Test Your Smiles Knowledge | 16 Fun Trivia Questions About Oral Health, Hygiene and History (Part 1)

As Champion of Smiles, we love April—National Humor Month. Laughter is the best medicine, and at Delta Dental of Arkansas, we want to help Arkansans to have the healthiest, happiest smiles possible.

In that spirit, we challenge you to a little fun quiz about all things smiles. Enjoy the therapeutic value of humor and learn a thing or two about maintaining healthy teeth and gums.

Here is Part 1, and check back with us in a couple of weeks for Part 2.

1. How many permanent teeth do adults have?

a) 24

b) 28

c) 32

d) 36

2. When you lose tooth enamel, how long does it take to grow back?

a) 10 days

b) 2 weeks

c) 6 months

d) Tooth enamel doesn’t grow back.

3. True or false: George Washington wore wooden dentures.

4. A toothache can be caused by:

a) Tooth decay

b) Teeth grinding

c) Infected gums

d) Tiny worms inside teeth

e) a-c

5. What is better for your teeth: a toothbrush with hard or soft bristles?

6. Halitosis is the medical term for what condition?

a) Black hairy tongue

b) Bad breath

c) Plaque buildup

d) All of the above

7. What is the 2-2-2 rule for maintaining healthy teeth?

8. True or False: The actress Demi Moore lost her 2 front teeth due to stress.

Answer Key

1. c. People usually have 20 baby (primary) teeth at birth, which start to come in around 6 months of age. They fall out at various times throughout childhood. By age 21, all 32 of the permanent teeth have usually erupted. However, many adults have to have their wisdom teeth removed and end up with 28 teeth.  

2. d. Tooth enamel contains no living cells and cannot repair itself. Once it’s gone, tooth enamel can’t grow back. That’s why limiting the consumption of sugary and acidic foods that attack the tooth enamel is important. 

3. False. Although Washington did wear dentures, they were never wooden. His many pairs were built from different materials, including hippopotamus ivory, bone, gold wire, copper screws, lead and even human teeth. 

4. e. Toothaches can also be caused by many conditions, including an abscessed tooth, a tooth fracture or a damaged filling. In ancient times, some people believed tiny worms inside teeth were the reason for toothaches. The concept of tooth worms dates back to 5000 B.C. They were also mentioned in ancient Chinese scripts from 1500 B.C., and people in the Roman Empire and Middle Ages also thought tooth worms were real.

5. Soft. Hard-bristled toothbrushes are detrimental not only to the gum tissues but also to exposed root surfaces. In most instances, a soft-bristled brush is perfectly adequate to remove plaque. To remove hardened plaque (tartar), a professional cleaning is required. 

6. b. Bad breath, medically called halitosis, can result from poor dental hygiene and may be a sign of other health problems. Bad breath can also be made worse by the types of foods you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits.

7. Brush 2 times a day for 2 minutes each and see the dentist 2 times a year.

8. True. In a 2017 TV interview, the actress said revealed that she had lost her two front teeth due to stress. “Thank God for modern dentistry,” she quipped at the time. 

Dental Insurance Can Lead to Healthy Smiles

Did you enjoy the laugh? And maybe learn a couple of things?

At Delta Dental of Arkansas, we always want you to feel good about your smile. Your teeth can last a lifetime with daily brushing and flossing, a healthy diet and regular dental visits.

Having dental insurance can make those dentist visits affordable, so they become a part of your health and wellness routine.

Check out our rates for individuals, families and small to mid- and large-size groups.