A Colorado Springs Dentist Busts Major Myths About Oral Health, PART 3

Using sound logic and expert advice, this four-part article series dispels some of the most common myths surrounding oral health and dental treatment.

Welcome to the third installment of this four-part article series on the most common myths on dental health. In Part 2, an experienced ColoradoSprings dentist dispelled the following two myths:

Myth # 3: If it’s not broken, why fix it?

First of all, it takes experience and expertise to be the real judge of whether it’s broken or not and secondly, early intervention is far better and far cheaper.

Myth # 4: It’s normal for your gums to bleed when you brush or floss.

Gums that are weakened by infection will tear more easily and bleed. So bleeding gums may be an indicator of gum disease, which is definitely not normal. Alternatively, you may be brushing too hard, so invest in a softer toothbrush and ease up on the pressure.

Let’s move along and take a look at the next two common misconceptions…

Myth # 5: If dental insurance doesn’t cover it, it’s probably not worth considering.

“Medical aid and dental insurance companies are, at the end of the day, businesses. They’re there to make money, so they are not going to offer full coverage for the latest, most sophisticated and cutting-edge dental treatments available,” explains a Colorado Springs oral surgeon. “If they did, they’d go bankrupt in a day. What you will find is that dental insurance offers SOME coverage for advanced dental treatment, while offering substantial coverage for older, more conventional treatments that have been regarded as the standard of care for many years, if not decades.

“Your dentist – or at least a good dentist – will not allow dental insurance to dictate to them what treatment they recommend to you, their patient. Rather, he or she will recommend to you what they see as the best treatment to help your oral health recover optimally. It’s unfortunate that there is often a schism between the best solution and the most affordable solution and this may become a problem, especially if you are looking into teeth replacement,” explains the Colorado Springs dentist.

“Dental implants may offer the best, most functional and long-term treatment available for the replacement of missing teeth, but few dental insurance companies cover them. Instead, they tend to provide funding for bridges or dentures, which are cheaper, but far less advantageous. Shop around for dental insurance and make sure you know what you’re liable to be covered for!”

Myth # 6: Tooth loss is normal consequence of getting older.

“If you’re in good oral and general health, there’s absolutely no reason why you shouldn't make it to your 80’s and 90’s with all of your original dentition intact,” say Colorado Springs oral surgeons. “Tooth loss is a consequence of poor oral hygiene, gum disease, smoking and illnesses such as cancer and diabetes; it’s not caused by getting older. If you look after yourself and your teeth properly, you should be able to enjoy a beautiful, natural smile for most of your life.”

Stay Tuned for Part 4

To read about more major myths that could potentially be disastrous for your oral health, stay tuned for the final installment of this four-part article series.