4 Truths You May Not Know About Orthodontics And Teeth
The following information referring to Orthodontics is good to know:
Orthodontics Is Not Just About Braces
Most people consider the orthodontic office as a place that offers braces to its patients for aesthetic reasons. Although braces are a common procedure, some patients need Orthodontics to correct skeletal or jaw problems. Orthodontics is primarily concerned with the correction of skeletal, functional or aesthetic problems and of course contributes to maintaining the health of teeth and gums.
Food acids are worse than sugar
Contrary to popular belief, sugar is not the most destructive substance for our teeth. Studies and further evaluation of the enamel by dentists have revealed that sour (or acidic) foods can be just as harmful to the teeth. As citric acid is a naturally corrosive substance, it contributes to the softening of the teeth (ie the enamel) and can lead to more caries.
Sour candy, for example, can corrode tooth enamel. The constant and long-term contact of the corrosive substance of caramel on the teeth causes greater corrosion than normal. The mixture of sugar and acid slowly destroys the enamel. Because the consumption of sugar is more frequent and in larger quantities in our diet than that of natural acids, there is a widespread popular belief that sugar is the most harmful substance for our teeth.
That is why dentists advise their patients to keep their enamel in good condition with daily brushing in order to prevent tooth sensitivity in the future. When choosing an orthodontic treatment with braces, one should keep their teeth clean, limiting sugary and acidic foods and drinks as much as possible.
Enamel is strong but fragile
Ίσως να μην είναι ευρέως γνωστό ότι το σμάλτο (η αδαμαντίνη – η σκληρή εξωτερική επιφάνεια των δοντιών) είναι η πιο σκληρή ουσία στο σώμα, αλλά και η πιο εύθραυστη. Δυστυχώς, οι περισσότεροι άνθρωποι γνωρίζουν μόνο ότι τα δόντια είναι σκληρά και τα χρησιμοποιούν, κακώς, και για σκοπούς που δεν είναι οι κατάλληλοι. Οι περιπτώσεις αυτές περιλαμβάνουν άνοιγμα μπουκαλιών και σακουλών με τα δόντια τους ή δαγκώνοντας σκληρά υλικά όπως ο πάγος ή το κέλυφος των ξηρών καρπών. Έτσι κάθε φορά που χρησιμοποιούμε τα δόντια μας δαγκώνοντας ιδιαίτερα σκληρά αντικείμενα ή τροφές ελλοχεύει ο κίνδυνος πρόκλησης κατάγματος ή ρωγμών σε αυτά.
Wisdom teeth tend to disappear from our dentures
You may not realize this, but the evolution of the human species works consistently even in the case of teeth and jaws too. As humans evolve, scientists believe that wisdom teeth are to be eradicated in future generations. In fact, studies show that about 35 percent of people will not have wisdom teeth in the near future. This is a fact that in recent years has been observed scientifically since often wisdom teeth either do not exist in the denture or if they do, they do not erupt in the mouth. As we no longer need bigger jaws and more teeth to chew hard raw foods as prehistoric humans did to feed themselves, wisdom teeth are becoming less and less useful and are increasingly disappearing from people’s mouths.
Dentists believe that this gradual disappearance of wisdom teeth is beneficial, especially for patients who have undergone orthodontic treatment, as wisdom teeth can change the positions of the teeth. Let’s not forget how troublesome it is to surgically remove them when they are enclosed in the back part of our mouth.
Dr. Penny Mitilineou
Χειρουργός ΟδοντίατροςDental Surgeon
Specialization in Orthodontics
