Not a lot of people have been educated about oral health. Mostly, they rely on old wives tales to cure or prevent periodontal diseases and tooth decay. But contrary to popular clich©, what you do not know might actually hurt you. As a matter of fact, these seemingly benign misinformation could cost you a hefty sum on periodontitis treatment as well as sky high dental bills due to tooth decay and dental cavities. But it’s never too late to educate yourself. Here are just a couple of popular oral health myths which have been debunked by recent studies.

According to old wives tales, bleeding gums are a normal occurrence. However, while vigorous brushing and flossing and eating hard food can indeed hurt the gums, gums that bleed spontaneously or frequently can also be a sign of periodontal disease. This is most especially true if it is accompanied by redness and inflammation. If your gums are bleeding spontaneously, you may want to visit your dentist right away so he can administer or prescribe the appropriate periodontal disease treatment, depending on the severity of your gum infection.

Another common misconception is that flossing is unnecessary. This is supported by the recent consesus that only about 13.5% of the American population floss daily. But what the other 86.5% don’t know is that flossing help clear out the food particles stuck between teeth or in areas where toothbrushes can’t reach. These spaces are the breeding ground of for bacteria that is why keeping them clean is important. Consider brushing, flossing and gargling the “Holy Trinity” of oral health. Without these three, you are increasing your chances of getting periodontal disease by three fold. That is why maintaining good oral hygiene practices is crucial to protect you against early teeth loss as well as the other health complications connected with periodontal diseases.

Lastly, Another common misconception is that gum diseases are caused solely by bad oral hygiene practices. While it is true that poor oral hygiene can increase your chances of getting periodontal disease, there are other factors which could increase your predispostion to get gum infection. Case in point, smoking and using other tobacco products can increase your likelyhood of getting gingivitis or periodontitis.

Tobacco hardens the plaque into tartar, thus allowing bacteria to wreak more havoc on your gum tissues. Other than that, stress and frequently drinking can weaken your immune system, thus making susceptible to infection, including periodontal diseases. Hence, it is not only important to maintain good oral hygiene practices but also maintain a healthy lifestyle and diet to protect yourself against the debilitating effects of periodontal diseases.