A Fun Christmas Quiz For Our Burton Patients

What can you remember from the blogs that we posted in 2022?

Most of you will probably be putting the final touches to your Christmas celebrations right now, or perhaps you have suddenly realised how much you still have to do? Either way, now doesn’t seem the most appropriate time to try to tell our patients about a new aspect of dentistry or new piece of technology at the practice.

Instead, we thought that we would take this opportunity to have a little quiz to see how much you can remember from the blogs that we posted this year. The team at Mike Allen’s Dental Practice have put a few questions together for you, so let’s see how well you get on….

1 – Other than making your teeth more attractive, what benefits are there in having straighter teeth?

Although most people do opt for orthodontic treatment in order to have more attractive and straighter teeth, this is not the only benefit. It is widely accepted that, as a whole, even teeth are likely to be healthier than crooked ones. If your teeth are tightly packed or perhaps overlap each other, this creates small spaces for bacteria to hide. These are often places that aren’t easily reached, not only with a toothbrush but dental floss too. These may only be very small spaces but if tooth decay occurs, it will start to spread and you will eventually need to have the tooth filled.

2 – What causes dentures to become loose over time?

Some of this can be put down to the way that our face changes shape over time, but this can also be accelerated by the fact that when we lose a tooth, we also lose the root part of it. When this happens, the jawbone into which the tooth was previously placed will start to degrade and thin, with the body absorbing the nutrients from it. Although this may seem a small thing, it can cause the face to change shape a little. The fact that dentures don’t replace this root makes them even more vulnerable to movement. For secure and stable teeth replacement, dental implants are generally your best option as the titanium root emebeded in your jawbone is extremely strong. It also helps to prevent the bone loss we mentioned above.

3 – What are the key things to do to help avoid gum disease?

The basics of having healthy gums is to have a good oral health regime. This includes not only brushing your teeth well, angling the brush beneath the gum line, but using floss too in order to clean between the teeth and around the gum line. Other things you should do is, definitely quit smoking and make sure that you drink plenty of water and stay hydrated so that a dry mouth is avoided.

4 – What are the oral health benefits of quitting smoking?

Aside from the fact it will help to prevent your teeth from staining and that your breath will smell more pleasant, stopping smoking will help to prevent the risk of oral cancer and also minimise any harm caused by gum disease. As smoking is also very expensive, you will save a lot of money, perhaps money that could be better spent treating yourself to one of the cosmetic dental procedures that we offer.

5 – When might porcelain veneers be used?

Dental veneers are largely used either for improving the appearance of a patient’s teeth where they are stained to the point that a teeth whitening procedure would have an insufficient effect, but also where the enamel has become worn and the patient is suffering from painful and sensitive teeth. Veneers are also excellent for masking a varity of chips and cracks.

6 – What makes the teeth whitening treatment so popular?

Quite simply, this is a very affordable treatment for many and is applied in a non invasive and painless manner. The results are seen very quickly and its affordability makes it an excellent option for anyone looking for a significant last minute Christmas present.

7 – What might be causing bad breath and how can you overcome it?

Although some foods can cause bad breath; garlic being a classic example, this is usually temporary. Some bad breath, or halitosis, is more of a long term problem and can often be associated with gum disease. If you have been told that your breath smells none too fresh, make an appointment to see our Burton dental hygienist to have your gum health checked and get you back on the track to non smelly breath.

8 – Why should you use dental floss?

If you don’t floss between your teeth, there is a high risk that food particles and bacteria will become trapped and remain there for a long time. This is very likely to lead to tooth decay and/or gum disease. Flossing should be an essential part of your daily oral care, so please make sure to get some next time you go shopping.

9 – What can cause dental implants to fail?

The success rate of dental implant placements is very high indeed. Generally they shouldn’t fail as long as you follow your dentist’s advice around preparing for them and their aftercare. If you insist on smoking after your treatment though, periodontitis and peri-implantitis can be a threat to them and they could fail. We also recommend that you don’t opt for a cheaper treatment abroad. Whilst some of these may be fine, there are risks that corners are being cut through less experienced dentists or by using cheaper and inferior implants.

We hope that you enjoyed this little quiz and we will be writing some new blogs in 2023. In the meantime, from all of the dentists and support team at Mike Allen’s Dental practice, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!