Dental care is perhaps among the first things people learn as children. From how to properly brush your teeth and the proper eating habits to prevent cavities. However, most of the information we learn concerning dental care as children is mainly derived from myths.

Remember, a few decades ago, the medical field was not as evolved as today. Hence, back then, most of the theories regarding dental care had no way of getting proved or disapproved as fact or fiction, respectively. However, modern developments in scientific technology have enabled dentists to assess whether or not the myths are true or false.

With that said, here are three dental care misconceptions that dentists have proven to be false.   

Eating Sugary Foods Leads To Cavities 

Since childhood, most people have believed that excess sugar leads to cavities. However, the above statement is not entirely true. Yes, sugar does contribute to cavities, but it is not the leading cause of cavities.

Cavities occur when the bacteria and enzymes break down sugar and carbohydrates, producing acids as a byproduct. Though the acids produced are mildly concentrated. However, the concentration level of the acids is sufficient to eat away at a tooth's enamel until a cavity occurs. Therefore, consuming excessive amounts of sugar doesn't directly lead to cavities, but it facilitates the production of acids that lead to cavities. 

You Should Brush Your Teeth Harder

Because teeth are a hard surface, most people assume that you need to brush them as hard as you brush the tiles in your house. People with stained teeth often buy hard bristle toothbrushes and assume that brushing their teeth harder and more vigorously will help remove the stain.

However, this is not true. If you have stained teeth, the stain is a buildup of pigmented residue that has chemically bonded with your tooth enamel. Thus irrespective of how hard you brush your teeth, the staining will not subside. For that reason, teeth whitening services exist because the equipment used is specifically designed for removing the pigmented areas of your tooth.

Nonetheless, when you brush your teeth extremely hard and vigorously, you run the risk of agitating your gums. When your gums get agitated, they will start to recede and expose parts of your tooth that are not covered by enamel.

Hence, your teeth will be more susceptible to cavities and tooth decay. Therefore, if you have been led to believe that brushing your teeth harder is a good idea, forget it.  

Flossing isn't Essential

For most people, oral hygiene ends with brushing their teeth. As a result, they do not bother to floss after brushing their teeth. However, as far as dental care is concerned, regularly neglecting to floss your teeth can lead to tooth decay and cavities. 

Remember, there are small spaces between your teeth where your toothbrush can't reach, thus making them ideal spots for food particles and bacteria to hide. Therefore, neglecting to floss creates an opportunity for the bacteria and food particles between your teeth to cause tooth decay or cavities.