Special Sub-Topic: How Well Do You Know Your Mouth? Click Here To Play: How Well Do You Know Your Mouth?

What is the proper name for the eye tooth?

Canine. Canine teeth have only one root and are the strongest teeth in your mouth. Canines are also known as cuspids.

What is the sticky, cream-colored film on your teeth called?

Plaque. It's important to clean your teeth every day to remove plaque.

What is tartar or calculus?

Crystallized plaque. It takes approx 10 days for plaque to turn into tartar, which then your dental hygienist needs to remove for you. If you don't want tartar, make sure you remove all of your plaque!

What is the hanging ball thing in the center, at the back of your throat called?

Uvula. Almost a totally useless fact. Its main purpose is to block large pieces of food or objects from going down your throat which could cause you to choke.

How many roots does a molar on the top of your mouth usually have?

3. Usually 3- but in rare cases sometimes there are 4 roots.

How many roots does a molar on the bottom of your mouth usually have?

2. Again- it is possible to have an extra root but uncommon.

Antiseptic mouthwash, by itself, is an effective treatment for gingivitis.

f. Commercials implying that antiseptic mouthwash does fight gingivitis are incorrect. Plaque causes gingivitis, which needs to be removed by a scrubbing action rather than a rinsing action. Plaque is far too sticky to be removed by any mouth rinse.

How often should you floss?

Every day that you eat. The days you eat = every single day! (Well for most people). If you don't eat one day there's nothing to clean off your teeth so no need to floss!

How many teeth are in an adult dentition?

32. Including wisdom teeth, adults usually have 32 teeth in total. 16 on top and 16 on the bottom. Occasionally some people have an extra tooth (supernumerary) or they sometimes are missing a tooth (congenitally missing).

How many teeth are in an child's dentition?

20. These teeth are also called deciduous or milk teeth because of their white color. 10 on top, 10 on bottom.