1. Brushing harder will give me a better clean
False! Brushing harder can actually damage your teeth. It could lead to something called “toothbrush abrasion” and you don’t want that. If you’re too rough with your teeth, it can damage and erode the enamel on your that protects your teeth from decay.
2. White teeth are healthy teeth
Not always the case! Although white teeth will give you the appearance of healthy teeth, you have no idea what’s going on under the surface. One of the most common dental problems are cavities. Sometimes cavities are symptomless and you can’t always see them. So unless you are keeping up your routine dental check-ups, you could have one and not even know it! Keep up those 6 month cleanings!
3. You can skip the dentist if you’re pregnant
Not a chance! When you are pregnant you are actually more at risk to develop a mild form of gum disease, it’s commonly known as “pregnancy gingivitis”. This is because of the hormone imbalance that takes places when a woman is pregnant. To add to that, if you have morning sickness through your pregnancy the acid can lead to tooth decay. Mamas to be are not off the hook!
4. You don’t have to go to the dentist if you don’t have any problems
No way! Dental care is designed to be preventative. The point of two visits a year is not only to keep your pearly whites clean, but also to treat any issues before they become a big problem. Dental problems don’t always start off with symptoms. You can have tooth decay or cavities without any symptoms present.
5. Baby teeth don’t really matter
Not true! Baby teeth hold the space for permanent teeth, without adequate care that space can close and will require dental intervention. Another thing to note is that proper dental care habits are started while kids are young. So if parents start teaching them proper dental care techniques while they are little, they’ll carry that with them for the rest of their lives!
