Does having diabetes increase your risk of dental disease?
Yes
No
Yes is the correct answer. Individuals with diabetes should be aware that they have a higher incidence of periodontal (gum) disease. You may require two or more cleaning visits each year in order to maintain your periodontal health. Diabetic patients with gum disease have an increased chance of cardio-renal complications.
Brushing twice a day and flossing once daily are very important in reducing your risk of further gum disease.
2.
You are more likely to get a cavity if the last time you had a cavity filled was...
Within the last three years
More than three years ago
Within the last three years is the correct answer. Individuals who have had cavities are more likely to continue to get them. If you have had a cavity filled in the last three years, pay special attention to daily oral hygiene. Your dentist may recommend a preventive regimen which could include daily brushing with a fluoride toothpaste, fluoride treatments, home fluoride rinses, and dental sealants for unfilled molars with deep pits and grooves. You may also be asked to cut back on foods that contain sugar and acid.
3.
Gum Disease is Associated With...
Pregnancy
Heart disease and stroke
Diabetes
All of the above
All of the above is the correct answer. Gum disease is caused when bacteria collect on teeth and in the space between the tooth and the gum. Untreated periodontal (gum) disease results in the destruction of the bone that supports the teeth.
Pregnant women are very susceptible to gum disease. If untreated, this may result in low birth weight babies.
The good news is that gum disease can be reversed but you must act while it is in the early stages. Ask your dentist to check for this. Untreated, gum disease can lead to other serious health conditions, heart disease and stroke, and diabetes.
4.
Living in a Fluoridated Community Helps Reduce my Risk for Tooth Decay.
Yes
No
I don’t know. Should I care?
If you do... You should care! Fluoride in the water supply and the use of toothpastes containing fluoride is the primary reason for the dramatic decrease in tooth decay in US children since the 1960s. Bottled water typically does not contain fluoride.
If your water supply is not fluoridated, make fluoride toothpaste part of your daily routine. Start with children after age one, or when they can spit, not swallow. You only need a small amount—the size of a pea.
Your dentist can apply much more specific and concentrated treatments, like a fluoride varnish which is painted right on the teeth.
Which of the following is a greater risk for cavities?
Soft drinks/energy drinks
Cough drops and hard candies
Sticky foods like taffy and raisins
Chewing gum
All of the above
All of the above is the correct answer. All of the above. Be aware of the sugars in the foods you eat. Sugary foods, drinks, candies and gums increase acid production by the bacteria that cause cavities. The longer and more frequently that sugars and acids stay in your mouth, the greater the risk of decay.
Drink sodas, sports and energy drinks through a straw and rinse your mouth with water when you’re done to get rid of lingering sugars and acids. Clinical studies show that regular use of gums and mints containing Xylitol, a natural sweetener, may help reduce cavities. Read about Xylitol at http://www.deltadentalma.com/oralhealth/articles/Xylitol.html
6.
Did you know that having a persistently 'dry mouth' can be related to dental disease?
Yes
No
Yes is the correct answer. Some commonly used medications can cause dry mouth, or a reduction in the mouth’s natural saliva production. This may increase your risk of cavities. Saliva protects against tooth decay. It helps with chewing and swallowing food in the mouth, aids digestion in the stomach, and controls the level of bacteria in the mouth.
Children probably won’t talk about dry mouth. However, this condition can mean that your child may be more likely to get cavities. If you or your children are taking over-the-counter or prescription medications, ask your dentist or pharmacist if they may contribute to dry mouth. Your dentist may recommend saliva substitutes and/or additional therapies to help decrease your risk of cavities. You can also make sure you drink extra water during the day to help rinse food from your mouth.
7.
It is okay to put a baby to bed with a bottle of juice or milk...
Daily
Sometimes
Never
Never is the correct answer. No Bottles at Bedtime! Putting your baby to bed with a bottle containing formula, milk, or juice puts the child at risk for tooth decay. Bacteria in the mouth turn the sugars in the liquid into acids which attack tooth surfaces and cause decay while baby sleeps.
Tooth decay often looks like brown spots on the child’s teeth. Ten to twenty percent of 2-year olds have at least one decayed or filled tooth*! (*Source: National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey)
Talk to your pediatrician or dentist about putting your baby to bed with a baby bottle of water.
8.
What is the role of baby teeth...
Help babies learn to speak
Guide permanent teeth into place
Help the face and jaw develop
Allow babies to start eating solid food
Are important even though they eventually fall out
All of the above
All of the above is the correct answer. All of the above. Even though baby teeth are temporary, they are very important. Some stay in the mouth until the child is almost 12! Baby teeth assist speech development and nutrition. They hold a spot for permanent teeth.
Children who drink bottles of milk or juice at bedtime or who do not take care of their teeth can develop advanced dental decay and gum disease. Permanent teeth that come into an unhealthy (decayed) mouth are likely to become unhealthy too and the child may then suffer lifelong health issues.
It is never too early to teach your child good oral health habits.
9.
The hardest material in the human body is...
Bone
Enamel
Enamel is the correct answer. The tooth’s enamel is the hardest material in the body. Enamel is so hard, it helps teeth last longer than any other part of the body, including the bones! The enamel layer protects the sensitive nerves and blood vessels inside the tooth from bruises and the bacteria that cause cavities.
However, the tooth’s enamel can be eroded by bacteria that turn the sugars not cleaned away into acids. Brushing and flossing removes the food and acids and helps keep the enamel strong.
10.
You should brush your teeth...
Once a week
Twice a day
After each meal
Twice a day and After each meal are the correct answers. Brush and floss daily. Dentists recommend brushing at least twice a day, and after each meal if you can, for 2 minutes. One minute isn’t enough to remove plaque and tarter and brushing for more than 2 minutes risks bruising gums. Divide your mouth into quarters and spend 30 seconds on each one. Your hygienist can show you the best way to brush.
Don’t forget to floss too. If you brushed but haven’t flossed, the job is only half done! Finish off the job by rinsing for 30 seconds with a mouthwash.
