10 questions to help you know if you are taking care of your teeth properly

In 10 seconds, you can correctly answer questions about tooth decay, how many times a day you brush your teeth, how often you need to have your teeth cleaned... proving that you have good knowledge about dental care.

Photo: Health.

Please answer each of the following questions within 10 seconds and compare with the answers to better understand how to take care of your teeth scientifically, according to Dr. Duong Anh Tuan, Tam Duc Dental Clinic, Ho Chi Minh City.

Question 1. ShouldHow many times a day is best to brush your teeth?

A.2

B.3

C.4

D.5

E.The more the merrier

Answer: B

Explanation: According to the recommendations of dental experts, brushing your teeth 2 to 3 times a day is best. If you brush less than once, your teeth are vulnerable to bacteria. If you brush more than 3 times, your teeth are easily worn down due to mechanical impact, leading to later sensitivity. You should brush your teeth after main meals. The most important of which is after dinner. The evening is the longest rest period, from 6 to 8 hours, at this time bacteria can easily penetrate and destroy tooth enamel.

Question 2. After eating, when should you brush your teeth?

A.Right away

B.After 10 minutes

C.After 30 minutes

D.After an hour

E.After 2 hours

Answer: C

Research shows that drinking a glass of soda and then waiting 20 minutes before brushing your teeth also erodes the surface of your teeth under the enamel. Therefore, dental experts recommend waiting 30 minutes after eating or drinking before brushing your teeth, which is ideal. Many people think that they should brush their teeth immediately after eating acidic fruits for fear of damaging their teeth. However, research shows that brushing your teeth right away can cause the acid to penetrate deeper into the enamel. Therefore, it is best to rinse your mouth with clean water after eating acidic fruits and then wait 30 minutes to an hour before brushing your teeth.

Question 3. How often should you have your teeth scaled?

A.3 months

B.6 months

C.One year

D.2 years

Answer: B

To limit the harmful effects of tartar, you should brush your teeth regularly to remove all plaque and prevent tartar from appearing. When you see tartar starting to form around the tooth root with the characteristic of dark plaque that is not smooth like normal tooth structure, you need to go to the dental facility to remove tartar. Doctors recommend that it is best to remove tartar every 6 months.

Question 4. When should you start brushing your child's teeth?

A.Under one year old

B.From one to three years old

C.From 3 to 6 years old

D.Over 6 years old

Answer: B

From the age of one, when your child has grown all eight incisors, this is the right time to start cleaning your child's teeth. Note: Use a small, soft toothbrush and toothpaste for children.

Question 5. How often should you change your toothbrush?

A.One month

B.From 3 to 4 months

C.One year

Answer: B

An old toothbrush will not be good enough to clean your teeth. When the bristles are worn or damaged, they will not be able to clean your teeth properly. After 3 to 4 months of use, you will see that your toothbrush is still new, but dentists recommend that you change your toothbrush at this time to clean your teeth better.

Question 6. Tooth decay is caused by "tooth worms"?

A.Correct

B.Wrong

Answer: B

Tooth decay is not caused by actual "worms" but by certain types of bacteria in the mouth, such as streptococcus mutans, which oxidize sugars and starches into acids. The acid seeps into cracks and pits on the tooth surface, destroying the enamel and creating cavities.

Question 7. Eating a lot of sugar increases the risk of tooth decay?

A.Correct

B.Wrong

Answer: A

Research shows that people who eat more than 5 teaspoons of sugar a day have a higher risk of tooth decay than those who eat less than 5 teaspoons a day. In theory, if a person regularly eats sugar and brushes their teeth regularly, the risk of tooth decay will decrease. However, in reality, most people who like to eat sugar often do not pay attention to proper oral hygiene, and brushing their teeth too much is also harmful to their teeth. Therefore, dentists recommend that people limit their sugar intake and prioritize choosing foods that are less sweet to limit tooth decay.

Sentence 8.Are sugar-free soft drinks bad for your teeth?

A.Correct

B.Wrong

Answer: A

Sugar is not the only cause of tooth decay in soft drinks. Research shows that carbonated drinks contain high levels of acid, which destroys tooth enamel. Acid can be even more harmful to teeth than sugar. Therefore, avoid carbonated soft drinks, whether sugar-free or sweetened. Drink water or water with moderate fluoride content.

Question 9. Does sugar cause tooth decay depend on?

A.Sugar type

B.Eat a lot of sugar

C.How long sugar stays on teeth

D.Eat many times

E.Eat a lot of sugar and many times

Answer: C

Plaque is constantly forming in our mouths. Some bacteria use food particles and saliva to develop plaque, which is the cause of tooth decay. The longer plaque or sugars remain, the higher the risk of tooth decay, gingivitis, and periodontitis.

Question 10. Which of the following diseases can easily cause premature tooth loss?

A.Diabetes

B.Osteoporosis

C.Both

Answer: C

Diabetes makes you more susceptible to serious gum disease. Gums recede from teeth, teeth become loose and fall out early.Osteoporosis can weaken the jawbone that supports the teeth.If you have both of the above diseases, you need to have a good plan for taking care of your teeth and gums. In case of osteoporosis, you need to provide enough vitamin D, K, and calcium. People with diabetes need to have regular scaling, brushing, and daily oral hygiene to avoid scratches on the oral area.

According to VNE