You've probably heard claims like 9 out of 10 dentists recommend so-and-so toothpaste. But how can you tell what's a marketing ploy versus a solid statistic? In this episode, Mona shares three questions to ask yourself when you're faced with a suspicious statistic. (You don't need your wisdom teeth to figure it out!) Want to hear more from Mona? Check out her podcast Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi, from the TED Audio Collective.

Mona Chalabi: Do 9 out of 10 dentists really recommend that toothpaste?

Do 9 out of 10 dentists really recommend that toothpaste?

Dismantling toothpaste ad claims, it's revealed dentists were asked to recommend several brands, not a single 'best' choice.

A look into '4 out of 5 dentists recommend' gum reveals the unsaid: most dentists actually advise against chewing gum altogether.

Understanding survey significance is key; a sample of 50 dentists is marketing, not meaningful data from the 200,000 in the US.