PT155 S1 Q10 ExplanationDentist: Five recently conducted studies

Answer choices, explained

1. A

   Unclear Impact5% picked this

   Toothpaste containing fluoride is widely available in both the United States

   The fact that fluoridated toothpaste is available doesn’t tell us to what extent American vs. European kids are using it. Even if they’re both using it, American kids are getting additional fluoride through their water.

   5%
2. B

   Weakens, if anything16% picked this

   Nearly all dentists in the United States use dental treatments involving the application of fluoride

   Learning that almost all dentists think applying fluoride directly to teeth is worthwhile goes against the conclusion and makes it seem like fluoridation does help promote dental health.

   16%
3. C

   Weak Impact4% picked this

   Dental hygiene is typically taught in elementary school in both Europe and

   This somewhat goes against the potential objection that “fluoridation helps American kids’ teeth; the reason their teeth compare unfavorably to European children’s is that American kids don’t brush as well.” Does having dental hygiene taught in elementary school establish that American children brush as well as European children? Certainly not, but it nudges in that direction, so it somewhat goes against a potential objection like “poor brushing by the American kids is the real reason that their teeth seem worse”. However, this suggestive nudge is not as powerful as the correct answer.

   4%
4. D

   Weakens11% picked this

   On average, children in Europe receive dental checkups more frequently than children in

   This provides a potential factor for why European teeth would be better than American teeth. If European children receive more dental checkups, then they will probably have healthier teeth, all other things being equal. Thus, American children’s teeth might still be helped by fluoridated water. It’s just that the help fluoridated water provides isn’t enough to catch them up with the superior European teeth.

   11%
5. E

   Correct65% picked this

   The diets of children in the United States are not generally worse for teeth than those

   Why this is right

   This is pushing back against a possible line of objection. Someone could try to argue that, “Fluoridation absolutely helps prevent tooth decay! The only reason that American kids, who drink fluoridated water, have worse teeth than European kids who drink un-fluoridated water is that American kids have a diet that is worse for teeth (lots of sugary foods and beverages).” If the diets were very different, in terms of their effect on teeth, then it wouldn’t be fair to compare the European kids’ teeth to American kids’ teeth. By ruling out this objection, this answer is making the comparison seem more legit. “American and European kids essentially eat foods that would rot their teeth in a similar way. And yet, since American kids (whose water is fluoridated) have more tooth problems than European kids (whose water is not), it looks like fluoridation isn’t doing much.”

   Skill tested: Strengthen · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

   65%