What increases your risk of cavities the most?

Frequent sugar is the biggest everyday factor, especially snacks and drinks spread through the day. Recent cavities, a dry mouth and not using fluoride toothpaste also raise the risk considerably.

What are the main risk factors for gum disease?

Plaque left along the gumline and between teeth is the root cause. Smoking and poorly controlled diabetes are the two strongest factors that make it worse, and bleeding gums are the most common early sign.

Can gum disease be reversed?

Gingivitis, the early stage, is reversible with thorough daily cleaning and a professional clean. Once it progresses to periodontitis, the bone lost around the teeth doesn't grow back, but treatment can stop it getting worse.

How often should I see a dentist?

It depends on your risk. Many low-risk adults do well with a yearly check-up, while people at higher risk of cavities or gum disease are often seen every three to six months. Your dentist will set the interval after an exam.

Does the quiz store my answers?

No. The quiz runs entirely in your browser and doesn't save your answers anywhere. Closing or refreshing the page clears them.

Risk quiz

Oral Health Risk Quiz

Most cavities and gum disease come down to a handful of everyday habits. Answer eleven quick questions and see your cavity and gum disease risk, what you are already doing well, and the changes that would help most.

About 2 minutes
Free, no sign-up
Your answers stay in your browser

Step 1 of 119%

How often do you brush your teeth?

How it works

Behind the numbers

What the quiz looks at

Dentists judge risk from the same kinds of factors this quiz asks about: how well plaque is cleaned away, how often teeth meet sugar and acid, whether fluoride is working for you, recent decay, bleeding gums, smoking, dry mouth and conditions like diabetes.

Each answer adds weight to your cavity risk, your gum disease risk or both. A few answers, like two or more recent cavities or smoking, are strong enough on their own to rule out a low result.

Why the tips are personal

Generic advice lists every good habit at once, which is easy to ignore. The quiz ranks your answers by how much each one adds to your risk and shows only the top three, so you start with the change that will do the most.

What it can't tell you

Early decay between teeth and bone loss around them are silent and only show up on an exam and x-rays. A low score is encouraging, but it doesn't replace a check-up.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What increases your risk of cavities the most?: Frequent sugar is the biggest everyday factor, especially snacks and drinks spread through the day. Recent cavities, a dry mouth and not using fluoride toothpaste also raise the risk considerably.
What are the main risk factors for gum disease?: Plaque left along the gumline and between teeth is the root cause. Smoking and poorly controlled diabetes are the two strongest factors that make it worse, and bleeding gums are the most common early sign.
Can gum disease be reversed?: Gingivitis, the early stage, is reversible with thorough daily cleaning and a professional clean. Once it progresses to periodontitis, the bone lost around the teeth doesn't grow back, but treatment can stop it getting worse.
How often should I see a dentist?: It depends on your risk. Many low-risk adults do well with a yearly check-up, while people at higher risk of cavities or gum disease are often seen every three to six months. Your dentist will set the interval after an exam.
Does the quiz store my answers?: No. The quiz runs entirely in your browser and doesn't save your answers anywhere. Closing or refreshing the page clears them.

Read the full guides

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How Cavities Form, and How to Actually Stop Them
A cavity is a running total of acid attacks your saliva could not keep up with. Here is the cycle in plain words, why snack frequency beats quantity, and the levers that work.
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Gingivitis: The Early Signs and How to Reverse It
Gingivitis is the one stage of gum disease that fully reverses. The early signs, the two week turnaround, exactly what to change, and when it is something more.
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Eat for Your Enamel: The Best and Worst Foods for Your Teeth
Your diet shapes your dental health as much as your toothbrush does. Here's what strengthens enamel, what quietly wears it away, and why timing matters more than you'd think.
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Flossing 101: Why It Matters and How to Do It Properly
Half of every tooth surface never sees a toothbrush bristle. Here's why daily flossing matters more than most people realize, and how to make it quick and painless.
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Fluoride: What It Does, and What to Make of the Safety Questions
A calm look at fluoride: how it protects teeth, why topical use matters most, what fluorosis really is, how to think about water fluoridation, and what fluoride-free toothpaste trades away.
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Periodontitis Explained: Pockets, Bone Loss, and What Treatment Can Hold
Periodontitis is the stage where gum disease reaches the bone. What the probing numbers mean, why the damage does not reverse, and what good treatment realistically achieves.