Image: Hemera/Thinkstock
About This Quiz
Tooth enamel protects your teeth and plays a vital role in your overall dental health. Find out how much you know about your pearly white's first line of defense by taking this quiz.
Tooth enamel:
is the strongest material in the human body
Tooth enamel is the strongest material in the human body, but it's not impenetrable. It can be worn away over time by food, drink and a variety of environmental and hygienic factors.
can not be broken or worn away
both of the above
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When does enamel form on your primary, or baby, teeth?
during fetal development
Enamel forms on your teeth while you're still a babe in the womb, typically during the third or fourth month of pregnancy.
when you're a newborn
when you're a toddler
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What is tooth enamel?
the protective, exterior covering of a tooth
Enamel is a tooth's outermost covering and is thin but extremely strong. It acts as a protective shell and covers the visible portion of your teeth.
spongy middle interior of a tooth
type of beneficial plaque that breaks down germs
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What color is enamel?
yellow
white
translucent
Enamel is a very thin translucent layer that covers your teeth. Teeth get their pearly white color from the dentin crown, which is underneath the enamel.
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What can develop if your enamel wears down?
tooth sensitivity
Deteriorated enamel exposes the dentin, which is loaded with tiny nerve endings. Food or drinks that are hot or cold that touch the exposed dentin can cause discomfort that ranges from a minor annoyance to a shocking, sudden jolt of intense pain.
discoloration of enamel
loss of enamel on gums
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Besides brushing and flossing your teeth daily, how can you prevent enamel erosion?
You should chew gum.
Chewing gum increases saliva production, and the minerals in saliva strengthen enamel. Look for sugar-free gum with xylitol in it, an ingredient that diminishes acids in food and drinks.
Grind your teeth to wear off plaque naturally.
Eat highly acidic food.
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Some people are born with weak tooth enamel.
True
Weak enamel can be an inherited trait, but it's not always to blame. Thankfully, even if you're born with weak enamel, there are steps you can take to prevent the deterioration of your teeth's precious protective covering.
False
All enamel problems are inherited.
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What are indications that you might have enamel erosion?
shifting placement of teeth
whitening of the tooth over time
tiny divots
Tooth sensitivity, discoloration and changed appearance all can indicate enamel loss. Sometimes miniscule divots appear on the face of a tooth. This is because there is no enamel shell to protect the tooth from plaque, which eats away at the dentin crown, creating the divots.
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What can cause your enamel to break down?
low saliva flow
Saliva contains minerals that strengthen enamel. When your mouth has low levels of saliva, your enamel is weaker and easily worn or damaged because it lacks these minerals to strengthen it.
eating pork
the temperature inside your mouth
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What's a common dental procedure for enamel erosion?
retainer
dental bonding
Dental bonding is one treatment for minor enamel loss. A dentist applies a resin that matches the color of your tooth then hardens it with a laser or ultraviolet light. Besides improving their appearance, this process protects teeth with worn enamel.
braces
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What's a preventative measure you can take to avoid enamel weakening?
using toothpaste containing fluoride
drinking from a straw
both of the above
Brush and floss your teeth daily. Use toothpaste that contains fluoride because the ingredient strengthens teeth. When you drink sugary or acidic beverages like soda, use a straw to push the liquid to the back of your throat, where less of it will come into contact with your teeth.
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True or false? Enamel erosion can be reversed.
True
False
Enamel contains no living cells, so it can’t repair itself. Once it's gone, the damage is permanent.
Not often, but occasionally.
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When your enamel has worn, what could cause pain in your teeth?
drinking a slushy
sipping hot coffee
both of the above
When enamel is worn down, the main body of the tooth -- the dentin -- is left exposed and unprotected. Food or beverages that are hot or cold can cause minor to extreme pain, depending on the severity the enamel's erosion.
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What should you do after you consume acidic foods and beverages?
brush your teeth
rinse your mouth out with water
both of the above
Chemicals in food or drinks, including acids, can wear down your enamel and cause serious harm to the underlying teeth. When you consume something acidic, rinse out your mouth with water or brush your teeth to get rid of the acidic residue left in your mouth.
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A margarita made with a sugar-free substitute does not weaken enamel.
True
False
Using a sugar-free substitute decreases the quantity of enamel-damaging sugar in margaritas. Unfortunately, these popular drinks are made with limes, a highly acidic fruit, so your enamel's in trouble regardless if you go sugar-free or not.
It depends on the size of the margarita.
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How can you cause enamel erosion?
using the wrong kind of toothpaste
using an electric toothbrush
brushing your teeth with a hard-bristled toothbrush
Toothbrushes with hard bristles can be too abrasive and scrape off enamel instead of simply cleaning it. Brush frequently with a soft toothbrush, or buy an electric toothbrush, which will control the pressure and power of your brush strokes.
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How often should you get your teeth cleaned by your dentist?
when you detect a problem
once every three years
once or twice a year
It's important to visit the dentist for an annual or biannual teeth cleaning. These professionals have special tools and techniques that allow them get rid of more plaque buildup than you can through regular brushing.
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When enamel loss occurs, teeth can appear:
smooth and shiny or rounded
Unprotected teeth change in appearance and can look bulbous or rounded, noticeably shinier and smooth or ragged with sharp edges. They can even develop little divots where harmful substances like acids have begun to eat away at the tooth itself.
spongy or squishy
both of the above
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What's an often-overlooked method for preventing enamel deterioration?
professional teeth whitening
over-the-counter teeth whitening kits
regular brushing and flossing
Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing regularly is the key to healthy teeth and preventing problems with your enamel.
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Does enamel thickness vary across the surface of your teeth?
yes
Enamel thickness varies across the face of the tooth. Some teeth have peaks or sharp points called cusps that do a lot of the tooth's work, absorbing significant wear and tear. This special protective shell tends to be thicker here than the borders or outside edges of the tooth.
no
only on the molars
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You Got:
/20
Hemera/Thinkstock
