Test Bank For The Dental Hygienist's Guide
to Nutritional Care, 6th Edition by 2025 Lisa F.
Mallonee & Linda Boyd & Cynthia A.
Stegeman Chapter 1-21
1. Which nutrient is most critical for collagen formation and wound healing in oral tissues?
A) Vitamin D
B) Vitamin C
C) Calcium
D) Iron
Answer: B) Vitamin C
Rationale: Vitamin C is essential for collagen synthesis, which is critical for gum and oral tissue
health. Deficiency can lead to scurvy and bleeding gums.
2. True or False: Dental caries is primarily caused by a deficiency of calcium in the diet.
Answer: False
Rationale: Dental caries results from bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates, producing acids
that demineralize enamel, not from calcium deficiency alone.
3. Which of the following is the best dietary source of complete protein?
A) Lentils
,B) Soybeans
C) Chicken
D) Rice
Answer: C) Chicken
Rationale: Complete proteins contain all essential amino acids. Animal proteins like chicken
are complete, whereas most plant proteins are incomplete.
4. Which mineral is most directly involved in enamel remineralization?
A) Magnesium
B) Sodium
C) Fluoride
D) Iron
Answer: C) Fluoride
Rationale: Fluoride strengthens enamel by forming fluorapatite, which is more resistant to acid
attack.
5. A patient with chronic xerostomia is at increased risk for:
A) Periodontal disease
B) Oral infections
C) Dental caries
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Rationale: Saliva protects teeth and oral tissues; reduced flow increases susceptibility to
decay, infection, and gum disease.
6. Which of the following vitamins is fat-soluble?
A) Vitamin C
B) Vitamin B12
C) Vitamin A
D) Vitamin B6
Answer: C) Vitamin A
Rationale: Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble and stored in the liver and adipose tissue.
,7. True or False: Excessive sugar intake is the only factor necessary to cause dental caries.
Answer: False
Rationale: Caries result from a combination of sugar intake, bacterial activity, and host factors
like saliva flow and tooth morphology.
8. Which life stage requires the highest calcium intake for proper dental development?
A) Infancy
B) Childhood
C) Adolescence
D) Adulthood
Answer: C) Adolescence
Rationale: During adolescence, rapid bone growth and tooth development increase calcium
requirements.
9. Which of the following is considered a non-nutritive sweetener?
A) Sucrose
B) Aspartame
C) Fructose
D) Glucose
Answer: B) Aspartame
Rationale: Non-nutritive sweeteners provide sweetness without calories or affecting blood
glucose levels.
10. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting added sugars to less than:
A) 5% of daily calories
B) 10% of daily calories
C) 20% of daily calories
D) 25% of daily calories
Answer: B) 10% of daily calories
Rationale: Excess sugar contributes to obesity, diabetes, and dental caries.
11. Which mineral deficiency is associated with impaired taste and enamel hypoplasia?
A) Zinc
B) Iodine
, C) Sodium
D) Copper
Answer: A) Zinc
Rationale: Zinc is important for taste perception and tissue growth; deficiency can impair
enamel development.
12. Scenario: A patient reports bleeding gums and frequent bruising. Which nutrient deficiency
should the dental hygienist suspect?
A) Vitamin C
B) Vitamin D
C) Calcium
D) Iron
Answer: A) Vitamin C
Rationale: Vitamin C deficiency leads to weak collagen, resulting in bleeding gums and poor
wound healing.
13. Which of the following dietary habits is most protective against dental caries?
A) Frequent snacking on sugary foods
B) Drinking fluoridated water
C) Eating sticky candies
D) Skipping breakfast
Answer: B) Drinking fluoridated water
Rationale: Fluoride helps remineralize enamel and reduce caries risk.
14. True or False: Protein-energy malnutrition can affect oral tissue repair.
Answer: True
Rationale: Adequate protein is essential for tissue growth, repair, and immune function.
15. Which vitamin is essential for normal bone growth and tooth mineralization, often paired with
calcium?
