The Ultimate Loose Tooth Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
3 min
The Ultimate Loose Tooth Quiz
Image: Jonathan Kirn/Photographer's Choice/Getty Images

About This Quiz

Losing baby teeth is a classic childhood rite of passage. Reminisce about the days of gap-toothed smiles and finding money under your pillow while learning more about baby teeth as you take this quiz.
At what age do most kids start losing their baby teeth?
four
six
eight
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There's no hard-and-fast rule, but most kids start losing teeth by age six and keep losing until age 12 or so.

By what age do most of us have all of our baby teeth?
two
three
four
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Again, the exact age many vary, but on average, we have all of our baby teeth by age three.

How many baby teeth are considered a full set?
20
22
26
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A full set for a three-year-old means twenty teeth; adults have 32 teeth (including wisdom teeth).

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In what order do we start losing our baby teeth?
It's random.
The first teeth to come in are the first teeth to come out.
The last teeth to come in are the first teeth to come out.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Most babies get their two bottom permanent teeth first, so those are usually the first teeth to fall out.

Does it matter if a baby loses a tooth early?
Yes. Losing a tooth early could cause spacing problems for permanent teeth.
No. Because we lose them anyway, it's not a big deal to lose a tooth early.
Yes. Losing a tooth early makes the other teeth come out earlier, too.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Losing a tooth early due to an accident or tooth decay can make the other baby teeth move around and not leave enough room for adult teeth.

Why is it best to let baby teeth fall out by themselves?
It's less painful to the child than pulling them.
There's usually less blood and less risk of infection.
Both of the above
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Generally, baby teeth come out exactly when they're supposed to-- but that doesn't keep us from wanting to pull them.

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Is it dangerous if your child swallows a loose tooth?
No. A lost tooth will pass harmlessly through your child's body.
Yes. A lost tooth can make your child sick.
Yes. A lost tooth can cause internal damage.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Although it means a loss for the Tooth Fairy, swallowing a tooth won't cause any problems for your child.

Who's the best person to pull your child's baby tooth?
you
your child
the dentist
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Unless it's causing problems and a dentist needs to pull it, your child is the best person to pull a baby tooth because only he or she knows how loose (and how potentially painful) it is.

What tools should you use to pull a loose baby tooth?
your fingers and some gauze or tissue
some pliers from the toolbox
a string to tie the tooth to a doorknob
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Gauze or tissue helps to grasp the tooth, while fingers are the safest pulling tool.

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Which foods are helpful for getting a tooth out painlessly?
crunchy foods like apples
hard, frozen foods like ice pops
Both of the above.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sometimes you can help remove a loose baby tooth by having your child bite into something crunchy or hard. A frozen ice pop can also dull any pain.

When's the best time to pull a loose tooth?
as soon as it starts to wiggle
when it's hanging on by just a tiny thread
when you see the permanent tooth starting to come in behind it
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's tempting to pull as soon as you see a tooth wiggle, but it's better to wait until it's barely hanging on to avoid pain (and blood).

What happens if a baby tooth refuses to come out?
You just wait until it finally falls out.
Go to the dentist and have it checked out to be on the safe side.
Keep working on it until you finally get it to come out.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sometimes, baby teeth don't want to leave, so your child's dentist may want to pull them once the permanent teeth erupt.

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What is it called when children get permanent teeth while still having their baby teeth?
shark teeth
tiger teeth
horse teeth
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sharks have multiple rows of teeth, so sometimes having both permanent teeth and baby teeth at the same time is called having "shark teeth."

When did the myth of the Tooth Fairy originate?
early 1700s
early 1800s
early 1900s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The image of a good fairy who exchanged money (or other gifts) for baby teeth appears to have begun in the United States in the early 1900s.

Why did ancient Europeans sometimes bury baby teeth?
They were afraid of witches getting them.
They thought that they represented part of their children's souls.
They were worried about them rotting.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ancient Europeans often buried or otherwise disposed of baby teeth out of concern that witches could use them to cast curses or spells.

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How much does the Tooth Fairy usually leave for a tooth these days?
25 to 50 cents
one to two dollars
five to seven dollars
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Most children get a dollar or two per tooth, although the first one sometimes brings a higher price.

Why do children in some Asian countries throw baby teeth on the roof while asking for a mouse's tooth to grow in its place?
Mice teeth are stronger than human teeth.
Mice teeth are whiter than human teeth.
Mice teeth grow for their entire lives.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A mouse's tooth might be preferable since it grows for a lifetime -- although that would probably present its own set of challenges.

How often should your child brush his or her teeth?
before going to bed
after every meal
at least twice a day
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ideally, children should brush after each meal, but most dentists recommend brushing at least twice a day.

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Which of the following is NOT an alternative name for baby teeth?
milk teeth
fall teeth
tiny teeth
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Baby teeth are also called deciduous, milk, fall, reborner, temporary or primary.

How soon can children get tooth decay?
By the time all of their baby tooth are in, so around age three.
As soon as they get teeth.
Children don't get decay in baby teeth.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Babies as young as six months can develop what's known as "baby bottle tooth decay" due to drinking milk, juice or other sugary liquids for long periods of time.

You Got:
/20
Jonathan Kirn/Photographer's Choice/Getty Images