is still recommended to see your dentist twice per year for a thorough examination so that you can get on top of any dental issues which can often be asymptomatic yet still need urgent treatment. If any conditions are not addressed early, you may require more complex and expensive treatment and be at risk of permanent tooth loss. The old saying “prevention is better than a cure” could not be any truer.

Flossing creates spaces between your teeth

Flossing correctly does not create spaces between your teeth, in fact flossing helps prevent dental decay and gum disease in areas where your toothbrush cannot reach. When you initially start flossing you may notice some bleeding which indicates build-up of inflammation in the area, but a few weeks of steady flossing will often resolve this.

Baby teeth don’t need to be brushed

Arguably baby teeth are the most important of all! They provide the space for adult teeth to come through in alignment and any premature loss of baby teeth may result in inadequate space for the adult dentition to grow through, hence causing crowding and the need for time consuming orthodontic correction later in life. If a baby tooth is infected, it may also cause defects in the corresponding adult tooth, making it more prone to infection when it comes through. It is vital that you take care of your child’s baby teeth, and if they are

It has been long proven that cutting down on sugar can have all-round benefits for your health. Excessive sugar consumption has been linked to heart disease, obesity, diabetes as well as bone problems such as osteoporosis. Apart from your bodily health, high sugar diets can also have an immense impact on your oral health.

The higher your sugar intake is, the higher your chance of developing oral disease. And with almost half of all Australian adults exceeding the World Health Organisation’s recommendation for sugar intake¹, it is no surprise that research shows more than 1 in 3 Australian adults have undetected tooth decay, which makes this condition the most prevalent form of oral disease.

How does sugar affect your dental health?

It is important to understand that sugar (in any form) does not damage your teeth, it is the complex process whereby the natural bacteria in your mouth digest your dietary sugars to produce an acidic biproduct on your teeth. Without brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, this acid will dissolve the protective enamel layer on your teeth and result in dental caries (decay).

If dental decay isn’t managed early enough, it may result in cavities in your teeth and lead to infection of the pulp (nerve) of the tooth, after which your dentist may recommend a filling or root canal treatment to resolve the problem.

Often at times, dental decay can progress with little to no symptoms, which allows cavities to form and teeth to become infected long before you can feel anything, which is why routine examinations and x-rays are recommended to catch this early.

If bacteria in your mouth is not removed in time, it can also spread to the gums, leading to irritation and periodontal (gum) disease. The early