Give Me Back My Teeth! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Red gums and swollen gums

In the early stages of gum disease the signs may be slight. Every time you brush your teeth, you should check the state of the gums. Note any changes and report them to your dentist at your next check-up.

Another early sign of gum disease is halitosis, or bad breath.

Answer: Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the warning stage. If you take better care of your dental hygiene, it can be reversed.

Answer: A build up of plaque on the teeth

Plaque is a mixture of saliva, tiny bits of food and bacteria. When left to combine in the mouth they form a sticky film that will coat the teeth. Plaque can find any gap so can settle right on the gum line and start the process of gum disease.

The best way to prevent the build up of plaque is brushing and flossing the teeth properly at least twice a day.

Answer: False

Blood on the toothbrush is a sign that something is not right with your gums. By all means switch to a softer bristle brush, but do not dismiss this early sign.

Answer: Hardened plaque

Tartar, also known as calculus, is the solidified plaque that builds up on the teeth and has to be chipped away. Often it makes the teeth feel smoother as plaque seeps into tiny gaps and rough surfaces.

Answer: By a dentist or dental hygenist

You can still have tartar after having all of your teeth removed. Plaque builds up on false teeth, implants and plates, the same way as on natural teeth, and turns into tartar.

Answer: It is solid so the teeth feel more stable

As tartar collects on the gum line it can feel like a splint for the teeth. Unfortunately it also sneaks between the teeth and gum, leading to worse problems. It can eventually cause degeneration of the bone under the gums.

Answer: True

Gum disease will eventually cause the gums to retract, exposing more of the teeth. This is usually a slow process, so is most often an indicator of older age.

Horses get gum disease in a similar way to humans. "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth" means do not look at the teeth to see how old the horse is due to receding gums.

Answer: Flat feet

Gum disease means that the body is not functioning correctly. If not dealt with properly it can lead to other problems. Losing teeth because your gums have deteriorated to such an extent is bad enough, but the consequences are far more serious than a gap in your smile.

Dr Nigel Carter, who became the Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation in 1997, explained that although the link between a healthy mouth and a healthy body is well known, only a third of the population realised that there is a raised chance of heart disease, due to an unhealthy mouth. Only half as many people knew that there could be a higher chance of a stroke or diabetes.

Answer: Brushing your teeth before eating instead of after

Advice from dentists is that you should spit rather than rinse, after using fluoride toothpaste, but before meals. If you clean your teeth properly and therefore prevent tooth decay, plaque build-up and tartar, visits to the dentists can be reduced too.

Chewing a sugar free gum after eating can promote healthy saliva and is better for tooth health than brushing them.

Saliva is important in the digestion of food. By brushing your teeth before eating you are ensuring that the saliva is as healthy as possible. Rinsing will remove the fluoride from the mouth. The dentist's job is to help you and your teeth to remain healthy. If you follow these simple rules, the dentist will be happy to see less of you.