Cavities Quiz from Your Knoxville Dentist

Q1. True or false: Cavities is the number one preventable disease among children in the United States.

 

Q2. Which of the following describes a sealant?

A. Cavity prevention

B. Teeth whitening

C. Dental restoration

D. Orthodontics

 

Q3. True or false: The bacteria responsible for tooth decay are called S. mutans.

 

Q4. Which of the following…

Q1. True or false: Cavities is the number one preventable disease among children in the United States.

 

Q2. Which of the following describes a sealant?

A. Cavity prevention

B. Teeth whitening

C. Dental restoration

D. Orthodontics

 

Q3. True or false: The bacteria responsible for tooth decay are called S. mutans.

 

Q4. Which of the following is a sugar replacement that fights cavities?

A. Sucralose

B. Xylitol

C. Stevia

D. Aspartame

 

Q5. True or false: Cavities will heal themselves over time.

Cavities Quiz Answers

A1. True: Researchers have recently announced that cavities among children are seeing the first increase in forty years. They attribute the recent surge in childhood tooth decay to an increase in sugary diets and more lax parenting when it comes to enforcing oral hygiene.

A2. A: Sealants prevent cavities by sealing off the tooth from bacteria and acid erosion with a thin plastic coating. These are a great option for children who are developing oral hygiene habits, or for patients who have a difficult time brushing in hard to reach places.

A3. True: The bacteria that causes cavities are called streptococcus mutans  or S. mutans. These bacteria metabolize sugar causing acid formation. The acid made from this combination wears away tooth defenses until the bacteria can infect the tooth, causing a cavity.

A4. B: Xylitol is a cavity-fighting sugar alternative. This natural sweetener found in fibrous plants traps S. mutans and starves the bacteria. This avoids the chain reaction with sugar to create acid, and preventstooth decay. Xylitol can be found in sugar-free gum like Trident.

A5. False: Cavities are not a self-healing wound. Tooth decay is a growing infection that will spread to the inner structures of your tooth. Without treatment, cavities can cause extreme toothache with either an internally infected tooth or a dental abscess. Both of these conditions require much more invasive dental restoration than a simple filling.

Preventive Dentistry in Knoxville

For more information about cavity prevention, contact our Knoxville dental office at 865-584-8630. Dr. Erpenbach as well as our team of dental professionals looks forward to helping you restore your optimal oral health with conservative periodontal disease treatment.