Flourish Health & Wellbeing Magazine - Dec23 - Flipbook - Page 19
MYTH FOUR
Tooth whitening kits off the pharmacy shelf are OK to
use unsupervised.
THE TRUTH: If you haven’t had your mouth checked by a den琀椀st
recently, you won’t know if you have an untreated crack, cavity, exposed
root or other problem you can’t feel. If the bleach escapes from the
standard-sized bleach tray that comes with o昀昀 the shelf whitening kits, and
it gets into that untreated area, you could su昀昀er real pain in your teeth or gums.
It’s always advisable to get your teeth checked 昀椀rst and even be琀琀er to get them whitened with a
den琀椀st’s supervision, either in a clinic or at home with a den琀椀st-supplied kit as they can monitor
your progress.
MYTH FIVE
Brushing once a day is enough.
THE TRUTH: This is not the case. One study showed that on average, less than
half of dental plaque was removed when bushing with a manual toothbrush
for 2 minutes. With so li琀琀le plaque removed and it then building up
again throughout the day, brushing teeth twice a day is
recommended to keep control of plaque levels.
MYTH SIX
Charcoal toothpaste is healthy for teeth.
THE TRUTH: This is not the case for all toothpastes or
powders containing charcoal. A 2019 report in the Bri琀椀sh
Dental Journal showed that for people with periodontal disease
(gum disease a昀昀ec琀椀ng the gums, bone and ligaments that hold the
teeth in place), there was the poten琀椀al for charcoal par琀椀cles to collect
under the gums and cause the gum 琀椀ssue to appear grey/black in colour, or
build up in the grooves of the teeth or surface defects on white 昀椀llings. Needless
to say if this happens at the front of your mouth it will show!
The report also found that 92% of charcoal toothpastes or powders included in the study didn’t
contain 昀氀uoride and that the charcoal could be abrasive and may cause wear of the tooth surface.