The Most Common Dental Myths, Debunked!

Sadly, there is a lot of misinformation out there when it comes to your oral health. Common dental myths are often formed on this misinformation and taken at face value. Let’s debunk the most common dental myths so you can get the most out of your oral health. 

Electric toothbrushes do not work better. 

This one we’ve heard a lot. There’s no need to invest money into electric toothbrushes because they don’t work better than manual ones. Actually, electric toothbrushes can activate more brush strokes in two minutes of brushing than you can achieve manually, allowing more plaque and bacteria to be removed from your teeth and gums. Most electric toothbrushes use rotational and sweeping-like motions to remove plaque and stimulate your gums. Now, do you need to give up your manual toothbrush? No. With the proper brushing technique, manual toothbrushes can still be effective for oral health.

Flossing isn’t necessary. 

If you consider your teeth boxes with five sides, brushing can only reach three sides, the biting surface, front and back. If you don’t floss your teeth, you aren’t getting two out of five sides between your teeth! If you think about it that way, if you don’t floss your teeth, you aren’t cleaning around 20% of your tooth or gum surfaces and leaving lots of areas for bacteria to hide. If you don’t floss, you are at a much higher risk of developing cavities and gum disease. 

Diet soda isn’t harmful to your teeth. 

While diet soda doesn’t contain sugar like regular soda, it contains sugar substitutes that can also harm your teeth. Diet soda also has the same acidic quality as regular soda, which can contribute to erosion, wear and even cavities. Diet soda, just like regular soda, should be consumed in moderation.

White teeth are healthy teeth. 

Just because your teeth are white does not mean they are healthy. Cavities and gum disease can lurk behind the scenes of a beautiful white smile. The health of your mouth starts at your gum line, where bacteria accumulate and can cause damage. Be sure to see your dentist for a check-up and cleaning before whitening your teeth. 

Professional dental cleanings aren’t necessary. 

Unfortunately, brushing and flossing your teeth isn’t enough. Over time, there are certain difficult areas where plaque accumulates that you just can’t access. Plaque then hardens on your teeth and turns into tartar, which you cannot remove on your own. When you visit your dentist for a routine cleaning, we can completely remove all plaque, tartar and staining from your teeth.  

If your teeth don’t hurt, they must be healthy. 

This statement is false. When cavities start, they are often not painful or even sensitive. You usually won’t be aware you have a cavity until it gets much larger. Once a cavity is larger, it requires more invasive restoration, such as a larger filling or even a root canal treatment and crown. The only way to prevent cavities from getting larger is to visit your dentist routinely for check-ups. 

If you have any questions about these common dental myths, please call us today to book an appointment.