Eight Things Your Orthodontists or Dentists Won’t Tell You

I would like to share a few interesting facts that you may/may not know about oral hygiene. Here are 8 secrets that your orthodontists and dentists won’t tell you, in most cases.

1- Most orthodontists won’t tell you that teeth that are improperly aligned can actually cause migraine headaches. If your teeth are misaligned, jaw muscles have to work more while chewing. This causes headaches.

2- If you bleach your teeth too often, teeth enamel can get damaged. Did your orthodontists/dentists warn you about this?

3- Most orthodontists/dentists admit that if parents leave the milk bottle in the baby’s mouth while he/she sleeps, it can cause dental problems in the future. Orthodontists say that this is the primary cause of baby tooth decay.

4- Almost all orthodontists agree that tongue piercing is a terrible idea. The risks of infection are very high. Sometimes, small portions of the tongue have to be removed, if the infection is too severe.

 A white smile!

5- If your child is getting distracted at school and lacks concentration, it could be due to toothaches. This again is something most orthodontists know, but don’t really get a chance to tell parents.

6- If your orthodontists have not told you how to get rid of sensitive teeth post-whitening, this is how. Use a fluoride gel/rinse, both, before and after the teeth whitening process.

7- One of the first signs of Diabetes is frequently bleeding gums. So if your dentists/orthodontists don’t tell you things like these, you know now. To get more information about Diabetes, check this article on how to Reduce the risk of Diabetes using Green tea.

8- To reduce the bad bacteria in your mouth, chew gum that has xylitol (a sugar substitute that is found in certain chewing gums). This again is something your orthodontists may not tell you.

Chew xylitol based gum

Remember, dental hygiene is very important so don’t postpone trips to the orthodontist/dentist.

Also, remember that brushing everyday is just not enough. Brushing and flossing everyday are necessary. Visit your orthodontist every few months. (It is said 6 months, but sooner is fine too.)

Source: Reader’s Digest rd-india.com; October 2009