You may hear an awful lot about the dangers of tooth decay and gum disease but feel a bit in the dark about how to keep your smile healthy. Understanding that dental cleanings, checkups, brushing, and flossing all guide you toward a healthy smile is extremely important. However, this information is often only useful if you understand why and how these factors contribute to helping you maintain your oral health. For a clearer idea of how preventive dentistry protects your mouth and how you can best utilize this field of dental care, test your knowledge and learn more with the following quiz:
Preventive Dentistry Quiz: True or False
- True or False: Preventive dentistry only includes cleanings
- True or False: In addition to treating oral cancer, preventive services may also treat problems like bruxism (teeth-grinding) and TMJ disorder (jaw joint problems)
- True or False: Preventing gum disease makes your life easier but you can always treat and cure it once it develops
- True or False: As long as you brush and floss daily, you don’t really need preventive dentistry visits
Quiz Answer Key
- False. Preventive dentistry includes professional dental cleanings to remove plaque, checkups to monitor your mouth for changes so we may offer treatment, oral cancer screenings, and preventive treatments to address problems as they arise
- True. During your dental checkup, we will ask you questions and examine your mouth not only for signs of tooth decay or gum disease but also for problems with your supportive structures. Preventing dental disease and disorders means keeping every portion of your oral cavity and supportive tissues healthy and functioning well.
- False. Part of the reason we are so insistent that you keep your six-month preventive dental cleanings and checkups is because we can only cure gum disease in its earliest stage, called gingivitis. If you neglect periodontal illness, it will progress into full gum disease, which we can treat and control, but cannot cure. Early detection can protect your mouth from the devastating side effects of gum disease, which include tooth loss, gum damage, and jawbone deterioration.
- False. You can remove a lot of the plaque – the leading cause of gum disease and tooth decay – that adheres to your teeth every day but not all of it. Only our professional techniques will remove every trace.
ABOUT YOUR DOWNEY DENTISTS:
Dr. Hadis Reyhani, Dr. Ben Reyhani, and Dr. Pasha Hakimzadeh, DDS, provide a wealth of combined experience, along with innovative technology and personalized care, to help improve our patients’ dental health so they can enjoy smiling again. To schedule a consultation, call Downey Family Cosmetic Dentistry today at (562) 472-2433.
