Do you consider yourself to be a walking encyclopedia of dental knowledge? Or are you curious to learn more about the way your mouth, teeth, and gums work together to add to your overall health and happiness? Research suggests a strong connection between oral health and total well-being. Your Knoxville dentist, Dr. Jim Erpenbach, is dedicated to providing our patients with education on how to preserve their oral health.  Take the short quiz below to test your knowledge.

Questions

Q1. True or false – You should visit your dentist every six months for an exam or checkup.

Q2. True or false – You should brush your teeth a minimum of five minutes, twice a day, for optimal dental health.

Q3. True or false – Gums that bleed easily, gum tissue that appears red or purple, loosened teeth, and periodontal pockets are all signs of moderate to severe periodontal disease (gum disease).

Q4. True or false – The dentin of your teeth protects them from cavities.

Answers

A1. TRUE –  You should visit your Knoxville dentist every six months so that your hygienist and dentist can make sure teeth are free of cavity-inducing and gum disease causing plaque and tartar. At your appointment, Dr. Erpenbach will also be able to detect potential oral health problems such as tooth decay or oral cancer.

A2. FALSE – Brushing your teeth for at least two minutes helps ensure that you have removed most of the day’s plaque accumulation. Five minutes is an unrealistic goal, and might even lead to diminishing turns, as you don’t want to risk damaging your teeth from overzealous oral hygiene.

A3. TRUE – All of these symptoms may indicate gum disease. If gum disease is caught early enough, the condition is reversible with proper treatment and oral hygiene. However, if gum disease advances it is very destructive to your teeth, bones, and gum tissue.

A4. FALSE – Tooth enamel is the part of your teeth that protects them from cavities. In fact, enamel is the strongest substance in the human body, and the second strongest on earth, (right behind diamonds.)

Dental Checkups from Knoxville Dentist

Keeping your teeth and gums healthy will affect your quality of life and overall health positively. Visit your Knoxville dentist every six months. If you would like to schedule an appointment with our 37919 dentist office, you can call (865) 240-2035. We welcome patients from Knoxville and the greater metropolitan area.