Easter, Passover or Eid – many children will enjoy sugary treats over the coming days and weeks.
The Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England has put together some advice that dental teams can communicate with patients ahead of the celebrations.
These include:
- Only have chocolate and sweet treats after a meal to reduce the impact on your teeth
- All children should use a fluoride toothpaste to brush their teeth at least twice a day
- Children should drink water or milk, instead of juice, fizzy drinks and squash. This reduces both the amount and frequency of their sugar consumption
- Regular visits to the dentist will ensure that children with a high decay risk receive fluoride varnish and fissure sealants.
Tooth decay remains the main cause for hospital admissions for children aged five to nine years old in England.
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Protect teeth
Professor Helen Rodd is a paediatric dentist and board member of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) at the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
‘There are simple ways in which you can enjoy chocolate and other sweet treats, while still protecting your teeth from decay,’ he said.
‘Our message, not just for Easter time but for all year round, is that tooth decay is 90% preventable. This is through reducing sugar consumption, twice daily brushing with a fluoride toothpaste and routine visits to a dentist. We want to help people to look after their teeth so they can enjoy an occasional sweet treat without toothache.’
She added: ‘Unfortunately, nearly a quarter of five-year-olds experience dental decay and around 38,000 children and young people have teeth removed in hospital every year.
‘So it’s really important that we continue to raise awareness of what people can do to improve their oral health.’
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