Many people wake up morning after morning to discover an unsightly white, sticky film in their mouth. It has an unpleasant taste and is otherwise gross all around, meaning that nobody is pleased when this happens. If this happens to you, you’re probably wondering why it does and what you can do to avoid it. Here’s a brief guide to why these white films form along with a few tips for preventing them.

Root canals are one of the most often-maligned dental treatments, and any dentist will tell you that it’s one of the procedures patients dread more than anything else. They’ll also happily tell you that this reputation certainly isn’t earned—root canals are nothing to be scared of.

Part of their reputation may come from some of the myths surrounding their treatment. In the interest of setting the record straight, here are some of the most common myths about root canals along with why you shouldn’t pay them any mind.