At Family Smile Center LLC in Frederick, Maryland, Dr. Peter Cha & Danny H. Dinh and the rest of our team want to emphasize how important your oral health is to your healthy, beautiful smile. It starts in the home with regular daily oral hygiene.
Along with routine professional dental cleanings, brushing twice a day and flossing (at least) once a day will help you maintain your pearly whites. But what happens if you neglect your oral health? How well do you know your pearly whites? And how do you end up with tooth decay?
Let’s take a little quiz to help familiarize you with the dangers of tooth decay.
Which one of these statements is UNTRUE when it comes to the inner workings of your teeth?
A. Tooth enamel: the hard outer layer protecting the dentin.
B. Dentin: the tough middle layer of the tooth, protecting the tooth pulp.
C. Tooth pulp: the middle of the tooth made of connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerves.
D. Jawbone: the layer of the tooth that connects it to your skull.
Which of these does NOT cause tooth decay?
A. Enzymes in your saliva erode your tooth unless you drink lots of water.
B. Bad bacteria can damage your teeth if left unchecked.
C. Oral bacteria create acid which erodes your teeth.
D. A tooth is susceptible to decay if there is a hole in the tooth.
Which of these will NOT happen if a tooth with decay is left untreated?
A. You will experience a heart attack and possibly a stroke.
B. Your tooth will experience pain, known as a toothache.
C. Your tooth will become infected and your gums become swollen.
D. Your tooth will fall out with advanced gum disease.
Which one of these statements is TRUE when it comes to encouraging tooth decay?
A. Having fluoride treatments when you see your dentist for routine checkups.
B. Having too much saliva production causing a condition called ‘moist mouth’.
C. Not eating enough sugar in your diet to feed the healthy bacteria in your mouth.
D. Avoiding flossing until you see your dentist every six months.
Which of the following is NOT a sign of tooth decay?
A. Having a yucky taste in your mouth, or chronic bad breath.
B. Deep blue or even purple spots on your teeth.
C. Tooth sensitivity or toothache pain.
D. Swollen gum tissue next to a tooth which is hurting.
Dr. Peter Cha & Danny H. Dinh and our team at Family Smile Center LLC are always happy to help our patients in Frederick, Maryland, achieve and maintain a healthy smile. We look forward to working with you to create the oral health you desire. Combining strong oral hygiene habits with bi-annual dental cleanings, you are well on your way to a confident smile! We invite you to call 301.663.9484 to schedule your next checkup with our team.
Answers: D, A, A, D, B.