Debunking Dental Myths

Debunking dental myths matters because a wrong idea about sugar, baby teeth or root canals can cost you a healthy tooth. Here, Southern York Smile Care in Shrewsbury, PA, clears up some of the most common myths we hear, with plain answers based on well-established dental science.

Myth 1: All sugar is equally bad for teeth

We all know sugar raises the risk of tooth decay. But how you eat it matters as much as how much you eat. When you eat sugar, the bacteria in plaque feed on it and make acid. That acid softens enamel. Saliva slowly neutralizes it and helps the enamel recover, but that takes time.

Why timing matters

Sugary foods that linger on your teeth, or that you have a little at a time, are worse than those you finish quickly. Sipping a soda over an hour or sucking on a mint keeps your teeth bathed in sugar and acid the whole time. Eating a candy bar in one go, with a meal, gives your mouth one acid attack and then a chance to recover.

Sticky and hidden sugars

Sticky foods like caramels, dried fruit and gummy snacks cling to teeth and keep feeding bacteria. Sugar also hides in places you may not expect, like sauces, granola, flavored yogurt and sports drinks. Our article Beware of Hidden Sugar has more examples.

What to do instead

• Have sweets with meals rather than as all-day snacks.
• Drink water, especially after sugary or acidic drinks.
• Choose sugar-free gum, which helps your mouth make saliva.
• Wait about 30 minutes after acidic food or drink before brushing, so you do not brush softened enamel.

Myth 2: Baby teeth do not matter because they fall out anyway

Baby teeth, also called primary teeth, are only temporary, but some stay in the mouth until about age 12. They do important work the whole time.

What baby teeth do

• Eating: healthy teeth let your child chew a full range of healthy foods.
• Speaking: teeth help form many sounds as speech develops.
• Spacing: each baby tooth holds space for the adult tooth below it. If one is lost early, nearby teeth can drift and crowd the adult tooth.
• Confidence: a healthy smile helps a child feel good in school and with friends.
• Comfort: decay in baby teeth can hurt, disturb sleep and make it hard to focus.

Decay can spread

A cavity in a baby tooth can grow quickly, since baby teeth have thinner enamel. An infected baby tooth can also affect the adult tooth forming beneath it. Regular checkups, good brushing and limiting sugary drinks protect baby teeth until it is their time to go. See our children's dentistry page for how we care for young patients.

Myth 3: Pulling a tooth is just as good as a root canal

When a tooth is badly infected, some people think pulling it is the simpler, cheaper choice. The American Association of Endodontists disagrees, and so do most dentists. Saving your natural tooth, when it can be done, is usually the best option.

Why saving the tooth is usually better

• Nothing fully replaces a natural tooth. Even a well-made replacement can feel different.
• Keeping your tooth lets you keep eating the wide range of foods you need for good nutrition.
• A gap left by a pulled tooth lets nearby teeth shift and the bone under it shrink.
• Replacing a pulled tooth with a bridge or implant takes more time and often costs more than a root canal and crown.
• Root canal treatment has a high success rate, and many treated teeth last a lifetime.

Many people also fear that a root canal will be painful. With modern numbing, most patients say it feels much like getting a filling. The infection is usually what hurts, and treatment is what brings relief.

That said, not every tooth can or should be saved. If a tooth is cracked below the gumline or too weak to rebuild, removing it may be the better choice. Dr. Steven Haywood, DDS, will explain the options honestly. Learn more on our root canals page, or read calming root canal fears.

More dental myths we hear often

"If my teeth do not hurt, they are fine."

Cavities and gum disease often cause no pain until they are advanced. That is why regular checkups matter. By the time a tooth aches, the problem is usually bigger.

"Bleeding gums are normal."

Healthy gums should not bleed when you brush or floss. Bleeding is often the first sign of gingivitis, the early, reversible stage of gum disease. See our gum disease treatments page.

"Brushing harder cleans better."

Scrubbing hard can wear enamel and push gums back. A soft brush, gentle circles and two full minutes do a better job.

"Whitening ruins your enamel."

Professional whitening, done or supervised by a dentist, is safe for enamel. Some people feel short-lived sensitivity, which fades. Learn more on our teeth whitening page.

"Dental X-rays are dangerous."

Dental X-rays use very low doses, and digital X-rays use up to 90% less radiation than older film. They are taken only when needed, to find problems the eye cannot see.

"Diet soda cannot hurt my teeth."

Sugar-free drinks remove the sugar, but many sodas, sparkling waters with added flavor and sports drinks are still acidic. Acid softens enamel on its own, even without sugar. Plain water is the safest everyday drink for your teeth. If you do have soda, drink it with a meal rather than sipping all day.

"Once I have a filling, that tooth is safe."

Fillings repair a cavity, but the edges of a filling can still decay, and old fillings wear over time. Teeth with fillings need the same brushing, flossing and checkups as the rest. Our office is mercury-free and places tooth-colored, BPA-free white fillings.

Where to get good dental answers

The internet is full of dental advice, and some of it is wrong. A few tips for sorting good information from bad:

• Look for guidance from groups like the American Dental Association.
• Be wary of quick fixes, miracle products and anything that sounds too good to be true.
• Ask your dentist. Bring your questions to your next visit, or call the office.

At Southern York Smile Care, your dental health matters to us, and we are happy to give accurate answers to all your questions. Our cleanings are a full 60 minutes, so there is time to talk. You can also browse our FAQs.

Ask your questions in Shrewsbury

If you have heard a dental claim and are not sure what to believe, ask us. Call Southern York Smile Care at (717) 235-3871 or request an appointment. We are at 4 S. Main St in Shrewsbury, PA, and welcome patients from York, southern York County and northern Baltimore County, MD.

About the authorDr. Steven Haywood, DDS

DDS cum laude 1987, US Air Force residency, NYU cosmetic training and Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, with 35+ years in practice.

Meet Dr. Haywood →