False!
The ICB receives government funding for up to 60 per cent of the population to receive NHS dentistry.
True or false? Take the dental quiz
Test your knowledge of dental services and the best way to look after your oral health. See if you can guess whether the statements below are true or false.
False!
Patients are not registered with dentists like they are GPs. Dental assessment and care is provided on a 'course of treatment' basis, where all care needed is provided under that course of treatment, but the patient is not registered with that dentist.
False!
There are hidden sugars in many foods. For example raisins, dried fruits and fresh fruit juice contain hidden sugars and can be a major cause of decay, especially in young children – so they are best just eaten at mealtimes. There is also sugar in foods such as bread, tomato ketchup, flavoured yoghurts, cereal bars and fruit smoothies.
False!
Fizzy drinks are carbonated and are acidic. The acid in the drinks can wear away the enamel that protects your teeth, causing toothwear and making them more prone to decay.
False!
We advise to ‘spit out after brushing, don’t rinse’. This is because rinsing will wash away or dilute the fluoride and reduce its ability to protect your teeth.
False!
You should not brush immediately after eating or drinking as this can cause damage to your teeth due to high levels of acid in your mouth after eating. You should wait at least 30 minutes before brushing.
False!
Brushing in the evening is the most important time to brush. This is to remove bits of food and bacteria as your teeth are more prone to decay while you are asleep. The NHS guidelines advise you to brush in the evening or just before bed, and at least one other time in the day.
False!
We recommend you use a soft, small-headed toothbrush and do not brush too hard. Brushing too hard can cause damage to the tooth enamel that protects your teeth and cause your gums to recede/shrink.
False!
Even if you brush your teeth really well just before going to the dentist, the checks the dentist does on your gums will reveal how well you have brushed your teeth during the months before your appointment. One good brush will not undo the inflammation of your gums that have developed because of poor brushing.
False!
Gums bleed because of plaque and bacteria on your teeth, so the bleeding is a sign that you need to brush more, not less. Regular brushing will reduce the plaque/bacteria and promote healthy gums, to reduce bleeding when brushing.
False!
There are known links between oral health and a wide range of general health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and dementia.
False!
With a lot of dental problems, you don’t feel pain or symptoms right away. If you wait until a cavity hurts, it may be too late to save the tooth. Regular check-ups with your dentist will identify any issues early and help to keep your mouth healthy and disease-free. Dentists also carry out regular checks for mouth cancers.
False!
Guidelines state that times between dental check-ups should be based on individual need. Intervals between check-ups can range from every three months for those at high risk, or every 12 months for children at the lowest risk and every 24 months for adults at lowest risk.
False!
The Dental Check by One campaign from the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry explains that children should be taken to the dentist when their first tooth emerges at about six months, or at least by their first birthday.
False!
Toothache is usually caused by tooth decay, which may lead to dental infection or abscess. The best way to cure toothache is to remove the cause of infection, which could be draining of the infection, root canal treatment or tooth extraction.