Dental problems have existed as long as teeth have, it’s only the treatments of them that have become better and better over time.
Today, The Glenroy Dental Group has the knowledge, skills, and tools to take care of most any dental issue.
But looking back over dental history, and at some of the misconceptions that people have even today, it’s clear that lack of understanding of dental problems and treatments is an ongoing problem.
In this post we’re going to take a look at some historical myths and mistakes, go over some modern misconceptions, and talk about some amusing modern dental facts.
Ancient Dental Myths And Mistakes
Toothaches seem to have been with us since recorded time. And before modern dentistry made treatment easy, toothaches were very hard to deal with, which lead to treatments that meant well, accomplished little, and were often quite weird.
Toothworms. Ancient cultures often thought that that worms in the teeth caused toothaches. These cultures came developed different ways to treat the ‘toothworms’. Ancient Romans tried to drive toothworms away with a smoke fumigation of the mouth, followed by rinsing.
Aztecs believed that you could burn toothworms out of your teeth, and conquer toothache by chewing hot chili. A dentist in India (about 650 A.D.) recommend killing toothworms by putting wax into the cavity and then burning it out using a hot probe. Islamic physician, Avicenna, (980-1037), like the Romans, recommended fumigation as a toothache treatment
Another so-called cure was to apply a dead mouse to the aching tooth while the corpse of the mouse was still warm!
Pliny the Elder recommended capturing a frog during a full moon, prising the frog’s mouth open, spitting into it, and reciting, “Frog, go, and take my toothache with thee!”
It would be nice to think that in modern times we are smarter than this, but the fact is we are still capable of believing things that are not true.
Modern Dental Myths
Brushing your teeth with lemon juice can make them whiter. Actually this is quite dangerous as lemon juice is highly acidic, and can cause permanent erosion and damage to tooth enamel. This can not only lead to pain, but also to teeth having to be filled, crowned, or even extracted in the most serious cases. People interested in whiter teeth should take advantage of The Glenroy Dental Group’s excellent whitening options – effective and completely safe!
If I see my dentist twice a year, my mouth will be healthy. It’s a good start, but it’s not nearly enough! Even if you visited us once a week, your teeth and gums will not be at maximal health without brushing, flossing, using mouthwash, eating a healthy diet, and drinking lots of water.
It’s better to remove a tooth than have a root canal. It’s better to save the natural tooth if possible. Because of the myth that root canals are painful (not true!), some people would rather lose a tooth than undergo a root canal. But while treatments like dental implants have come a long way, it’s almost always worth saving the natural tooth to preserve normal function, aesthetic, and often money!
Tooth decay is primarily caused by sugar. We hear this a lot, but it isn’t completely true. Sugar does play a part in tooth decay but isn’t the main culprit. Instead, acids from natural mouth bacteria combine with saliva, resulting in plaque buildup on teeth. This is often the result of carbohydrate consumption.
Strange but true!
Snaggleteeth. It wouldn’t make sense to most westerners, but women in Japan, in an attempt to look more attractive use cosmetic dentistry to give themselves the look of crooked teeth. This is believed to make them look younger. The perfect, functional teeth remain underneath, meaning they can still bite and chew correctly. However, recipients of this procedure run the risk of developing a lisp.
Bacon-flavoured toothpaste. This toothpaste is delicious and cleans your teeth. Of course, it’s not for vegetarians! While we think this toothpaste is pretty funny, we still recommend you use toothpaste that fights tartar, plaque, and strengthens enamel.
Without saliva, we would not be able to taste anything. This is not a problem for most of us as the mouth produces on average 21024 litres of saliva, enough to fill a small swimming pool.
The Glenroy Dental Group and You
At The Glenroy Dental Group, your health and happiness, and that of your loved ones, are our primary goals. We use the most modern technology available and take advantage of the latest dental techniques to ensure that your dental health and appearance are at the highest level. We want you to receive the best possible dental care with no pain or anxiety!
Our Promotions
Special Offer for New Patients
- Exam, Scale & Clean $99
Our Teeth Whitening Specials
FREE Teeth Whitening consultation!
- 1 Hour In Chair ZOOM! Teeth Whitening only $450
- Teeth Whitening starting from $150
Contact us on (03) 9306 6511 or visit us at 2/830 Pascoe Vale Road in Glenroy.
