“It’s NOT normal for gums to bleed when brushing or flossing. If you start flossing regularly, the bleeding should stop. If you haven’t had a dental cleaning in a long time, you need your teeth cleaned to get a fresh start.”

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Note: Some responses were pulled from this Reddit thread by u/you-gee-el-why.

"My personal opinion: I think that Listerine and other OTC mouthwashes that claim to kill bacteria are a waste of money. You're basically spitting cash down the drain. But, I think that other fluoride rinses are NOT a waste of money. If your water isn't fluoridated, get this, and use it properly at least three times a week."

"I have no idea why toothbrush companies don't advertise those brushes as denture brushes, but they should. You can easily scrape the enamel off your tooth with those brushes."

"Dentists regularly scare their patients into having unnecessary removal. They do it so often they probably believe their own hype. It is a huge source of income for dentists and oral surgeons."

"It's the frequency of exposure to refined carbs more than the volume of sugar that causes tooth decay. Every time your saliva neutralizes the acid from these drinks, you re-expose teeth to the acid. Parents do your kids a favor: lots of water for hydration and a banana for electrolytes."

"Whitening products are best when you purchase trays made at your dentist, and they give you the refillable gel. If you use MI Paste as an adjunct with whitening, it will keep sensitivity down."

"You brush too hard, really. That's why electric toothbrushes are beneficial; mainly because it's easier to instinctively brush lighter."

"When you floss, don't just shove it down and pop the floss back out. If you have tight contacts (the space between your teeth), you're going to damage your sharpey's fibers. Sharpey's fibers are the tiny ligaments that attach your tooth to the bone. Also, you might actually be cramming food deeper into your gingiva. Not cool. Use a slow see-saw motion down, wrap the floss around the sides of each tooth, then see-saw back up."

"DO NOT use those black charcoal whiteners. You are rubbing tiny rocks on your teeth and damaging enamel. That is why they look whiter temporarily — because the top dirty layer of enamel was roughly scraped away, revealing the brighter, whiter layer underneath. But you want that enamel to last as long as possible, do not harshly destroy it."

"This is usually because there is insufficient evidence, or the company hasn't spent the time or money to research whether or not their product actually does anything. So, it gets labeled a cosmetic, and they call it a day."

"On black coffee: Sugar is bad because bacteria eat the sugar and convert it into lactic acid, which erodes your teeth and creates cavities. Black coffee skips the sugar part and jumps straight to the acidic part. Frequently consuming black coffee all day long will cause problems as well.

On sugar-free gum: Check the ingredients for xylitol, which is amazing for your oral health. It's basically the world's most tantalizing mouse trap for the bacteria in your mouth, but it's poisonous to cats and dogs."

"Brush twice a day, for two minutes each time. Don't use a lot of pressure when you brush (aka don't 'scrub' aggressively); it's more about being thorough. With a manual toothbrush, angle the bristles at a 45-degree angle toward the gums and brush in short circular motions. With an electric toothbrush, you just need to make contact with each tooth surface at a 45-degree angle and glide along the teeth; the electric toothbrush does the rest. I highly recommend having an electric toothbrush, especially for older people or those with dexterity issues."

"For when you should take a child for their first visit, it's a little subjective. ADA (American Dental Association) recommends when teeth start coming in. I personally feel like age 1 is a great time (unless there are issues you are concerned with). At age 1, they have almost all their baby teeth. Gives the dentist something to see. The first appointment is not just to check the baby's teeth but to give advice and educate parents.

Also, getting a baby/toddler to sit, open, and tolerate brushing...it's a crap shoot. Some do it willingly, and some freak out. Parenting is the bee's knees sometimes. You hold them down and get 'er done. I had to wrestle mine for over a year until he started sitting fairly calm while I brushed."

"I'm a dental assistant, so I'm around dentists more often than not. I wouldn't have to work again if I had a dollar for every time I heard them tell a patient that an electric toothbrush is way more beneficial than a manual. But it's true. Also, just because you scrub your teeth harder doesn't mean they're getting cleaner. You're actually causing harm, which is why an electric toothbrush is more beneficial; some stop when you apply too much pressure."

"The most effective toothcare is a bit unintuitive: Brush first thing in the morning before you have eaten. Don't rinse; just spit. This is when the fluoride does its thing (you can drink some water, but don't rinse it around). Mouthwash does bring benefit, but it's best used during the day partly for the aforementioned reason of not washing out the fluoride."

"Sweet tea, Gatorade, Kool-Aid, juice, etc. are all harmful for the same reason."

"Gum health [is so important]. There's no point having strong white teeth if you have gum problems, which eventually means those teeth get loose and fall out or need to be pulled."

"Dentist here. I can't tell you how many patients swear they brush twice a day, but somehow, I find giant blobs of plaque at the gum line, and their gums look like they'd bleed if you gave them a hard look. Everybody should watch a YouTube video on brushing technique. Technique is as important as frequency and duration."

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.