Did You Know? A Dental Quiz

Do you ever wonder how much you really know about oral care? Do you have questions you are simply too embarrassed to ask your dentist? Maybe you already feel pretty confident in your dental knowledge, and the care you are taking to protect your smile. Whatever the case, though, it is never a bad idea to brush up on one’s understanding of preventive care and what is really required to best protect the smile from common threats like cavities and gum disease.

Water is more important to the body than the smile.

False. Water is absolutely essential to one’s oral health, as well as the body’s hydration. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day is actually one of the easiest ways to protect the smile. That is because water helps create saliva, which naturally limits plaque bacteria’s ability to calcify onto the surface of teeth, where it can create acidity. Help avoid this by drinking water.

Mouthwash is no substitute for dental floss.

True. Mouthwash can be a helpful addition to one’s hygiene routine, but nothing can take the place of flossing, for helping to prevent tartar buildup. That is because flossing effectively reaches into the crevices between teeth, where toothbrush bristles cannot reach, to remove bacteria that could contribute to cavity development and gum disease.

Crowns and fillings are all made of metal.

False. While you can get a dental crown or filling made of metal, modern restorations can also be made from a variety of materials, many of which are designed to be more comfortable and far more natural-looking than metal.

For instance, composite resin fillings, which are sometimes called tooth-colored fillings, are designed to look like natural teeth, wile still offering great protection against dental decay. Similarly, porcelain crowns are a natural-looking way to protect fragile teeth, yet they are strong and stain-resistant, allowing for long-lasting restoration.