On February 17, 2023, the New York TImes published an article entitled, “What Dentists Wish You Knew.” It’s a great article on things you probably already knew, and a gentle reminder about things you may have forgotten. First rule of dental care (hint: it isn’t, “Don’t talk about dental care!”) is that you need to regularly go to your dentist. This is especially so, as the article points out, because often with periodontal diseases, there is no pain until small problems turn into big ones. We invite you to read the article in the NY Times here.The piece is available by subscription only (we can’t reprint it here because it’s protected by copyright). No worries if you don’t have access to it. Here’re the highlights:
- Your gums should not bleed when you floss
- Our office can’t stress this enough: your mouth and the rest of your body are intimately connected. A growing body of research shows how your dental health can affect other parts of your body
- Charcoal toothpastes don’t whiten your teeth and can cause tooth hypersensitivity. Also, particles of charcoal can lodge in your gum pockets and cause tooth damage and discoloration
- Electric toothbrushes aren’t necessary
- Getting high before your dental exam is a bad idea because a) you can’t consent to treatment if you’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and b) drugs, like pot, may make your anxiety worse. If you took something before your visit to “take the edge off,” let us know
So, if you haven’t already done so, make an appointment today for your next exam!