Protecting your smile is a lifelong job. With daily brushing, regular flossing, and routine checkups, your teeth and gums should stay healthy. Understanding the important facts about dental health can help you make the best decisions for your oral health.

True or False: Cavities are only a problem for children.
Answer: False. With the fluoridation of water and increase in dental care for kids, tooth decay in this age group has dropped. Unfortunately, the level of decay in older adults has risen; medication use, limited mobility, and chronic health issues are part of the reason for the increase.

True or False: Missing teeth don’t need to be replaced.
Answer: False. Even one lost teeth can create problems in your mouth. Remaining teeth can shift into the gap, causing misalignment. As well, you have an increased risk for additional tooth loss.

True or False: Dental implants are a good option for lost teeth.
Answer: True. Designed to look and function like your original teeth, dental implants are the closest prosthetic to nature. The implants are metal posted that a skilled surgeon places in your jawbone. After your mouth heals, your dentist will position a permanent crown on each post.

True or False: It’s normal for your teeth to bleed when you brush.
Answer: False. Just as bleeding somewhere on an extremity isn’t good, neither is bleeding in your mouth. If your gums bleed, it indicates some sort of problem, like brushing too aggressively or gum disease, so don’t ignore that symptom.

True or False: Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt.
Answer: True. Also called third molars, wisdom teeth usually come in during your late teens or early twenties.