A) Vitamin A
B) Vitamin D
C) Vitamin C
D) Vitamin K
to Nutritional Care, 6th Edition by 2025 Lisa F.
Mallonee & Linda Boyd & Cynthia A.
Stegeman Chapter 1-21
1. Which nutrient is most critical for collagen formation and wound healing in oral tissues?
A) Vitamin D
B) Vitamin C
C) Calcium
D) Iron
Answer: B) Vitamin C
Rationale: Vitamin C is essential for collagen synthesis, which is critical for gum and oral tissue
health. Deficiency can lead to scurvy and bleeding gums.
2. True or False: Dental caries is primarily caused by a deficiency of calcium in the diet.
Answer: False
Rationale: Dental caries results from bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates, producing acids
that demineralize enamel, not from calcium deficiency alone.
3. Which of the following is the best dietary source of complete protein?
A) Lentils
,B) Soybeans
C) Chicken
D) Rice
Answer: C) Chicken
Rationale: Complete proteins contain all essential amino acids. Animal proteins like chicken
are complete, whereas most plant proteins are incomplete.
4. Which mineral is most directly involved in enamel remineralization?
A) Magnesium
B) Sodium
C) Fluoride
D) Iron
Answer: C) Fluoride
Rationale: Fluoride strengthens enamel by forming fluorapatite, which is more resistant to acid
attack.
5. A patient with chronic xerostomia is at increased risk for:
A) Periodontal disease
B) Oral infections
C) Dental caries
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Rationale: Saliva protects teeth and oral tissues; reduced flow increases susceptibility to
decay, infection, and gum disease.
6. Which of the following vitamins is fat-soluble?
A) Vitamin C
B) Vitamin B12
C) Vitamin A
D) Vitamin B6
Answer: C) Vitamin A
Rationale: Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble and stored in the liver and adipose tissue.
,7. True or False: Excessive sugar intake is the only factor necessary to cause dental caries.
Answer: False
Rationale: Caries result from a combination of sugar intake, bacterial activity, and host factors
like saliva flow and tooth morphology.
8. Which life stage requires the highest calcium intake for proper dental development?
A) Infancy
B) Childhood
C) Adolescence
D) Adulthood
Answer: C) Adolescence
Rationale: During adolescence, rapid bone growth and tooth development increase calcium
requirements.
9. Which of the following is considered a non-nutritive sweetener?
A) Sucrose
B) Aspartame
C) Fructose
D) Glucose
Answer: B) Aspartame
Rationale: Non-nutritive sweeteners provide sweetness without calories or affecting blood
glucose levels.
10. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting added sugars to less than:
A) 5% of daily calories
B) 10% of daily calories
C) 20% of daily calories
D) 25% of daily calories
Answer: B) 10% of daily calories
Rationale: Excess sugar contributes to obesity, diabetes, and dental caries.
11. Which mineral deficiency is associated with impaired taste and enamel hypoplasia?
A) Zinc
B) Iodine
, C) Sodium
D) Copper
Answer: A) Zinc
Rationale: Zinc is important for taste perception and tissue growth; deficiency can impair
enamel development.
12. Scenario: A patient reports bleeding gums and frequent bruising. Which nutrient deficiency
should the dental hygienist suspect?
A) Vitamin C
B) Vitamin D
C) Calcium
D) Iron
Answer: A) Vitamin C
Rationale: Vitamin C deficiency leads to weak collagen, resulting in bleeding gums and poor
wound healing.
13. Which of the following dietary habits is most protective against dental caries?
A) Frequent snacking on sugary foods
B) Drinking fluoridated water
C) Eating sticky candies
D) Skipping breakfast
Answer: B) Drinking fluoridated water
Rationale: Fluoride helps remineralize enamel and reduce caries risk.
14. True or False: Protein-energy malnutrition can affect oral tissue repair.
Answer: True
Rationale: Adequate protein is essential for tissue growth, repair, and immune function.
15. Which vitamin is essential for normal bone growth and tooth mineralization, often paired with
calcium?
A) Vitamin A
B) Vitamin D
C) Vitamin C
D) Vitamin K
