The ADA has launched a new website, MouthHealthy.org, dedicated to improving the oral health of Americans.
The new website features a dental IQ quiz so people can test their own knowledge. The website is filled with prevention, care, and treatment information to help people get and stay "mouth healthy" for life.
In a national survey conducted by the ADA in May, survey respondents on average scored a D grade on a series of true or false questions ranging from how often to brush and what age should a child first visit a dentist to what causes cavities.
Here are some highlights from the survey, which included a nationally representative sample of nearly 1,500 adults (with a margin of error of ± 2.6 points):
90% of respondents mistakenly believe they should brush after every meal when the ADA recommends only twice a day.
65% of respondents mistakenly believe they should only replace their toothbrush twice a year when the ADA recommends every three months.
75% of respondents don't know what age to take their child to the dentist for the first time when the ADA recommends within six months after the first tooth appears or no later than the child's first birthday.
81% of respondents mistakenly think that sugar causes cavities when it's really germs in the mouth that feed on sugar, then produce acid that attacks tooth enamel. In time, these acid attacks weaken the enamel to the point where a cavity forms.
59% of respondents don't realize cavity-causing germs can be passed from person to person.
The website is organized by life stages and includes information on the top 10 dental symptoms, how to handle dental emergencies, A to Z oral health topics, and how to find an ADA member dentist and ADA Seal of Acceptance products. Also included are videos, tips, and activities, as well as a special section to make oral healthcare fun for children.
