Dental health week

The not-so-sweet truth about sugar and your teeth

Smile – it’s Dental Health Week! The Australian Dental Association’s major annual oral health campaign this year runs from Monday, August 3, until Sunday, August 9, during which the ADA aims to educate Australians about the importance of maintaining good oral health. The association’s four key messages are: brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste; clean between your teeth daily using floss or interdental brushes; eat a healthy, balanced diet and limit your sugar intake; and visit your dentist regularly for check-ups and preventative care.

This year’s campaign focuses on the harm sugar does to our oral health. By asking ‘How much sugar is hiding in your trolley?’, the ADA aims to help Australians get ‘sugar-savvy’ by highlighting recommended daily sugar consumption levels, sharing information on the effect that sugar has on our teeth, and providing advice on how to read food labels to identify ‘hidden’ sugar. The unfortunate reality is that the oral health of many Australians is not where it should be and not everyone is following good oral practices. In fact, less than 50 per cent of Australian adults have had a dental check-up in the past 12 months, 53 per cent only brush their teeth once a day, and almost 40 per cent admit that they never floss or clean between their teeth. In terms of sugar, the ADA says 73 per cent of Aussie children aged 14-18 are consuming too much, compared with 47 per cent of those over 18 years. Australian dental practitioners have the highest infection control standards in the world and the safety of their patients and their teams is a cornerstone of Australian dental practice. With dentists now at ‘Level 1’ restrictions during the COVID-19 climate, this means they may take extra precautions to ensure your visit is safe for you, the dentist and the staff, and if appropriate they will advise you of the safety measures they have put in place. So give those pearly whites some extra love and make it a goal to floss daily, check for hidden sugars in your food and drinks, and visit www.ada.org.au/Dental-HealthWeek-2020/Home for up-to-date information.

Dental health week