Cultural Taboos and Myths in Dentistry: Sreekanth.K Iiird B.D.S

CULTURAL TABOOS
AND MYTHS IN
DENTISTRY
SREEKANTH.K
INTRODUCTION
 There are many taboos and myths about
each and every thing in our daily life and for
this even dentistry is no exception.
 No one really knows where these taboos
and myths originate from but the truth is

that most of the people even the so called
wise people believe in them
because these myths are part
of our culture and are in usage
since ages.
Taboos in Dentistry
What are taboos?
Taboo: A ban or restriction made by social

custom.
This can be explained from the following

examples…
Taboos in Dentistry
 Extraction of teeth weakens and adversely
affects the eye sight.
 There are no documents to prove it. So tooth
extraction is nothing to do with the eyesight.

 Swelling caused by painful teeth should be
fomented with hot water.

 Swelling increases with hot fomentation
 Teeth become loose after cleaning by dental
surgeon.
 Infact teeth become stronger after cleaning.
Taboos in Dentistry
 Use of tooth paste alone stops bad smell of
the mouth.
 There are many causes for bad breath , hence
only tooth paste can not stop bad breath.

 There are visible worms in the teeth as shown
by some unqualified doctors, that cause pain

in teeth.
 Worms are called micro-organisms , means
they are visible only under microscopes.

MYTHS IN DENTISTRY
 Myth is a traditional story of early history or
explaining a natural event, especially
involving supernatural beings.
 Myth is an imaginary thing.
 Some of the myths in dentistry are….

MYTHS IN DENTISTRY
 MYTH: Brushing the
teeth several times a
day harms the enamel.
 TRUTH: This is partially
true. Usually, it is
enough to brush your
teeth two times a day,
but if you have an
opportunity to brush
your teeth more
frequently (for
example, after every
meal), use a soft or
extra soft toothbrush
MYTHS IN DENTISTRY
MYTH: Expensive toothpastes are

always better than cheap ones.
TRUTH: It is not always true, and
some moderately expensive
toothpastes can be very effective.
Ask your dentist about the
toothpastes that can be good for
your particular dental situation.
MYTHS IN DENTISTRY
 MYTH: I must not brush my teeth if my
gums bleed.
 TRUTH: Bleeding gums is a sign to see
your dentist. However, if you can not

do this as soon as possible, you can
brush your teeth with a soft or extra
soft toothbrush.
MYTHS IN DETISTRY
 MYTH: Placing a tablet of aspirin beside
my aching tooth can ease the pain.
 TRUTH: Aspirin does not work effectively
for relieving toothache. Besides, it

damages soft tissues in
you mouth. Therefore, it is
better to use natural
analgesics, such as clover oil
or tea tree oil.
MYTHS IN DENTISTRY
 MYTH: If tooth enamel is white, the
tooth must be considered healthy.
 TRUTH: This is absolutely not true! A
tooth can look healthy and white, but, at

the same time, it can
have cavities, problems
with the root or other
abnormalities that require
treatment.
MYTHS IN DENTISTRY
 MYTH: After a decayed tooth is
treated, there will be no more
decaying there.
 TRUTH: There is no guarantee for this.
After the treatment,

every tooth must be
properly cared about:
regularly brushed,
flossed and so on.
MYTHS IN DENTISTRY
 MYTH: It is better to treat a decaying
tooth rather then opt for removing it.
 TRUTH: Before making a decision whether to
continue treatment or remove an aching
tooth you have to consult a qualified dental
professional and, possibly, ask for the
opinion of several specialists. Sometimes,
even totally decayed tooth can be restored,
and, at the same time, there are situations
when even a healthy looking tooth must be
extracted.
MYTHS IN DENTISTRY
 MYTH: It is better to remove wisdom teeth
because they usually cause problems.
 TRUTH: Do not extract your wisdom teeth
until you have started having real problems

with them.
 MYTH: Good dental health can be inherited.
 TRUTH: Such factor as inheritance plays
minor role for good dental health of people.

The main rules are to maintain proper oral
hygiene and visit your dentist regularly.
MYTHS IN DENTISTRY
 MYTH: Eating a lot of chocolate brings to
tooth decay.
 TRUTH: No, it does not, but if you do not
brush your teeth or at least rinse your mouth

every time after eating
chocolate, you are at
much higher risk to
get tooth decay.
MYTHS IN DENTISTRY
 MYTH: Teeth whitening is harmful as it can
damage the enamel.
 TRUTH: Modern methods of teeth whitening,
including laser teeth whitening or Air Flow

technique, have minimal harmful effects.
Nevertheless, one must remember that teeth
whitening can not be recommended for many
people, especially for those who has sensitive
teeth, problematic enamel, underdeveloped
tooth tissues, as well as for pregnant and
nursing women.
MYTHS IN DENTISTRY
 MYTH: It is not harmful to whiten your teeth
with usual sodium bicarbonate.
 TRUTH: It is, actually, very harmful, because
sodium bicarbonate we use for baking has

very strong abrasive effects. If you want to
whiten your teeth in an easy way, use special
whitening toothpastes with bicarbonate. Such
toothpastes contain much smaller particles of
bicarbonate and they do not damage teeth
that much.
MYTHS IN DENTISTRY
 MYTH: There is no need in taking care about the
teeth of my baby because in some years they
are going to fall out.
 TRUTH: This is absolutely wrong from a variety
of perspectives. First of all, if you do not take

care about premature teeth, they may fall out
before the time and cause problems with bite or
improper development of your child’s
permanent teeth. Besides, it is necessary to
start educating your children to maintain good
dental and oral hygiene since early childhood.
MYHTS IN DENTISTRY
 MYTH: It is necessary to avoid dental
procedures during pregnancy.
 TRUTH: Regular dental treatment must not be
avoided by pregnant women, but there is a

number of procedures, such as X-rays or
surgical dental procedures, which must be
postponed for pregnant women.
 MYTH: Any type of dental treatment is very
painful.
 TRUTH: Not anymore. Advanced dental
technologies allow making dental treatment

not painful by using anesthetic agents.
CONCLUSION
 One needs to know all the cultural myths and

taboos of dentistry because proper diagnosis
is to be done.
 We should try eliminating all these myths and

taboos by properly educating the patients
and public.
 THANK YOU…

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CULTURAL TABOOS

and myths originate from but the truth is

Taboo: A ban or restriction made by social

This can be explained from the following

extraction is nothing to do with the eyesight.

fomented with hot water.

only tooth paste can not stop bad breath.

by some unqualified doctors, that cause pain

they are visible only under microscopes.

 Myth is an imaginary thing.

 Some of the myths in dentistry are….

MYTH: Expensive toothpastes are

your dentist. However, if you can not

for relieving toothache. Besides, it

tooth can look healthy and white, but, at

After the treatment,

until you have started having real problems

minor role for good dental health of people.

brush your teeth or at least rinse your mouth

including laser teeth whitening or Air Flow

sodium bicarbonate we use for baking has

of perspectives. First of all, if you do not take

avoided by pregnant women, but there is a

technologies allow making dental treatment

 One needs to know all the cultural myths and

 We should try eliminating all these myths and

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