Improving Oral Health NHS Ayrshire and Arran Oral Health Quiz for children age 9-11 What is Oral Health? It’s not just about looking after your teeth but the whole of your mouth – the tongue, cheeks, lips, gums, etc. It’s especially important to look after your gums as these support your teeth.

Why are teeth important? Question 1 Why are teeth important? a. To help us chew and digest food b. To help us to talk To give our face shape and a healthy smile All of the above Answer – d. All of the above It is important to look after our teeth in order to keep them as healthy as possible for as long as possible. After all prevention is always better and easier than cure.

Answer – d. All of the above Fruit Vegetable Plain popcorn Question 2 What if I was hungry in between meals, what could I have to eat that is tooth friendly? Answer – d. All of the above Fruit Vegetable Plain popcorn All of the above The answer is all of the above. Plain popcorn – not covered in toffee or sweet versions - can be a healthy snack option as well as fresh fruit (tinned fruit can be used however avoid the juice - particularly the fruit in syrup). Another healthy option is raw vegetables such as carrot sticks.

Question 3 What is plaque? It’s a sticky film of bacteria which constantly forms on our teeth It’s something you hang on your wall It’s a large mammal which lives in the sea Plaque is the clinical term for ‘bad breath’ Answer – a. It’s a sticky film of bacteria Plaque is constantly reforming in our mouth so it is important to clean our teeth regularly.

Question 4 How can I remove plaque from my teeth? By brushing twice a day for 2 minutes By brushing once a day for 10 minutes By forgetting to brush before I go to bed You can’t remove plaque from your teeth Answer - a. By brushing twice a day for 2 minutes It takes around 2 minutes to clean every surface of every tooth. Remember you need to clean the outside, inside and biting surfaces.

What is the most effective way to brush your teeth? Question 5 What is the most effective way to brush your teeth? Up and down movements Side to side movements In a circular motion Scrub as hard as you can There is no right way to effectively brush your teeth. However it is thought that a circular motion is easier and can clean the whole surface of the tooth as well as along the gum line using this method. Answer – c. In a circular motion

True True OR False Question 6 After toothbrushing I spit out my toothpaste but do not rinse my mouth? True OR False True True Spit Don’t Rinse - spitting leaves a residue of toothpaste on the teeth to allow the fluoride to remain and protect the teeth for a little longer. Fluoride is a natural mineral and is used in toothpaste as this helps to strengthen and protect our tooth enamel.

How long should we spend on brushing our teeth? Question 7 How long should we spend on brushing our teeth? Answer – c. 2 minutes 4 minutes 40 seconds 2 minutes 24 hours The recommendation is 2 minutes twice a day. Although most people toothbrush on average for around 40 seconds. Try timing yourself. Most songs last two minutes, why not pick your favourite and brush to the music.

What is the proper name for Question 8 What is the proper name for gum disease? Disease of the mouth Diseased pink gums Bright red gums Gingivitis Answer – d. Gingivitis Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease and can be reversed by improving oral health care and dental treatment if required. If this is not dealt with this can develop into Periodontitis which is advanced gum disease and this is irreversible and can lead to tooth loss.

What is the strongest thing in our body? Question 9 What is the strongest thing in our body? Enamel Eyes Hair Toe nails Enamel is the white glossy surface on your teeth and protects your teeth from acid attacks. If your enamel is destroyed, your body does not make more to replace it. A hole or cavity can form and lead to pain and infection. You can protect your enamel by avoiding sugary foods and drinks which can cause a lot of damage. Answer – a. Enamel

How often should I visit the dentist? Question 10 How often should I visit the dentist? Answer - a. As often as the dentist recommends As often as the dentist recommends Every 3 years Every month Whenever you have toothache People with natural teeth should attend for a regular 6 month dental check up. However some people with particular dental conditions may need to attend more often or during specific periods of treatment. Your dentist can spot possible dental diseases or conditions as part of your check up that you may not – so it is important to attend regularly.

Question 11 What 3 things can lead to tooth decay? Answer – c. Plaque, sugar and time Saliva, sugar and sweets Plaque, milk and water Plaque, sugar and time Toothpaste, water and sugar When plaque mixes with sugar from food and drink this causes an acid attack on our teeth. The more regular we consume sugary food or drinks the more often our teeth are under an acid attack. We need to be careful not to toothbrush straight after eating something sugary as this brushes the sugar around the mouth and into the teeth. Tooth brushing around 30 minutes or more after having a sugary snack or drink is best to allow the sugar to dissolve.

between meals that is tooth friendly? Question 12 What can I have to drink between meals that is tooth friendly? Answer - d. Milk and Water Milk Water Diet Drinks Milk and Water Fizzy drinks even if they are sugar free can damage teeth – the carbonation process which creates the bubbles, can cause an acid attack, and if drunk frequently can lead to dental erosion and the wearing down of tooth enamel.

What to remember Brush teeth well twice a day using a 1300 – 1500 parts per million fluoride toothpaste Keep sugary snacks and drinks to mealtimes Visit your Dentist regularly These are the 3 key messages for good oral health for everyone and will help you to look after your teeth so that they last you a lifetime.