PHOTO: PASCAL GOETGHELUCK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY


NAME THAT BITE? Shark teeth


OUT THERE


MOUTH MYSTERIES A whole slice of gherkin, sprouting tomato seeds and sweet wrappers are just some of the bizarre items found in patients’ mouths by UK dentists. Research by Clinic Compare also revealed one patient’s mouth covered in toxic superglue where she had tried to reattach a crown.


SPORT ROT Exercise could be bad for teeth. Researchers at University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany, noticed the longer athletes trained the less saliva they produced and the more alkaline it became. This encouraged the growth of plaque bacteria, increasing the chances of decay. They went on to admit, however, that the link between the hours of training and decay “was not strong enough to imply causation.”


MOLES FOR MOLARS Life was tough for 18th century moles. The mammals’ feet were thought to hold curative properties for various human ailments including toothache. The hairy, long- clawed amulets were often carried in pockets or hung on a mantelpiece to ward off dental pain. The superstition can be traced back to the first century but no explanation is ever given as to its origin. Source: Science Museum London.


For More


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Stumped? The answer is at the bottom of the page NAME THAT BITE CROSSWORD


ACROSS 7. Of the middle line (6) 8. Stay (6) 9. Potential poison in denture adhesive (4) 10. Looseness of teeth (8) 11. Reduce level of strength (7) 13. Repeated series (5) 15. European island nation (5) 17. Beer variety (4,3) 20. Logo (8) 21. Unruly crowds (4) 22. The art of film (6) 23. Nerd (6)


DOWN


1. Catlike (6) 2. Frisbee (4) 3. Fleetingly see (7) 4. Blunt-ended surgical instrument (5) 5. Staff member (8) 6. Opposite of proximal (6) 12. Orthodontic device (8) 14. Relating to the roof of the mouth (7) 16. The BBC (6) 18. Of the lips (6) 19. Indirect restoration (5) 21. Vocalisation of 1 Down (4)


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See answers online at www.mddus.com. Go to the Notice Board page under News and Events.


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