Myths & Facts
There's a lot of dental advice floating around – from well-meaning family tips to things you half-remember from childhood. Some of it holds up, and some of it really doesn't. Here are a few of the most common dental myths, and the facts behind them.
Myth: "If my gums bleed when I brush, I should brush less."
Fact: Bleeding gums are almost always a sign of inflammation caused by plaque build-up – the early stage of gum disease. The right response is usually to brush more thoroughly (and more gently) and to floss daily, not to back off. If bleeding continues after a week or two of good brushing and flossing, it's worth a check-up.
Myth: "Sugar is the only cause of cavities."
Fact: Sugar plays a big role, but it's not the whole story. Cavities form when bacteria in plaque feed on any fermentable carbohydrate – not just sugar, but also starchy foods like bread, crackers and crisps – producing acid that erodes enamel. How often you snack matters too: frequent grazing throughout the day gives acid more opportunities to attack your teeth than eating the same amount in fewer sittings.
Myth: "You only need to see a dentist when something hurts."
Fact: Many dental problems, including early decay and gum disease, don't cause any pain until they're fairly advanced. Regular check-ups let us catch and treat issues while they're small, simple and inexpensive to fix – long before they'd become painful or require more involved treatment.
Myth: "Whitening toothpaste will make my teeth as white as professional whitening."
Fact: Whitening toothpastes generally work by gently polishing away surface stains, which can help maintain your smile, but they don't contain enough bleaching agent to change the actual colour of your teeth the way professional whitening does. For a noticeable change in shade, professional whitening remains the most effective and predictable option.
Myth: "Baby teeth don't matter because they fall out anyway."
Fact: Baby teeth matter a great deal. They hold space for the adult teeth developing underneath, help children chew properly and develop clear speech, and support healthy jaw development. Decay or early loss of baby teeth can lead to crowding or alignment problems later on, so they're worth looking after just as much as adult teeth.
Myth: "Chewing gum is just as good as brushing."
Fact: Sugar-free chewing gum can help by stimulating saliva flow, which neutralises acid and rinses away some food particles – a handy habit after a meal when you can't brush. But it doesn't remove plaque from between and along the gumline the way brushing and flossing do, so it's a helpful extra, not a substitute.