5 Dentists Share the Oral Hygiene Myths That Make Them Cringe

The basics of oral hygiene are pretty straightforward: Brush your teeth twice a day, floss daily, and visit your dentist regularly. Still, the details can get messy, and myths can pop up faster than a cavity on Halloween.

“You’d be amazed at what we hear from our patients every day about what they think are good practices,” says Dr. Steven DeLisle, DDS, founder of Children’s Dentistry of Las Vegas. “It’s easy to get the impression that people think of dental health in terms of what their dentist is going to think the next time he sees them.” We asked five dentists about the most cringe-worthy myths they hear about oral hygiene, and here’s what they said.

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Written by:

Lauren Smith, MA

Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.

Reviewed by:

Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP

Dr. Mera Goodman is a board-certified pediatrician. Prior to medicine, she worked as a management consultant.

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