Studies continue to show a connection to your oral and overall health. That’s why our team at Beck Dental Care wants to do all we can to help you achieve and maintain healthy teeth and gums.

That all starts with being informed. We hope that by debunking the dental myths in today’s blog will help in that effort. If you want to learn more about the topics we cover, Dr. Beck and all of us here in our Columbia, TN dental office are happy to assist you! Schedule an appointment with us for a

dental cleaning and exam

so we can make sure your oral health is on track.

Myth: I’m not in pain, so I don’t have dental problems.

Pain certainly isn’t fun, but it is meaningful. It’s your body’s way of letting you know that something is wrong. When you have a toothache, you know it’s time to get the help of a dental professional.

But not every dental problem is preceded by some kind of pain. Tooth decay, plaque and tartar buildup, and cavities can all exist in your mouth without giving you any outward indication. You could also be suffering the early stages of gum disease for years and not know it.

The key to keeping your mouth protected against dental problems of all kinds is prevention. That means you maintain good oral hygiene at home and that you visit Beck Dental Care at least twice a year so our skilled hygienists can spot problems early before they become more serious.

Myth: It’s normal to have tender, swollen, or bleeding gums.

Many people believe this myth, and it could be why gum disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss. The fact is, tenderness, swelling, or bleeding of the gums is not normal and could actually be symptoms of periodontal disease.

If you’re seeing blood when you brush or floss your teeth, something is wrong. A dental professional has the skills, training, and equipment to detect gum disease in its earliest stages and help reverse it.

If you wait too long, however, and think changes in your gums don’t mean anything, you could be putting yourself at a higher risk of tooth loss, or worse.

Myth: Snoring is annoying, but not serious.

While snoring is definitely annoying at times, it could actually be more serious than that. If you snore loudly every once in awhile, it’s not really a big deal. After all, there can be many causes for snoring such as alcohol, prescription medication, or just fatigue in general.

But if you’re snoring loudly night after night, it could mean that you have what’s called sleep apnea, a condition where your airways close off and on throughout the night. This not only leads to daytime tiredness and irritability, but it can have serious ramifications for your overall health as well.

Beck Dental Care offers treatment for sleep apnea so you can get the rest you need and protect your health.

Myth: Dentures are the only tooth replacement solution.

If you’ve had to rely on dentures to replace your missing teeth, you’re quite familiar with the ways it limits your life. Dentures rest on your gumline with the help of adhesives, which can be messy and ineffective. You have to restrict your diet to only foods that are easy to chew so you don’t have to worry about your dentures shifting or slipping while you eat.

Denture wearers also have to deal with deterioration of the jawbone and the resulting changes to their facial structure. Fortunately, we offer dental implants at Beck Dental Care, the strongest option in modern tooth replacement.

Implants replace your tooth root and fuse to your own jawbone, which helps you preserve your facial structure and your bite force. You can also use dental implants to stabilize your dentures.

Myth: Orthodontics are a young person’s game.

With Six Month Smiles at Beck Dental Care, you can have a beautifully straight smile without having to endure traditional metal braces that are most popular among teens. Adults find this an ideal treatment because it’s fast, effective, and less noticeable due to the clear braces and tooth-colored wires that are hard to spot at a glance.

Make An Appointment

Believing these dental myths can put your smile and your health at risk. Let our team at Beck Dental Care give you the right information and tools to keep your teeth and gums their healthiest!

Call us today at (931) 388-8452 or fill out our

online form

to schedule an appointment.