As with many health care fields, many myths have grown around the field of dentistry. While many of these are harmless, others lead people to take inadequate care of their teeth, or cause them to avoid visiting the dentist regularly.

Ignoring dental care or avoiding the dentist can lead to serious problems, many of which can only be treated by a cosmetic dentist . Avoid unnecessary pain and expense by learning the truth about these misconceptions regarding dental care.

Some common myths about dental care and dental hygiene include:

I can keep my teeth perfectly healthy with regular brushing and flossing. Going to the dentist every six months is just a way for them to make more money.While regular brushing and flossing is certainly important, even vital, to the health of your teeth and gums, it does not replace regular dental visits. A dentist will give your teeth a more thorough cleaning, apply fluoride treatments, check the health of your gums, provide a screening for mouth cancer, and take X-rays to be sure no cavities have developed. Regular visits to the dentist are the best way to find minor problems before they become major problems.

Going to the dentist is always painful.A dentist visit should not be painful. If you take good care of your teeth and gums between visits, a routine cleaning usually causes little discomfort. If your teeth are particularly sensitive, your dentist can provide help.

Young children do not need regular dentist visits.Children should start regular dental visits as soon as their first teeth appear. Too many people believe that, since the baby teeth fall out eventually, they do not need to be diligently cared for. This is far from the truth. The health and proper development of the baby teeth helps ensure that the permanent teeth come in correctly aligned, preventing problems in adulthood that will have to be addressed by a cosmetic dentist or orthodontist. In addition, building good dental hygiene habits from a young age will help your child care properly for his permanent teeth when they do come in.

Sugar-free gum is an adequate substitute for brushing after meals.Chewing sugar-free gum after meals can help reduce plaque buildup, but only thorough brushing and flossing provide sufficient cleaning for the teeth and stimulation for the gums.