Dr Wang Haipeng warned that patients would commonly have the following misconceptions and incorrect dental care practices:
Not getting a regular teeth check-up every six months;
Never having teeth cleaning, or not having regular teeth cleaning every three to six months;
Believing that teeth cleaning could widen the space between the teeth and cause damage;
Having blind faith in toothpaste advertisements and believing that toothpaste could treat tooth diseases;
Not paying attention to the protection and treatment of baby teeth;
Fear visiting a dentist and not receiving immediate care for problems with teeth;
Using a toothpick instead of dental floss to clean the particles between the teeth;
Not visiting the dentist at an appointed time during the course of treatment;
Believing that the dentist could treat all dental diseases;
Brushing the teeth too hard;
Believing that decayed teeth are caused by certain worms;
Refusing the treatment of the diseased teeth and asking the dentists to pull them out;
Believing that teeth cleaning could whiten the teeth (in fact, it just cleans the teeth and can't change their original color).
(China Daily October 12, 2005)
