Protect your patients this Christmas
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 8th December 2022
With the Christmas period fast approaching, what can dental professionals do to help their patients protect their teeth during the festivities? Amongst the excitement and enjoyment of the festive period, many patients may be unaware of how much sugar they’re actually consuming. This is why it is so important that dental professionals make patients aware of the dangers of over-indulging, and how to protect themselves over Christmas.
Sugar consumption over the Christmas period
The World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines[i] state that adults should eat no more than 30g of sugar per day which is just five per cent of the total daily energy intake. With this in mind, traditional Christmas foods contain excessive amounts of sugar, with treats like Christmas cake, mulled wine, Christmas pudding, and mince pies taking people well over the daily recommendation.[ii]
Over the festive period, marketing has a significant effect on consumer choices, which leads to the increased consumption of unhealthy foods. The major retailers aim to outcompete each other in their annual advertising campaigns to sell consumers the most extravagant festive sweets and alcoholic drinks – and with them the sense of luxury and indulgence.[iii]
However, this tradition of indulgence should come with a warning. A medium-sized chocolate selection box contains 270% of an adult’s recommended daily sugar allowance at 81g of sugar. Alongside the festive classics Christmas pudding and Yuletide log with a portion containing 139% and 43% of the daily allowance, respectively.[iv] These staggering numbers highlight the role that both dental professionals and patients play in the maintenance of oral health over the festive period.
How to reduce the impact on oral health
With the seemingly unavoidable traditions of excess, dental professionals should try to help patients enjoy the festivities, without doing damage to their teeth. Reducing the impact of excess sugar on their teeth is vital, so recommend a few things your patients can do to protect themselves while still taking part in the fun. Firstly, recommend that they drink plenty of water. As mentioned, alcoholic drinks like mulled wine contain lots of sugar, so patients should moderate how much is consumed, and keep a glass of water nearby to sip on. This will help wash some of the sugar away from the mouth, and prevent some damage.iv
When it comes to snacking throughout the day, suggest that your patients avoid sugary snacks and choose alternatives such as nuts. Where possible, recommend that they keep the consumption of sugary foods to mealtimes to help reduce the impact of sugar on their teeth – it’s not only the quantity of sugar eaten that has an effect, but the frequency. It can take an hour for the mouth to return to a neutral state after consuming sugar, so constantly grazing will likely do more damage than enjoying sweets alongside a meal.iv
Make sure your patients know what to look out for when trying to minimise their sugar intake this Christmas. This includes ‘hidden’ sugars in places many people wouldn’t think they’d be. Recognising sugars will help your patients avoid them – so it’s useful to suggest that they check the ingredients if they’re unsure.iv
Preventing long-term harm
In addition to monitoring their diet and eating habits during the festivities, it’s also essential that patients maintain their at-home oral hygiene, and continue to attend regular dental and dental hygiene appointments for long-term health, even if they are not experiencing problems or seeking treatment. Prevention is always better than treatment, so ensuring patients understand the importance of oral hygiene and attending regular appointments is vital. As well as saving their natural teeth, preventing long-term oral health issues will save them money too.
During dental appointments, look out for any signs of caries, gingival irritation and bleeding, and plaque build-up. These appointments, whether with a dentist or a dental hygienist are a good opportunity to deliver prophylaxis to remove plaque, calculus, and staining to help maintain good dental health and prevent long-term harm.
The Prophylaxis Paste from Kemdent is an excellent choice for your patients. It features a medium grit and unique formula which effectively, quickly, and easily eliminates food and drink staining from the tooth surface. It features optimised viscosity to improve adherence to the brush and prevent spattering. This creates a more pleasant experience for the patient and practitioner. It’s fluoride-free and easily polishable for a smooth finish, and it’s available in several flavours to meet patient preferences and further improve comfort and compliance during the prophylaxis procedure.
As well as providing prophylaxis treatment for the maintenance of oral health and prevention of long-term dental problems, consider its use as an effective non-surgical solution for mild-moderate gingival diseases, preventing further development of the condition. Ensure your patients have all the advice they need as we approach Christmas, and recommend that they get booked in for their next dental and dental hygienist appointments as soon as they are due.
For more information about the leading solutions available from Kemdent, please visit www.kemdent.co.uk or call 01793 770 256
Author
Alistair Mayoh
Marketing Director Kemdent
[i] World Health Organisation. WHO calls on countries to reduce sugars intake among adults and children. (Date accessed: 26.08.22) https://www.who.int/news/item/04-03-2015-who-calls-on-countries-to-reduce-sugars-intake-among-adults-and-children
[ii] University of Warwick. The not so sweet side of Christmas. (Date accessed: 26.08.22) https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/the_not_so/
[iii] RAND Europe. Food consumption in the UK, trends, attitudes, and drivers. (Date accessed: 26.08.22) https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR4300/RR4379/RAND_RR4379.pdf
[iv] Oral Health Foundation. Under the spotlight: Christmas treats. (Date accessed: 26.08.22) https://www.dentalhealth.org/blog/under-the-spotlight-christmas-treats
