Posted July 17, 2012
Pop quiz: How often should you floss?
If you think twice a week sounds about right, you’re like most Americans surveyed in the American Dental Association’s first oral health quiz. And you’d be wrong, as they were, about that and many other dental basics, netting them the lowly grade of “D” on the quiz.
“We’re hoping that this sets the low bar,” said Dr. Ada Cooper, a dentist in New York and an ADA spokeswoman.
The ADA released the survey results alongside the launch of mouthhealthy.org, which aims to bring oral health enlightenment to the masses – from what to do when you crack a tooth to what foods to eat when you have canker sores. You can take a modified version of the quiz on the site.
Vigilance about the state of your mouth and small habit changes can go a long way toward preventing tooth decay and catching a problem before it becomes more costly, Cooper said.
Nine out of 10 adults ages 20 to 64 have had cavities in their permanent teeth, and dental disease is the most common chronic disease suffered by children, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Twenty-four percent of adults have untreated cavities in their mouths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among children ages 6 to 19, it’s 16 percent.
Here are some common misconceptions people have about their teeth, according to the ADA’s survey of 1,500 adults, which was conducted in May.
Survey says: 90 percent of respondents believe they should brush after every meal.
ADA says: Brush only twice a day.
Survey says: 65 percent of respondents believe they should replace their toothbrush twice a year.
ADA says: Replace your toothbrush every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles become frayed.
Survey says: 75 percent of respondents don’t know what age to take their child to the dentist for the first time.
ADA says: A child’s first trip to the dentist should be within six months after the first tooth appears or no later than the child’s first birthday.
Survey says: 81 percent of respondents think that sugar causes cavities.
ADA says: Cavities are caused by germs in the mouth that feed on sugar and then produce acid which attacks tooth enamel. In time, the acid attacks weaken the enamel to the point where a cavity forms.
Survey says: 59 percent of respondents don’t realize cavity-causing germs can be passed from person to person.
ADA says: Yes, they can. Parents and caregivers can pass bacteria that cause cavities to their children by pre-chewing food, sharing utensils or licking a pacifier to clean it.
Survey says: 53 percent of respondents think you should floss twice a week.
ADA says: Floss once a day. Tooth brushing doesn’t clean between the teeth so germs can grow there and cause tooth decay and gum disease.
Survey says: 67 percent of respondents think refined sugars are more harmful to teeth than natural sugars.
ADA says: All sugar can promote tooth decay. The frequency of exposure, such as sipping any kind of sugary beverage, increases decay risk.