07/22/2026
We know the World Cup is over, but we still see red cards regularly around the office. Here are a few VERY common misconceptions, and some counterpoints below.
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“I only come to the dentist when I have pain”-often once decay or gum disease is painful, it’s past the point of typical, conservative treatment.
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“We don’t need to treat the baby teeth, they fall out anyway”-yes, they do fall out, but the primary molars are retained until 11-13 years of age. These baby teeth do a big job in maintaining space for the adult teeth and, without maintenance, problems can lead to serious infection, damage to the permanent teeth below and orthodontic issues.
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“Nobody flosses”-not true. We have converted many patients. We know it’s inconvenient, but when practiced regularly it can take less than 2 minutes and be the most inexpensive way to prevent cavities and gum disease.
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“I don’t want a cleaning, I just want to whiten my teeth”-whitening is a wonderful additive treatment that we offer, but without care and maintenance to those “white teeth” it’s a bit like lipstick on a 🐷
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“Bleeding gums are normal”-while bleeding gums are common, they are not a part of a normal, healthy mouth. Bleeding gums are an indication of active gum disease and require an assessment and plan of action for management.
Dr. Ed Hoben Dentistry
