10 common dental health myths busted

Published April 2025 | 5 min read
Expert contributor: Dr Victoria Capp, Dental Centre Network Clinical Manager, HCF
Words by Angela Tufvesson

Here's how to separate fact from fiction and make good choices about your dental health.

The rise of TikTok and social media’s ‘fake news’ around health has increased the number of made-up health news articles, doctored images and videos, and false information.

When it comes to dental health, the effects of this can be significant. The wrong information can increase a person’s dental anxiety, which could lead to a delay in seeing a dentist.

“There's often a lot of fear associated with visiting the dentist that prevents people from going,” explains dentist Dr Victoria Capp, Clinical Manager of HCF’s Dental Centre network.

Only around half of Australians aged 15 and over have visited a dental professional in the past 12 months and about 16% of Aussies (and 10% of kids) have dental anxiety.

Why visiting a dentist can avoid bigger problems

As well as helping you smile, eat and speak properly, a healthy mouth plays an important part in our health and mental wellbeing. Poor oral hygiene increases your risk of mouth infections, which can lead to problems like tooth decay, gum disease, bad breath and tooth loss. It’s also been linked to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke and respiratory illness.

To keep your teeth healthy, Dr Capp recommends having a check-up every six to 12 months or based on your dentist’s advice.

“Prevention is far better than cure,” says Dr Capp. “Many people only go to the dentist when they have pain, but often treatment isn't where it would have been if people had come in six months or a year or two earlier. There’s also the impact on self-esteem, as your teeth affect your appearance and the way you speak.”

At HCF, we make it easier to visit the dentist more often. With HCF’s More for Teeth program, which is available at HCF Dental Centres and participating providers, eligible members can get 100% back^* on a range of dental services each calendar year, like check-ups, a fluoride treatment and mouthguards.

10 dental health myths set straight

You might’ve heard some of these dental health myths from your grandparents or on some old TV shows and movies, or perhaps you’ve seen them on social media. But as the saying goes, knowledge is power. To help you take better care of your teeth, we dispel 10 of the most common dental health myths.

Myth 1: I should only see my dentist when there’s a problem.

This is one of the most common dental health myths, says Dr Capp.

“People often think no pain means no problems, but with problems like decay and gum disease there can be no pain until there's something very serious going on like an infection,” she explains. “The only option then may be to remove the tooth or do something like a root canal that could have been avoided with regular check-ups.”

Myth 2: White teeth are healthy teeth.

Bright, white teeth are often seen as ‘healthy’ teeth – around one in five Australians have whitened their teeth, according to the Australian Dental Association – but Dr Capp says there’s a lot more to it.

“If you've got a beautiful, white smile, that doesn't mean that you haven't got decay or issues on your back teeth,” she says. “Conversely, teeth can be healthy even if they’re not perfectly white.”

Myth 3: Natural toothpaste is better than fluoride products.

There’s been a rise in the popularity of non-fluoride toothpaste but that doesn’t mean fluoride toothpaste is harmful. In fact, research shows fluoride – a mineral found in rock, air, soil, plants and water – effectively and safely prevents and reduces tooth decay. It is safe for adults and children over six to use full-strength fluoride toothpaste.

“Cleaning your teeth with fluoride toothpaste is the main thing you can do at home to reduce decay,” says Dr Capp. “Fluoride is essential.”

Myth 4: Brushing harder is better for your teeth.

It might seem as though hard brushing keeps teeth cleaner, but brushing well is different to brushing heavily, explains Dr Capp: “Brushing too hard can cause gum recession, which in turn causes sensitivity.”

She recommends brushing with a gentle, circular motion. Electric toothbrushes with a pressure sensor that beeps if you’re brushing too hard can be helpful.

Myth 5: Sugar is the only cause of tooth decay.

While sugar is one of the biggest contributors to tooth decay, a number of other factors can also lead to damage and cavities. Frequent snacking (which gives mouth bacteria more fuel to make acids that attack your teeth and wear them down), poor or infrequent brushing, not getting enough fluoride and conditions like heartburn and eating disorders can increase your risk of enamel wear.

“They all work hand in hand; they're all contributing factors,” says Dr Capp. “Sugar is probably the main cause, but it's not the only cause.”

Myth 6: Dentists won’t take my dental anxiety seriously.

Dentists understand that dental anxiety can be debilitating. Let your dentist know about your triggers and together you can decide how best to work together.

“Dentists know that when people are coming to see them they might be nervous,” says Dr Capp. “A good dentist will be prepared and have the time to treat patients who have dental anxiety.”

Myth 7: Dental X-rays are harmful and should be avoided.

Don’t worry, dental X-rays are extremely safe and use very low levels of radiation – much less than you may be exposed to from other sources in daily life.

“As dentists, we can't actually do our job and fully diagnose what's going on without an X-ray. They're absolutely essential – they aren't harmful,” says Dr Capp.

Myth 8: Mouth taping can help protect against cavities.

Mouth taping – using tape to keep your lips closed during sleep – is all the rage on some social media platforms, but Dr Capp says it doesn’t protect against cavities or offer other oral health benefits.

“Mouth taping has nothing to do with dentistry. There's no dentist that would suggest you tape your mouth,” she says.

Myth 9: Brushing teeth straight after eating is best.

The best time to brush your teeth is in the morning and right before you go to bed, says Dr Capp. Depending on what you’ve eaten and how you feel, she says you might also choose to brush right after eating – but it’s not necessary.

“If you have pasta with garlic bread [for lunch], then I would probably brush my teeth at lunchtime as well,” she says. And if you’ve just had an acidic food or drink, like orange juice, it’s best to hold off on brushing for about an hour to avoid damaging your teeth’s enamel.

Myth 10: Visiting the dentist is too expensive.

Around one in six Australians say cost is a reason for delaying or not seeing a dental professional. Alarmingly, there were close to 87,400 hospitalisations for dental conditions that potentially could have been prevented with earlier treatment in 2022–23, according to the AIHW. Regular check-ups can also help to reduce long-term dental costs, says Dr Capp.

“Seeing a dentist to keep on top of things is far more cost-effective than leaving it for five years and needing a very expensive procedure like an extraction or implant,” she explains.

Closing the gap on dental care

We understand many members avoid the dentist because they’re worried about out-of-pocket costs. Through our No-Gap dental network, eligible members who go to an HCF Dental Centre or More for Teeth provider get 100% back^* on a range of common diagnostic and preventive services, depending on their level of cover and annual limits.