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)