04 Aug Dental Health Week | August 3-9

Being healthy is something that most of us aim for.

We brush our teeth twice a day. We go for a jog around the neighbourhood. We eat a handful of nuts instead of chomping on a chocolate. We see our doctor whenever we don’t feel well.

But are you aware that all your good work could be undone by sugars lurking in the depths of many of the processed food items you consume?

Sugar is everywhere in supermarket staples, even some that might appear to be healthy on the surface, and with restricted access to dental services due to COVID-19, this Dental Health Week (3 – 9 August | dentalhealthweek.com.au), the Australian Dental Association is pulling back the sugary curtain to show you what’s really in the food you eat, and how this information can help you be healthier all over but especially in your mouth.

In other words, they want you to become more “sugar savvy”. You might think that a little extra sugar here and there isn’t such a big deal, but the odds are that you are taking in far more than you realise.

Figures show that the average Australian is consuming 14 teaspoons of sugar a day, a whole lot more than the maximum six teaspoons a day recommended by the World Health Organisation for increased health benefits such as decreasing the risk of tooth decay, which is having a profoundly negative effect on Australia’s dental health as revealed by Australia’s Oral Health Tracker (ada.org.au/oralhealthtracker).

To help you get within the recommended range, and be healthier into the bargain, this year’s Dental Health Week is all about showing you what daily sugar consumption level looks like in relation to the food you eat, how to read a food label so you can see what’s really in your food, and how sugar can negatively affect your dental health.

Beyond that, an easy way to keep your teeth and gums healthy is by following a few simple tips:

• Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
• Clean between your teeth daily using floss or interdental brushes.
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet and limit sugar intake.
• Visit the dentist regularly for check-ups and preventive care.

Barlow Dental Group, a private dental practice, visits Timboon and District Healthcare Service once a week on Tuesdays, pending changing COVID-19 restrictions. They offer a fully comprehensive dental service (again pending changing Coronavirus restrictions) along with education and oral health promotion for you and your whole family. To make an appointment, please contact 03 5558 6000.