Between apprehension of pain, injections and interventions, appointments with the dentist are among the events where many go backwards. So, to no longer fear this fateful moment, professionals interviewed by the New York Times give you their advice to keep your teeth healthy.
Who has never delayed making an appointment with the dentist? And yet, the first advice that professionals would like to give you is not to wait until you have pain to consult. “It’s a common mistake. Many people regard the absence of pain as an indicator of good health, whereas periodontal disease is usually not painful at first.explains Tricia Quartey-Sagaille, spokesperson for the American Dental Association.
On the other hand, the organization does not recommend any particular frequency for checks: some people will need to make an appointment twice a year, while others will go there more regularly. The most important thing is to do at least one control a year. “The health of your mouth and that of your body are intimately linked. There is evidence showing that periodontal disease is a contributing factor to diabetes and cardiovascular disease”says Nezar Al-Hebshi, co-director of the research lab at Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry.
Victims of marketing
Everyone also agrees that you have to be wary of misleading . In this case, toothpastes containing powdered activated charcoal do not help whiten your teeth, despite what the brands suggest. A study published in 2017 in the Journal of the American Dental Association came to the conclusion that these toothpastes are only part of a fad but have no whitening effect.
Additionally, researchers have found that its abrasiveness can cause tooth hypersensitivity. But that’s not all. After one use, the carbon particles can get lodged in the gingival pockets – spaces between the tooth and the gum – and cause damage and discoloration of the teeth… Gray spots at the antipodes of the expected effects.
Another gadget that many people have purchased: an electric toothbrush. But do we really need it? According to Tien Jiang, a professor at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, “a manual toothbrush is just as effective and much less expensive”. Truthful assertion on one condition: that your brushing is complete. And for this, the American Dental Association recommends brushing for two minutes against the gum line, at a 45 degree angle.