A whopping 80 million Easter eggs will be consumed in the UK
By Sky News SkyNews - Wednesday, March 19 09:12 pm
A whopping 80 million Easter eggs will be consumed in the UK this weekend, prompting warnings about tooth decay.
The sugar in Easter eggs is used by bacteria to produce acid, which dissolves tooth enamel forming a hole.
The UK's Chief Dentist, Barry Cockroft, has offered advice for protecting bright smiles while indulging in sugary treats:
He said: "My top tips for healthy teeth include trying to keep sugary foods like Easter eggs to after meal times, brushing twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste and visiting the dentist periodically."
While the nation certainly has a sweet tooth, oral health has dramatically improved over the past few years.
In 1968, around 37% of adults had no teeth compared to about 6% in 2008.
Barry Cockroft also mentioned: "Twelve year old children have the lowest rate of tooth decay in Europe but there are particular areas of the country in which oral health still needs to improve."
The Department of Health has identified areas where improvements are needed and new dental practices have opened up there.
Inhabitants are also being asked whether they would like their water to be fluoridated - UK cities with some of the best dental health in England all have fluoride in their tap water.
These decisions will affect thousands of people but as Mr. Cockroft reminded us there are things we can do as individuals to protect the pearly whites.
A whopping 80 million Easter eggs will be consumed in the UK this weekend, prompting warnings about tooth decay.
The sugar in Easter eggs is used by bacteria to produce acid, which dissolves tooth enamel forming a hole.
The UK's Chief Dentist, Barry Cockroft, has offered advice for protecting bright smiles while indulging in sugary treats:
He said: "My top tips for healthy teeth include trying to keep sugary foods like Easter eggs to after meal times, brushing twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste and visiting the dentist periodically."
While the nation certainly has a sweet tooth, oral health has dramatically improved over the past few years.
In 1968, around 37% of adults had no teeth compared to about 6% in 2008.
Barry Cockroft also mentioned: "Twelve year old children have the lowest rate of tooth decay in Europe but there are particular areas of the country in which oral health still needs to improve."
The Department of Health has identified areas where improvements are needed and new dental practices have opened up there.
Inhabitants are also being asked whether they would like their water to be fluoridated - UK cities with some of the best dental health in England all have fluoride in their tap water.
These decisions will affect thousands of people but as Mr. Cockroft reminded us there are things we can do as individuals to protect the pearly whites.
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