Take the Quiz for better Dental Health

Americans need a serious brush-up when it comes to their oral health.  On average, Americans scored a "D" on a series of questions such as how often to brush, what age a child should first visit a dentist and what causes cavities.

Take the dental quiz

Q:  How often should you brush your teeth?
A:  Although 90% of survey respondents believe they should brush after every meal, the ADA recommends brushing only twice a day.

Q:  How often should you replace your toothbrush?
A:  65% of respondents believe they should replace their toothbrush twice a year.  The ADA recommends replacing your toothbrush every 3 - 4 months or sooner if the bristles become frayed.

Q:  When should you take your child to the dentist for the first time?
A:  75% of respondents don't know that a child's first trip to the dentist should be within 6 months after their first tooth appears, usually by the children's first birthday

Q:  Are the germs that cause cavities contagious?
A:  Yes!  59% of respondents don't realize that cavity-causing germs can be passed from person to person.  Parents and caregivers can pass bacteria that cause cavities to their children by pre-chewing food or sharing utensils.

Q:  How often should you floss your teeth?
A:  53% of respondents think you should floss twice a week.  The ADA recommends flossing every day.  When you skip flossing, you miss cleaning more than 40% of the tooth surface.

Q:  Are refined sugars more harmful to teeth than natural sugars?
A:  67% of respondents think refined sugars are more harmful than natural sugar.  The truth is that all sugar can promote tooth decay.  Frequency of exposure increases risk.

Facts:
9 out of 10 adults ages 20-64 have had cavities in their permanent teeth.
Dental disease is the most common chronic disease suffered by children.
Nearly 1/2 of children ages 2-11 years old have had cavities in their baby teeth.


Check out www.MouthHealthy.org for more information.  The new website is organized by life stages and includes information on the top 10 dental symptoms, how to handle emergencies and A-Z oral health topics.

Dr. Caroline Wallace DDS
 Complete Dental Care
 Salem, Virginia