FOOD, HEALTH & AGEING Many kids entitled to Get the right festive feeling this season free dental work The Maryborough Sun, Thursday 31st December 2020
THE gut-wrenching pain of a bout of food poisoning is not the festive feeling that you want your family and friends to experience this Christmas holidays.
THOUSANDS of Australian families could be missing out on free dental work they’re entitled to these holidays.
While uptake of the Child Dental Benefits Schedule has gradually increased since it was introduced in 2013 with almost 38% of eligible children using it, a 2018 poll found that one in four eligible families is not yet aware of the scheme. “Qualifying families – those with children aged two to 18 who are receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A or a relevant Australian government payment – are entitled to $1013 dental work in every two year period under the Schedule,” the Australian Dental Association’s (ADA) Deputy CEO Eithne Irving explained. “The government needs to do a lot more to publicise this Schedule so eligible families can get the treatment they may have thought they could not afford,” she said. “The long stretch of school holidays is the perfect time to book your dental appointments and get your kids along to the dentist to get their teeth checked and treated where necessary. “If you’re eligible, the cost of the work may be covered by the Schedule. “The dentist will spot any issues that might be brewing, explain the best way to brush and floss, and what food and drink kids – and indeed the whole family – should keep to the bare minimum over the holidays and beyond.” Families can check their child’s eligibility and CDBS balance through their Medicare online account at MyGov or by calling 132 011. Christmas and the school
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That is the message the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service is encouraging people to remember as they prepare their Christmas feasts and New Year’s Party nibbles during the holidays.
holidays are often a time when health matters take a back seat and sugar consumption skyrockets. But Ms Irving reminds people that “tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in both adults and children. “Statistics show that 42% of Australian children aged 5-10 years had experienced tooth decay in their primary teeth- that’s two in every five children! “It’s disappointing that children so young have so much tooth decay,” she said. Other alarming statistics show that 24% of children aged six to 14 have experienced tooth decay in their adult teeth, and 27% of five-to 10-year-olds have untreated dental decay. For older kids, figures show one in six teenagers consumes over 5kg of sugar a year from sugary drinks alone, amounting to about the same weight as the standard family cat. “Keep your consumption of Christmas Day choccies and treats to mostly all on the one day and not spread out across the whole holidays, and your teeth
will thank you for it.” The ADA also wants to remind people that dental practices are still using covid-safe measures including triaging patients about recent movements, temperature checks, hand sanitizer, mouth washes, full practice room cleans after every patient and staff wearing the full range of PPE. “Those families who’ve been putting off visiting the dentist due to covid fears should rest assured that with dental practices’ covid measures and the reassurance that you can get help with free treatment, there should be no reason to delay your family’s dental checkups,” Ms Irving added. Another hot oral issue for families this summer is the extra rough and tumble kids get up to in the backyard and the risk of injury to the mouth from a fall or knock. In the event of a dental emergency and the usual family dentist is closed, ADA branches throughout Australia have a list of the nearest available dentists in each state at www.ada.org.au Find-a-Dentist
“No one wants to be sick during the holidays, so it’s important to protect our loved ones by following safe food preparation,” Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service Director of Public Health Dr Niall Conroy said. “The stress of preparing a large and unfamiliar meal can often lead to issues with food handling and storage that contaminates food and creates illnesses such as food poisoning and gastroenteritis. “Food poisoning causes issues such as diarrhoea, fevers, nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps which can put people out of action for a few days at a time when you want to spend as much time as possible with loved ones. “At worst the most severe types of foodrelated illnesses can leave you with further complications that can lead to hospitalization or even at risk of fatality.” Dr Conroy said simply planning ahead was one of the most effective ways to prevent food contamination. “Planning ahead enables you to ensure you have a clean and well organized preparation area, plenty of time to put the meal
together and ensure that the meal is served as closely as possible to when its prepared,” Dr Conroy said. “Another simple step is to thoroughly clean any chopping boards, knives and other equipment that has been used to prepare meat or poultry before using it on other food. “If you have prepared food early, make sure you keep it chilled in a fridge and if you’re travelling to the beach or park ensure it’s in cooler bags or cooler boxes that have plenty of ice or ice bricks.” Other useful tips to ensure your holiday meal is safe include: • Always wash your hands thoroughly before you prepare and serve food • Don’t wash poultry – any splashing in the food preparation area can spread germs and increase the risk of food poisoning • Uncooked meats such as the Christmas ham or turkey should be kept covered and separated from cooked foods and ready-to-eat foods to avoid cross-contamination • Defrost your food in the refrigerator or microwave. Don’t leave it on the bench or out in the open to defrost. • Do not refreeze food once it has been thawed • Cook all meat, chicken and eggs thoroughly • Make sure hot foods are hot (above 60°C) • Make sure cold foods are cold (below 5°C) • Freshly cooked food that is not used immediately should have its temperature reduced as quickly as possible. Ensure
you divide the food and place it food in air-tight containers to store in the fridge or freezer before it stops steaming. • Cool left over food in small containers in the fridge. Food should be cooled from 60°C to 21°C within 2 hours and from 21°C to 5°C within a further 4 hours. • Discard any eggs that are cracked and dirty. Ensure children under two, pregnant women, over 65s and anyone seriously ill don’t eat raw eggs. If you do cook eggs, make sure the whites are firm and the yolk starts to thicken. If you do experience a bout of gastroenteritis or food poisoning, the best way to combat it is to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration and get plenty of rest . Rehydration solutions available from pharmacies and supermarkets help replace water, salts and fluids lost during vomiting and diarrhoea. “By practising good food safety, you’ll reduce the likelihood of food poisoning and keep the holidays an enjoyable experience,” Dr Conroy said. “Lastly, if you’re still in doubt at all about food, then don’t serve it. It’s better to be safe and discard than be ill.” If you’re experiencing severe symptoms, contact your general practitioner or call 13 HEALTH for advice.
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