MYTH | TRUTH |
Dental care is not safe during pregnacy. | Most dental care is safe during all trimesters of pregnancy. Check with your doctor and your dentist when you schedule an appointment. |
Tooth loss in adults is a normal part of aging. | Tooth loss in adults is not normal and is typically caused by a preventable disease. |
Almost all oral disease including cavities and gum disease are preventable. | True, cavities and gum disease are preventable. |
Baby teeth are not important, so it is ok if they get cavities or must be pulled. | Baby teeth are important. They assist with speech development, eating, a child’s self-esteem, and save space for adult teeth. |
How much toothpaste is appropriate for a child who cannot spit? | ![]() |
How much toothpaste is appropriate for a child who can spit? | ![]() |
How much toothpaste is appropriate for an adult? | ![]() |
Taking a child to see the dentist before their first birthday is not important. | The American Dental Association recommends that a child be seen before the age of one or when their first tooth erupts. |
Gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis) is natural. | Gum disease is not normal, is preventable and is caused by bacterial in the mouth that can be removed with a toothbrush and interdental cleaners like dental floss or toothpicks. |
It is normal for gums to bleed when you brush or floss. | Bleeding gums are not normal and could be a sign of gum disease. |
It is ok to brush your teeth once a day. | False, the American Dental Association recommend that you brush at least twice a day for two minutes. |
It is normal for children to have brown spots on their teeth. | False, children’s teeth should be a creamy white color. White lines and dark spots are a sign of cavities. A child with white lines or dark spots should see an oral health professional right away. |
It is ok to give a child a sippy cup with watered down juice. | Juice, even if it is watered down, causes cavities. It is recommended that juice is only given to children with their meals. |
Energy drinks are a good substitute for soda because they don’t cause cavities. | Many energy drinks have more sugar then soda. Parents should read the labels to make sure any beverage that a child drinks does not contain sugar or carbohydrates. |
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