The Dental Myths Your Dentist Wants You To Stop Believing

Forbes

7 hours ago

In the age of TikTok tutorials and Instagram hacks, dental 'advice' spreads fast—but not all of it is worth following. 'Social media is full of trends that might look helpful but can actually harm your teeth and gums,' says Dr. Briar Voy, a dentist and prosthodontist at Amsterdam Dental Group in New Jersey and a spokesperson for Supersmile.
Knowing which tips are myths and which habits actually work can help protect your smile for years to come. Here are some of the most common misconceptions Voy says dentists wish you'd stop believing.
The buzz around purple toothpaste comes down to color theory: purple sits opposite yellow on the color wheel, so it can temporarily neutralize yellow tones and make teeth look brighter. 'But the effect is purely optical,' says Voy. 'Purple toothpaste doesn't change the underlying shade of your enamel.'
She also cautions that some formulas use strong synthetic dyes—such as CI 60730 or Acid Violet 43—found in products like hair dye and nail polish. Others rely on abrasive agents like silica to mask surface stains. While this can make teeth look cleaner in the short term, it can also gradually wear down enamel, increase sensitivity, and expose naturally yellow dentin.
For real whitening without damage, Voy recommends seeing a dentist for professional treatment or using gentle, non-abrasive whitening products designed to lift stains while still protecting enamel.
While crowns and veneers don't respond to traditional peroxide-based whitening, they do still pick up surface stains—just like natural teeth. Professional dental cleanings can remove these stains and restore the restorations' original brightness.
Some non-abrasive whitening products can also help by dissolving the protein pellicle—a sticky layer that traps stains and bacteria—without harming the surface. 'This means they can safely remove stains from natural teeth, crowns, veneers, and even dentures,' Voy says.
It might feel like the perfect finishing touch, but rinsing immediately after brushing can be detrimental because it washes away fluoride and other cavity-fighting minerals from your toothpaste that need time to strengthen enamel.
High-alcohol mouthwashes can also dry out your mouth, Voy adds, which is a problem because saliva is essential for oral health since it washes away food particles, neutralizes acids, and provides salivary enzymes that improve oral hygiene. Plus, high alcohol content can disrupt beneficial bacteria, ironically increasing your risk of cavities.
'So instead of rinsing right after brushing, spit out excess toothpaste and wait at least 30 minutes,' advises Voy. And when you do use mouthwash, choose one with low or no alcohol.
'This common misconception about the order of oral hygiene steps greatly impacts how effective your cleaning routine actually is,' says Voy. Flossing before brushing removes plaque and debris between teeth, allowing for a deeper clean.
Brushing afterward also ensures the cavity-fighting active ingredients in toothpaste can directly contact and strengthen enamel in those hard-to-reach spots. In short, 'flossing before brushing provides superior cavity protection and overall oral health benefits,' Voy notes.
'The idea that 'harder is cleaner' is a dangerous fallacy when it comes to tooth brushing,' Voy warns. Too much pressure—especially with a hard-bristled brush or an electric toothbrush used incorrectly—can lead to gum recession, root exposure, and enamel damage.
What's more, tooth roots are covered in cementum, a material much softer than enamel and far more vulnerable to decay and wear.
For a deep clean that avoids damage, 'lift your index finger off the toothbrush handle to lighten your pressure,' Voy suggests. She also recommends using a soft-bristled brush, angling it at 45 degrees to the gumline, and cleaning with gentle, circular motions.
In the end, social media can be fun for discovering trends, but your oral health isn't the place to experiment. 'Trusting evidence-based care and products that protect enamel and gums,' Voy says, 'will keep your smile healthier, longer.'