School may be out, but there’s never a bad time to test and refresh your dental IQ. Determine if the following 10 statements are true or false:
1.) Bleeding gums are normal after brushing or flossing your teeth.
TRUE or FALSE?
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Answer: False. If your gums bleed regularly, make an appointment with your dentist. You could be brushing/flossing too hard, or this could be a sign of gingivitis or gum disease.
2.) It’s a good idea to plan a trip to your dentist before traveling long distances or overseas.
TRUE or FALSE?
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Answer: True. In many places you may not have access to the same dental care. Plan a trip to your dentist before you leave, just to be on the safe side.
3.) Sugar-free chewing gum can be healthy for your teeth.
TRUE or FALSE?
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Answer: True. Sugar-free gum gets saliva flowing in your mouth, which helps wash away food particles and helps prevent oral health problems such as tooth decay. Studies show that chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes following meals can actually help prevent tooth decay.
4.) When experiencing pregnancy, it is okay to ignore your oral health and focus on the baby.
TRUE or FALSE?
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Answer: False. Changing hormone levels can cause your dental health to go haywire. You should pay extra attention to your teeth and keep your regular dental appointments.
5.) When a child gets their first teeth, they don’t need to be brushed because they will eventually fall out anyway.
TRUE or FALSE?
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Answer: False. Baby teeth are important and need proper care to prevent decay. Baby teeth contribute to your child learning to chew and speak, and hold space in the jaws for the permanent teeth that are growing under the gums.
6.) Crunching on ice cubes is safe for your teeth.
TRUE or FALSE?
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Answer: False. Ice has been known to break teeth causing dental emergencies. We all need ice in our drink during the hot summer, but resist the temptation to crunch down on hard pieces of ice.
7.) Sports drinks or energy drinks are a better choice for your teeth than soft drinks or sodas.
TRUE or FALSE?
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Answer: False. Water is always the best choice for your teeth, since sports drinks feature sugar as a main ingredient. If using these drinks to reenergize, remember to alternate with water.
8.) Lemonade is not a healthy alternative to water.
TRUE or FALSE?
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Answer: True. While refreshing, lemonade causes exposure to acid and sugars that can cause harm to teeth. Enjoy a glass of lemonade, but it’s best to limit your consumption since it contains acid which can erode enamel, and sugar which can lead to tooth decay.
9.) The natural sugar found in fruit juice is safer for teeth than the refined sugar found in soda.
TRUE or FALSE?
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Answer: False. Any form of sugar can be harmful to your teeth because cavity-causing bacteria feed on sugar and produce acids, attacking tooth enamel.
10.) Sensitivity in the teeth is always a sign of tooth decay.
TRUE or FALSE?
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Answer: False. Tooth sensitivity can be caused by many things, including bleaching, cavities, worn fillings, fractures, brushing too hard, and even gum disease. Don’t guess – see your dentist if you experience sensitivity so he or she can pinpoint the cause.