Americans have poor knowledge of oral health
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- Published: Monday, 03 September 2012 11:26
- Written by News Editor
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| A new survey from the American Dental Association (ADA) shows that Americans seriously need to clean up their act when it comes to oral health. The survey shows that Americans' average score was a 'D' in the survey's range of 'true or false' questions, which included questions like how often should teeth be cleaned, what causes cavities and the age of a child's first dentist visit.
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ADA's new consumer website, www.MouthHealthy.org, which was launched recently, provides information on prevention, care and treatments to improve and maintain dental care in addition to the dental IQ test so that visitors to the site can test their own knowledge.
It revealed that:
- 90% of people believe they should clean their teeth after every meal, whilst ADA recommends cleaning twice a day
- 81% of people believe that cavities are caused by sugar. However, it is not the actual sugar that causes cavities, but germs in the mouth that feed on sugar and produce acid that attacks the teeth enamel, which over time wear down the enamel to such an extent that cavities form
- 75% have no idea at what age they should take a child to the dentist for the first time. According to ADA recommendations, a child's first dentist visit should be within six months after the first tooth appears or before the child's first birthday
- 65% of people think their toothbrush should be replaced twice a year, when it should be replaced every three months
- 59% of people are unaware that germs that can cause cavities can be passed from person to person
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