Dental Articles

Test Your Teeth Smarts

Brushing and flossing get you more than healthy, white teeth: The habits may help ward off heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other illnesses. Take our quiz to see if you're taking proper care of your pearly whites.

Questions:

1. Limit brushing to 2 minutes. T/F

2. Always floss after brushing. T/F

3. Rank these drinks from the least to the most harmful to your teeth.

a) soda
b) fruit juice
c) milk
d) sports drinks

4. Gum disease starts in the 20s. T/F

Answers:

1. True - Two minutes is plenty for getting plaque off teeth. Scrubbing longer may harm the gums.

2. False - Experts say to floss before brushing to break up debris and then sweep it away. Flossing at least twice a day is best, but once is enough to keep your mouth healthy.

3. Milk; fruit juice; soda; sports drinks - New research finds that sports drinks erode enamel even faster than sodas. Fruit juice isn't as bad as dentists believed, but it turns out that milk isn't as protective as they once thought. Thirsty? Water is the kindest on teeth.

4. True, at least if you still have your wisdom teeth - A recent study by University of North Carolina researchers found that 60% of people in their 20s with all four wisdom teeth showed early signs of gum disease.