Despite its prevalence, gum disease is one of the most misunderstood oral health problems among laypeople. It can look a lot of different ways depending on its severity, so it can be a little hard to understand it well.  Even the name is sort of vague—”gum disease” doesn’t tell you much about what the actual problem is with your teeth.

That may be why there are so many myths surrounding oral infections. To help clear the air, here are some of the most common misunderstandings and why they aren’t necessarily true.

Your tongue allows you to experience the wonderful world of taste. While sweet and savory tastes are savored, bitter and sour ones are not as enjoyable. Although unpleasant tastes may linger a bit after eating certain foods, what if they don’t go away, even after brushing or rinsing with mouthwash? Or what if a bad taste in your mouth appears suddenly? These could be signs of a serious issue. Read on to learn some possible causes of the bad taste in your mouth and what you can do to solve it.