11-05-2025
Dentist reveals the dangerous myth stopping Aussies from getting their teeth checked - and the toothpaste you should be buying at the supermarket
A leading dentist has warned a common misunderstanding is stopping people from booking appointments.
Figures released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare showed 32.1 per cent of people were avoiding the dentist due to the cost, but many are also falling into the mistake of thinking they do not need to.
Dr Mikaela Chinotti has been a Sydney-based dentist for 13 years and told Daily Mail Australia that many people were unaware that they had festering oral health problems simply because it had not hit a nerve yet and they were not in pain.
'We need people to understand that just because you're not feeling pain, doesn't mean there's nothing wrong with your mouth,' Dr Chinotti said.
'People are delaying dental visits due to costs but also because they can't see or feel anything wrong, so they think everything is okay.
'Even a dentist might not see anything wrong by looking in the mouth which is why we take x-rays which detect things hiding under the surface in the early stages.'
Dr Chinotti said most patients 'typically won't have pain unless it's really bad', yet they have issues that need to be nipped in the bud.
'Once you've started to experience dental pain it's probably something that's quite advanced in your mouth because in the early stages you don't typically have discomfort,' she said.
Dr Chinotti explained her daily oral routine to ensure her teeth and gums were constantly in good shape and it was not complicated.
She said simply brushing in the morning and before bed, along with flossing and using interdental brushes once a day, was sufficient.
'I only clean between my teeth once a day, but some people may need to do it twice a day if they have gum disease,' she said.
'Flossing between your teeth before you brush can help to break up the stuff between the teeth then you brush and move it away from between your teeth.
'People should be flossing every day. We know that only about one in four do it. Flossing really helps with the state of the gums between the teeth.'
She said her toothpaste of choice was Colgate Total.
Dr Chinotti also said another part of good oral health was diet-related.
'There's only so much you can do to protect your teeth though the actual cleaning process,' Dr Chinotti said.
'Brushing your teeth twice a day is possibly not going to save you if you choose to drink sugary drinks throughout the day.
'It's not just sugary drinks but acidic drinks like juices and ice teas that can lead your teeth to be worn away.'
Dr Chinotti also warned against brushing shortly after consuming soft drinks because the acids in them can soften tooth enamel, and brushing immediately afterward can cause further damage.
A person's saliva naturally helps neutralise acids and remineralise enamel, so waiting at least 30 minutes after a sugary drink allowed that process to work effectively.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare revealed Australians were spending $11billion a year on dental services; an average of $4,321 per person.
Dr Chinotti, who also represents the Australian Dental Association, said most people would not need to spend anywhere near that amount if they took greater care of their teeth and gums on a daily basis.
'You could go through your life and not have any major dental treatments because you've had your regular check-ups, clean and floss every day and have paid attention to your diet,' she said.
