Debunking Common Myths About Tooth Enamel

By Your Health Magazine

Your Health Magazine

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Debunking Common Myths About Tooth Enamel

The dental world has been surrounded by myths for centuries. You’ve heard, “An apple a day keeps the dentist away,” but it’s easy to see through that old rhyme and recognize it’s not entirely accurate. Yes, apples are great for your teeth, but if you don’t care for them outside of that “one apple,” your oral health isn’t going to stay healthy.

What about the rest of the myths that make it into our homes and minds as true?

Here are some of the most pervasive stories that we pass down to our children and loved ones that aren’t true about tooth enamel and your oral health, and what you need to know to debunk them.

Scrubbing Your Teeth Cleans Them Best

Picture a large rock on the edge of a beach. The rock never moves, but the water continues lapping over it for hundreds of years. Over time, the hard rock layers will begin to erode. Your enamel, although it’s harder than bone, does the same thing through the process of abrasion and erosion. 

Abrasion, in particular, is caused by aggressive brushing, chewing on hard objects, and using hard-bristled toothbrushes. Erosion occurs when acids from food, drink, and stomach secretions remain on the enamel of the teeth for too long, weakening it. 

The harder you scrub, the faster you wear down the enamel, and the general erosion process of eating and drinking is already at work behind the scenes. To protect your teeth, it’s best to brush your teeth in gentle circles using a soft-bristle toothbrush. 

Brushing Once a Day is Enough

Your mouth accumulates bacteria and acids as you eat, drink, and sleep. When it stays on your enamel too long, it turns into plaque and tartar — the very things that cause tooth decay and bad breath.

There’s no way to get rid of bacteria entirely, and you wouldn’t want to. Healthy microbes play an essential role in keeping your body functioning. But these microorganisms need to be contained; without regular brushing, they take over. Harmful bacteria cause dental problems from cavities to gum disease, and, left untreated, can enter the bloodstream and cause infections and other systemic problems.

Minimizing this problem is easy. Brush twice a day for two minutes at a time; once in the morning after sleeping to reduce the bacteria that thrive in your mouth overnight, and once before bed to clean up your teeth after a full day of eating and drinking. Consider using a timer or buying an automatic toothbrush that shuts off after two minutes to ensure you’re brushing long enough.

You Don’t Need to Use Fluoride Toothpaste

This myth is challenging to combat because it’s grounded in a part-truth. Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens tooth enamel, but in excessive doses it can be dangerous. There are times when avoiding fluoride is wise, such as in young children who tend to swallow toothpaste, or in people with medical conditions that react adversely to the mineral. Check with your doctor if you’re concerned about your fluoride intake.

In general, though, fluoride is an essential mineral that keeps your teeth strong. We don’t have enough of it in our bodies to protect our teeth, so it comes from external sources, such as certain types of drinking water and toothpaste. Switching to natural remedies that contain baking soda or hydrogen peroxide can help keep your teeth clean, but they lack the protective layer that fluoride provides.

Once Your Enamel is Gone, It’s Gone

You only have one layer of tooth enamel, and, like the rock we mentioned earlier, it can wear away. If this erosion is left untreated for too long, it becomes irreversible. But the fact behind this myth isn’t entirely accurate: In its early stages, small levels of enamel erosion may be reversible with dental care. 

Your dentist will need to remove all the plaque, tartar, and bacteria. After that, you’ll likely receive a fluoride treatment and suggestions on “feeding” your teeth nutrients that help remineralize the enamel. This article by JS Dental Lab explains more about how to keep your enamel healthy. However, once decay sets in and reaches the sensitive inner layers of the tooth, there’s no reversing the problem. 

Conclusion

Many of the myths surrounding dental care, like the proverbial apple a day, are grounded in half-truths, making them more challenging to debunk. With the whole story behind those familiar tales, you’ll be able to pass along the information confidently in the knowledge that you’re sharing truth with those you care about the most.