by Ciara O'Sullivan | Jan 23, 2016 | Uncategorized
Figures are up to five times higher than UK The Irish Dental Association say figures are an indictment of slash and burn oral health policy Waiting times for young children with chronic dental infections are now up to 12 months Shocking new figures indicate that up to 10,000 children under the age of 15 are being hospitalised for dental extractions under general anaesthetic every year in Ireland. The Irish Dental Association has described the revelations as a national disgrace and an indictment of the slash and burn policy of the previous and current government to oral health policy. The IDA, which has compiled the figures, says the rate of hospitalisations here could be up to five times higher than in the UK. The IDA have said thousands of young children with chronic dental infection, many of whom require multiple extractions are waiting up to twelve months for treatment. “Why are thousands of our young people undergoing the trauma of hospitalisation for multiple dental extractions? Ninety five per cent of these cases would have been avoidable if they had been detected and treated earlier. The reason they weren’t is because of Government cuts to family dental supports since 2010, the constant undermining of what had been a highly effective schools screening service and the fact that too many of our young people have a poor diet containing too much sugar” according to the IDA. Five years ago when these cuts were introduced the IDA said they would cause unnecessary pain and suffering. It also said the true cost of the cutbacks would be a multiple of the very modest savings made on...
by Ciara O'Sullivan | Sep 27, 2015 | Uncategorized
Halloween for most children means bags of free sweets and a chance to build up the stockpile of sweets for the winter. Being one of the most fun times of the year for families, Halloween can also present parents with a variety of health and safety challenges. Here is a list of suggestions to help parents maintain good oral health for their children around the Halloween holiday and throughout the year. Consume Halloween sweets and other sugary foods with meals. Saliva production increases during meals and helps neutralise acids produced by bacteria in your mouth and helps rinse away food particles. Avoid hard sweets and other sweets that stay in your mouth for a long time. Besides how often you snack, the length of time food is in your mouth plays a role in tooth decay. Unless it is a sugar-free product, sweets that stay in the mouth for a long period of time subject teeth to prolonged acid attack, increasing the risk for tooth decay. Avoid sticky sweets that cling to your teeth. The stickier sweets, like toffee and gummy bears, take longer to get washed away by saliva, increasing the risk for tooth decay. Drink more water. Consuming optimally fluoridated (tap) water can help prevent tooth decay. Maintain a healthy diet and make sure the meals you eat are nutritious. Your body is like a complex machine. The foods you choose as fuel and how often you “fill up” affect your general health and that of your teeth and gums. Avoid beverages with added sugar such as fizzy drinks, sports drinks or flavored waters. When teeth come...
by Ciara O'Sullivan | Jun 18, 2015 | Uncategorized
The Irish Dental Association has welcomed the findings of a new review which has found there is no definitive evidence that community water fluoridation has negative health effects. The in-depth review was carried out by the Health Research Board, the lead agency in Ireland supporting and funding health research. The HRB said that having examined the research available and excluding dental health it had found no definitive evidence that community water fluoridation is associated with positive or negative systemic health effects. The review found no definitive evidence to link fluoridation to increased bone fractures, reduced IQ, cancer, heart disease, kidney disorders, Down Syndrome or increased mortality from all causes. The HRB review follows fifteen major peer-reviewed studies of fluoridation undertaken across the world by recognised academic authorities in the past twenty years. None of these major reviews has concluded that community water fluoridation poses a known risk to general...
by Ciara O'Sullivan | May 2, 2015 | Uncategorized
The Irish Dental Association has warned consumers to be aware of the hidden sugars which they may be consuming as part of a new healthy lifestyle. Many patients who are participating in sports are presenting with significant tooth decay and erosion in their teeth. While most people engaging in sports or activities understand the importance of hydration and a healthy diet, many were not aware that a lot of the sports drinks and protein shakes which they consume have a very high sugar content. People who are constantly taking little sips of sports drinks from a bottle are effectively bathing their teeth in sugar and giving their mouths no time to recover. Consumers have to be clear about what they and their children are consuming. Sports drinks, protein shakes,energy drinks, energy bars and fruit juices can contain anything from five to a dozen teaspoons of sugar. Protein/meal replacement bars can be very damaging due to the sticky nature of the honey or syrup which is often included. Dried fruit also has a very high concentration of sugar also. Tooth decay is always caused by sugars such as sucrose, lactose, glucose, fructose. A survey of athletes at the London Olympics in 2012 by a team from University College London which found that athletes as a group had worse dental health than other people of a similar age. Of the 302 athletes examined, from 25 sports, 55% had evidence of cavities, 45% had tooth erosion and 76% had gum disease. One in three said their oral health affected their quality of life and one in five said it affected training or athletic performance. Avoid sports drinks on a regular basis. If taking protein shakes or bars study the ingredients...
by admin | Apr 20, 2015 | Uncategorized
Brush with a soft toothbrush twice daily. Use a fluoride tooth paste. Floss daily. Change your toothbrush when the bristles are splayed outwards. Avoid sugary drinks and snacks. Limit the amount of acidic food and drinks in your diet. You may be surprised by the amount of acid in your daily diet. Ask your dentist for advice on avoiding acid, which can be harmful to your teeth....
