Challenge yourself to a Quiz on Cavities

Do you know a lot about cavities? Take this quiz from Park Ridge dentists, Dr. Maria and Thanasi Loukas, and see if you are an expert on the common dental issue of tooth decay.

Questions

Q1. True or False: Sucrose (AKA sugar) causes cavities.

Q2. True or False: The first sign of a tooth decay is sharp pain.

Q3. True or False: Untreated tooth decay often leads to a tooth extraction.

Q4. True or False: People are all born with the germs that causes cavities.

Answers

A1. FALSE – Sugar contributes to cavities, true, but the key ingredient in tooth decay is Streptococcus mutans. This strain of bacteria which mixes with food particles to create plaque. You can reduce plaque production by avoiding sugar in your diet, because S. mutans feed on sucrose.

A2. FALSE – Mild tooth decay doesn’t always cause symptoms. Discomfort generally comes from advanced stages of rotting teeth, when the dentin beneath tooth enamel has been more deeply infiltrated by bacteria. Daily flossing and brushing at home can help prevent even mild cavities from beginning.

A3. TRUE – You may already have a dental filling (or more than one) in your mouth from cavities, but if they weren’t caught in time by your dentist, more invasive procedures would be necessary. When infection from cavities gets into the root of the tooth, a root canal procedure is necessary to clear out the bacteria, and stop if from spreading. If the infection goes even further than that, one of the Drs. Loukas might have to pull out the entire tooth.

A4. FALSE – We are born with mouths free of bacteria. S. Mutans are contagious, and we generally get them from our parents or caregivers when we are still babies. Kissing, sharing drinks, and blowing on food can transmit the pathogen from one mouth to another. The bacteria are able to survive in a baby’s mouth long before their first teeth even erupt.

Visit your Park Ridge Implant Dentists

To schedule an appointment with your Park Ridge implant dentists by calling Loukas General Dentistry at (847) 696-1919. Located in the 60068 area, we proudly serve patients from Park Ridge and the surrounding Chicago communities.