Tooth decay has a massive impact on an individual’s ability to eat, speak, socialise and even sleep; it is a common oral health issue across the UK.
It is especially noticeable among children aged four and below. In fact, according to NHS figures presented by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS), there were 9,206 tooth extractions performed on children in 2015-16 alone. This is a 24% increase from the figures in 2006-07, so Gainsborough dentists might suggest avoiding sweets to address the issue.
An Issue among Toddlers
Milk teeth are supposed to fall out naturally as children grow older. The increasing presence of high-sugar food and beverages in toddler diets, however, leads to untimely milk teeth extraction by paediatric dentists. There is even a case wherein a two-year-old had to have all 20 baby teeth extracted due to extreme tooth decay.
The regulation of sugar content in a diet is one of the ways to tackle the recurring issue.
The Regulation of Sugar in Diet
The recent research by the RCS’ Faculty of Dental Surgery has warned that a relentless high-sugar diet is now beginning from the cradle. Its published long-term data provides evidence that nine of 10 cases of tooth decay among children were avoidable if only midwives, nurses, GPs and parents knew better about oral health.
But that is slowly changing now as researchers encourage oral health awareness and suggest limiting the daily amount of sugar in children’s diet. More importantly, parents should hone their children’s eating habits; avoid constantly snacking between meals and frequently drinking fizzy beverages.
Although the research focuses on tooth decay among children, you can also take advantage of the preventative measures that dentists would suggest.
Limit sugary food and beverage; brush your teeth at least twice a day, and set regular dentist appointments. Practice these habits and make sure your children do, too. This way, you can improve oral health and avoid having teeth extracted in an untimely manner.
