Quiz: Are your dentures healthy?

Waterloo teeth were actually teeth taken from dead soldiers and made into dentures for the living.

Implants are attached in the mouth a tooth at a time, but they are far more expensive than dentures, costing about $3,000 to $4,500 per tooth and tens of thousands for a partial or full set.

Dish soap diluted in water is an effective denture cleaner, but other household cleaners, particularly abrasive ones, can damage dentures.

Aging and changes in gum tissue affect the fit, comfort and effectiveness of dentures, making it necessary for adjustments and replacements over time. Getting a "custom fit" is necessary as the mouth changes.

Using bleach or products with bleach will make the pink part of dentures -- designed to look like real gums -- white.

They stay about the same, with cleanings and checkups recommended every six months.

Most toothpastes are too abrasive for denture care and can wear down the surfaces more quickly.

Tooth enamel is much, much stronger than the acrylic, resin and plastics used for dentures, and due to their thinness and fine workmanship, dentures actually need to be handled with considerable care. Dropping them even inches can make them crack or shatter.

Horse and donkey teeth, among others, were cut down and made into human dentures for centuries.

Adhesives serve a short-term purpose and help with fit while the wearer is getting used to dentures or new adjustments. But using an adhesive to make an ill-fitting denture stay in the mouth is not advisable because it can lead to mouth soreness and gum problems.

Washington had many sets of dentures fashioned in his lifetime, but none were not made of wood. He had the luxury of being able to afford sets made from the ivory tusks of hippopotamuses, as well as other materials.

Sharp objects and even crunchy food can damage dentures and hurt gums. Natural teeth are far more sensitive to touch, while dentures lack feeling and control in steering foreign objects away from soft gum tissues.

Gum disease is troublesome for many who wear partial dentures because some natural teeth and gums are harder to clean due to attachments and appliances keeping dentures in place. Those with full dentures continue to be at risk for periodontitis and should massage, clean and maintain gum health to ensure that dentures fit well and gums do not shrink or weaken.

Dentures -- whether partial or full -- support the structure of a person's individual and unique bite and facial bone structure. Often, getting dentures means correcting problems with shifted or missing teeth, and the manmade replacements can fill out the face and restore muscle support, enhancing appearance.

Manmade technologies continue to improve, but you still have to give your gums a break overnight.

Five years is even a long life depending on how many changes are taking place in the mouth and jaw and how well the dentures themselves are cared for.

It's true.

All repairs need to go through a dental professional or serious damage to the dentures can occur.

Both bridges and partials can be fixed or removable.

Most dentists are trained to focus on saving teeth if at all possible.