How do you think you would do on a quiz about oral health? Thanks to the American Dental Association (ADA) you have a chance to find out. 90% of American adults have cavities in their teeth and almost half of all children under the age of 11 suffer from dental decay. Reducing those numbers by educating the public about prevention is the goal of the ADA’s new website – MouthHealthy.org.

ADA President Dr. William Calnon said “Oral health is a critical part of overall health. MouthHealthy.org will help empower people to take charge of their oral health.” The ADA survey showed that American’s average score was a “D” on the dental IQ test included on the website.

• 65% of people think they should replace their toothbrush 2 times per year – actually it is every three months.
• 75% of people (including parents) don’t know the age a child should have their first dental visit – The first visit should be before age 1 or within 6 months of the first tooth coming in.
• 81% of people believe cavities are caused by sugar. Sugar is part of the process but it only serves as food for oral bacteria which then secrete acids which damage tooth enamel.

Lots of other questions (and answers) can be found on the website. The ADA has also included a Spanish language version of the site and a children’s section with fun, educational activities.

Advertising on the site will be limited to those products that don’t damage oral health so you won’t be seeing ads for soda or sports drinks.

Contact Dr. Mark Levy at StoneRidge Dental Care in Columbus, OH today at 614-476-6696 to schedule your next appointment.