3 Myths About Oral Health That You Should Stop Believing

There are a lot of oral health myths floating around in today’s dental landscape. 

Some of them, such as rinsing after brushing, are commonly debunked. Most people who invest in their dental hygiene know it’s best to let toothpaste sit in the mouth after you’re finished brushing. 

But other myths are less well known as the myths they are, and that’s what we want to try and challenge. If you’ve been believing any of the oral health myths down below as fact, here’s what you actually need to know. 

If You Don’t Have White Teeth, You Have Bad Oral Hygiene

This is the most common oral health myth in the world, and it’s also the most frustrating one. White teeth are not a sign of good oral health. They’re simply a sign of someone having white teeth. 

But there are many colors of teeth, including yellow, and there’s nothing about these other colors that mean lower standards of dental hygiene. 

A person can have off white or yellow teeth and keep up better hygiene standards than someone who has naturally white teeth. It’s simply a matter of natural tooth color, lifestyle elements like diet and whether or not a person smokes, and a person’s genes. 

Only Traditional Braces Work

We all have an image of clunky, metal braces in our minds. We either wore them ourselves as kids or knew someone who did. They’re incredibly common, because they’re effective for helping teeth misalignment problems resolve over time. 

As such, there are many people who believe that items like invisible braces just aren’t as effective. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. 

Clear aligners like these work in the same way to help correct issues like an over or underbite – they’re simply a bit more comfortable to wear. They can be removed as a person needs them to be, and they can also just be worn at nighttime for more convenience. 

Brushing Hard is Best

Teeth are both robust and delicate in equal measure. They can allow you to chomp down on the chewiest bits of meat without a problem, but they can also be damaged by the slightest bump to the face. 

That’s why, despite people believing that hard brushing is the best way to keep them clean, you should always be gentle with your teeth and gums. 

Hard, abrasive scrubbing isn’t more effective at getting rid of plaque or helping stuck bits of food come out from between the teeth. It can actually cause enamel to break down faster. 

Oral health is something a lot of people approach in their own way, from the amount they brush their teeth during the day to how often they floss and back again. 

But the myths above are often believed in wholeheartedly, and it’s important to draw a line under them. As such, try to overlook tooth color as a sign of oral hygiene, get to know modern brace options, and be more gentle with your mouth!