If you are like most people, then you have probably been reminded over and over again about all of the positive things that you can do for the health of your teeth. However, you will have more than likely also been told a lot of myths that can be misleading. When you are trying to do best by your teeth, you want to be absolutely sure that you aren't following myths rather than facts. Learning the truth about some of the most common misconceptions is important and you can learn those truths here:

Hard bristle toothbrushes are better because they get your teeth cleaner

• A lot of people are under the assumption that using a hard bristle toothbrush is the right choice because it will remove more plaque. However, the truth is that you should be using a soft to medium bristle brush unless your dentist has told you to switch to a hard one.

You should use a toothpick after each meal to remove food from your teeth

• Restaurants freely give out toothpicks for their patrons to use after they enjoy their meals, not floss. This helps reinforce the common myth that toothpicks should be used to remove food from your teeth after you eat. However, toothpicks should not be your go-to tool for this purpose. They can lodge food under your gums and even splinter off in your gums which will cause trauma to them. Flossing is actually what you should be doing for after-meal food removal.

Teeth whitening will work on everyone's teeth

• Teeth whitening can be a great tool for those who have teeth stains and/or discoloration caused from things like smoking, drinking coffee and consuming other food products that cause the staining. However, there are also people with teeth discoloration who can't be helped with teeth whitening products. For example, some people are born with very thin enamel covering their teeth and it allows the darkness of the center part of the teeth to show through. Whitening their teeth would have very little to absolutely no effect on the coloring of their teeth.

Invisible aligners work just as good as braces and are a better option

• Invisible aligners are great; they are usually less expensive than braces and they will help you get straight teeth. They aren't as irritating and they are harder for others to see. However, they do take longer for you to get your teeth all the way corrected and they aren't always the best option for some people.

Talk to your family dentist to get more information on keeping your mouth healthy. 

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