Try our True or False quiz and then check your answers below. Some of the answers may surprise you.

1. You should change your toothbrush 2-3 times a year. 
2. Aggressive firm brushing can do more harm than good.
3. Eating lots of sweets causes tooth decay.
4. Sucking on lemons can destroy tooth enamel.
5. The leading cause of tooth loss is cavities. 
6. Chewing on ice cubes is not harmful to your teeth.

Answers

1. False. A toothbrush should not be used longer than a maximum of three months.
2. True. Brushing should be gentle with the bristles of the brush held at a 45 degree angle to the teeth.
3. False. Sugar does not cause cavities; it is how long the sugar remains in your mouth that is the issue. With time the bacteria in your mouth feeds on the sugar and excretes acids that eat away at the  tooth enamel leading to cavities. If you are on the go, chewing a piece of sugarless gum will help clear your mouth of harmful sugars and buffer the acid by stimulating saliva production.
4. True. The acid eats through the enamel.
5. False. The leading cause of tooth loss is gum (periodontal) disease.
6. False. Teeth expand and contract in the presence of hot and cold liquids, as does the material used to fill cavities (particularly silver-fillings or amalgams), so chewing on ice can cause teeth to crack or fracture. Also the force needed to crush ice contributes to cracks and fractures  as well.

Source: http://dentistry.about.com/od/dentalhealth/l/bldosanddonts.htm

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