Looking after your oral health is a lifelong responsibility that won’t just lead to a beautiful smile. Your teeth have a profound effect on your body’s overall health and well-being. To keep your teeth and gums healthy, you must know the difference between oral health fact and fiction. Here is a list of three common misconceptions that practitioners of family dentistry want you to know.

3 Oral Health Myths Busted

1. Baby Teeth Aren’t Important

Although baby teeth do eventually fall out to make room for your permanent teeth, you must keep them clean and healthy so that your adult teeth can grow in properly. An untreated cavity in a baby tooth, for example, may fall out sooner than it should and disrupt the development of your permanent teeth. Help your children develop strong oral health habits by brushing and flossing their baby teeth until they are old enough to perform these tasks for themselves.

2. Diet Soda Doesn’t Harm Teeth

People mistakenly believe that diet sodas are harmless because they do not contain sugar. Every practitioner of family dentistry will tell you that avoiding sugary foods and drinks is good. Less sugar, less bacteria, and less plaque all boost dental health. However, diet soda is highly acidic. The acid in diet soda erodes your teeth’s protective enamel layer. Switch to pH-neutral water to combat enamel decay. If you can’t eliminate soda from your diet, brushing your teeth immediately after consuming a soda will keep your tooth enamel protected.

3. Fluoride Toothpaste Is Bad

The fluoride myth stems from the fact that excessive consumption of fluoride can have detrimental effects on your health. However, a pea-sized amount of toothpaste contains only the tiniest pinch of fluoride. A small amount of fluoride helps to strengthen the teeth, so it is good, not bad, for oral health.

Kemper Pond Dental has provided reliable and caring family dentistry services for people of all ages in Cincinnati, OH, for over 20 years Their full range of services includes tooth extractions, dentures, cosmetic dentistry, and preventive care, all delivered in a supportive environment. Visit them online to learn more, or call (513) 531-4069 to schedule an appointment.