I’ve been a dentist for more than 20 years, so I’ve heard patients relate all sorts of ideas about toothaches. Sadly, the most common ones are based on rumors and gossip rather than actual fact. Such assumptions can lead to serious smile problems over time. Yet, sorting through all the misinformation isn’t easy.

One of my roles as a dentist is to help people understand the truth about toothaches. Here are four misconceptions that that I frequently have to debunk: