Word of Mouth by British Dental Health Foundation

WordofMouth ISSUE 04 / FEBRUARY 2013

British Dental Health Foundation

Love r u o Y e l i m S

Serve up

your valentine a treat

Blackberries prevent tooth loss

WordofMouth Contents

David Westgarph

davidw@dentalhealth.org

DR NIGEL CARTER OBE Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation

04 Blackberries and tooth loss

12 Fizzy drinks tax

05 Sugar reduction in soft drinks

13 Oral health cost

06 - 07 Valentine smile

14-15 Love your smile

08-09 Cookbook

16-17 Educational resources

Could blackberries prevent tooth loss.

Foundation welcomes the sugar reduction.

If you are looking a Valentine.....smile.

Serve up your valentine a treat

10-11 Time to register

National Smile Month 2013

Implementation of fizzy drinks tax

Don’t left cost to damege your teeth.

We love seeing people smile.

‘Tell Me About’ patient information leaflets

Hello, and welcome to the February issue of Word of Mouth! Love is most certainly in the air this month, and we certainly hope that stretches further than just your Valentine. Research shows members of the opposite sex are drawn to a smile before anything else, so it’s important to love your smile too. Basic oral hygiene principles such as brushing for two minutes twice a day will really help to give you a platform for better oral health.

Editor David Westgarth

a first-come first-serve basis. If you’re one of the first 3,000 people to register, you’ll get a pack of five Smileys and a campaign guide packed full of details on how you can get involved.

Richard Horner, the man behind the concept of mouth cancer awareness.

If you’re one of the 35 per cent of people that has broken their New Year’s resolution already, it’s not too late to re-focus and bring oral health to the table. It can be anything from booking an appointment to educating someone else on the benefits of looking after their oral health. There has been plenty of coverage about the Government’s crackdown on unhealthy foods, including sugary foods and drinks. One of the Foundation’s key messages is to cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks, and we fully support the initiatives and proposals being put forward.

You will also love to know that for National Smile Month we’re giving away 15,000 Smileys on

Enjoy the magazine, and we’ll see you in March!

To help get you in the mood, three members of staff at the Foundation have reviewed a very special cookbook and picked out three recipes. What makes this particular book so special is that it is brought to you by the late

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Art Director Doychin Sakutov

Guest Writers David Arnold Sharon Broom Karen Walker

Educational Resources Amanda Oakey Becky Sollis

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Foundation welcomes

sugar reduction in soft drinks Leading brands who have this week announced they will be reducing the amount of sugar in their soft drinks could play a key role in reducing obesity and dental decay, according to oral health experts.

Blackberries could play a role in the prevention and treatment of gum disease. That’s according to new research1 published in the Journal of Periodontal Research, which shows the antibacterial properties of blackberry extract could help to prevent or aid in the treatment of gum disease, which, if left untreated, may result in tooth loss. Natural extract from blackberries have previously been linked with blocking the spread of cancer cells, and, when measured against blueberry, raspberry, red currant, and both cultivated and wild strawberries, blackberries showed the greatest total antioxidant capacity.

Public Health Minister Anna Soubry made the announcement earlier this week that as part of the Public Health Responsibility Deal Lucozade and Ribena will reduce the amount of sugar and calories in their products by up to 10 per cent as part of the Government’s drive to reduce levels of obesity.

COULD blackberries prevent tooth loss?

Blackberries join a growing list of foods that could help prevent oral health problems. Strawberries and green vegetables have been linked to reducing the chance of developing oral cancer, while other studies have discovered fish and fish oil can fight gum disease.

gum disease should be as well as maintaining a good oral hygiene routine. It does not take up too much time or a lot of money, yet it is surprising how many people actually forego basic oral hygiene principles, including brushing for two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.

Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, thinks the research highlights the importance of indulging in a healthy, balanced diet.

The earlier you learn this the better. Brushing your teeth two minutes twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste, visiting the dentist regularly, as often as they recommend, and cleaning in between teeth using interdental brushes or floss will really help to develop good oral health. Having a healthy, balanced diet with at least five portions of fresh fruit and vegetables a day and cutting down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks will benefit both the health of your mouth and body.”

Dr Carter says: “Having a balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals and fresh produce to provide anti-oxidants is something we should all be striving to achieve. It can help to prevent a number of oral health problems including gum disease and oral cancer, not to mention potential heart problems too. Given we are only a few weeks into the new year, if you have not adopted a New Year’s resolution it is well worth considering improving your diet. Although the study is promising, it is important to remember that any use of blackberries in preventing and treating

1. González, O. A., Escamilla, C., Danaher, R. J., Dai, J., Ebersole, J. L., Mumper, R. J. and Miller, C. S. (2013), Antibacterial effects of blackberry extract target periodontopathogens. Journal of Periodontal Research, 48: 80–86. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0765.2012.01506.x

England has some of the highest obesity rates in the developed world with 60 per cent of adults and one third of 10 and 11 year olds being overweight or obese. Latest figures show more than three in every 10 children starting primary school do so with tooth decay, while a third of children aged 12 have visible dental decay. Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, points to high levels of sugar Dr Carter said: “Health professionals have long held the opinion that sugar is addictive. That is why the announcement that a number of leading soft drinks brands will reduce the amount of sugar they contain is a step in the right direction. “More can always be done to tackle obesity and dental decay, and the Responsibility Deal can go further in improving public health. Hopefully this news will encourage more brands to come forward and support the deal. “The idea that too much sugar is bad for health is not a new concept, yet it is surprising how many people seem to ignore the message. Health professions, and particularly those in the dental profession, have an ideal opportunity to remind their patients about the potential pitfalls of having too many sugary foods and drinks too often. It is one of the Foundation’s key messages, and it may help to reduce incidence of caries in children and the growing levels of childhood obesity in the UK.”

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if you’re looking for a Valentine …

smile!

A ‘smile’ has topped a poll of the most important physical features when it comes to attraction between men and women.

he results of a survey, carried out on behalf of the British Dental Health Foundation, revealed a smile was rated highly by 56 per cent of respondents, closely followed by faces (53 per cent) and eyes (51 per cent). Dress sense, body shape, hair and height were also measured, with the latter bringing up the rear on 25 per cent.1 Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, believes even a small gesture like a smile can have a big difference when it comes to securing a date for Valentine’s Day. Dr Carter said: “A simple smile can make others feel at ease around you and can be a powerful show of emotion, which can prove remarkably attractive to the opposite sex. “When preparing for that first date we probably spend more time and money on our hair or the clothes we wear, rather than caring for our teeth. The survey is a great reminder that we should be giving greater attention to our teeth – not just because it improves oral health – but because it gives us the confidence to smile, which makes a major difference to our relationships.”

In another new survey, the dating website Match. com found that singles pay attention to teeth more than anything else when judging a potential partner. Results showed that 58 per cent of single men and 71 per cent of single women consider teeth to be the most important factor when judging a potential date, ahead of clothes, accents, grammar, cars and shoes.2 Dr Carter added: “Smiles can be particularly endearing and are a vital facet of daily life. Studies into smiling suggest they can have a positive effect on our relationships, careers and overall image. “A nice smile is also a good measurement of our overall hygiene and general lifestyles too. Our teeth demonstrate our cleanliness, reveal what we eat and drink, as well as if we smoke or not. “So show off might secure

your smile yourself

and a

you date.”

1. British Dental Health Foundation (2011), ‘National Smile Month Survey’. 2. Match.com (2013). ‘What singles consider a ‘must-have’, online at http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/02/04/singlesdating-attraction-facebook/1878265/, [accessed on 08.02.2013].

MAINS

Reviewed by Sharon Broom

Page 7 Roasted Tomato Soup

Serve up your Valentine a treat George Bernard Shaw once said there is no sincerer love than the love of food, and with Valentine’s Day on the horizon, it’s time to get love bubbling away. 8

These recipes have been tried, tested and tasted by the Foundation’s own staff, and the recipes themselves come from The Duck House Cookbook, a tribute to the late Richard Horner, originator of Mouth Cancer Action Month and Trustee of the Foundation. To share in one of Richard’s passions, and to be in with a chance of igniting your own, here are three recipes brought to you by Sharon Broom, David Westgarth and David Arnold.

Reviewed by David Westgarth

Reviewed by David Arnold

Page 39 Duck and Mango Curry

Page 88 Lemon Tart

Preparetion time: 10 min Cooking time: 1 hour

Preparetion time: 20 min Cooking time: 40 min

Total time: 3 hours (inc. 90 mins setting time)

he classics are always the best, and this Roasted Tomato Soup fits that description perfectly. The ingredients are simple and easy to get hold of – you may even have them in your cupboard already!

his dish is full of flavour, vibrancy and is a pleasure on the palate. Duck is one of my favourite meats, although it’s really easy to overcook.

citrus classic – who doesn’t love a lemon tart? Its key is the simplicity. If you didn’t fancy the intricacy of chocolate cake, I really suggest you try Richard’s take on this elegant zesty sweet.

s the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and even though diamonds are a girl’s best friend, we have a sparkling range of recipes to make Valentine’s Day dinner a winner.

DEsSERT

The cooking time on this dish far outweighs the preparation time, giving you an ideal opportunity to crack on with the main course while you keep an eye on it. Cream is optional to finish to dish, and we’d certainly recommend you add a drizzle to give it a creamier flavour. If your pan isn’t large enough then follow the recipe’s advice of cooking the soup in batches. Rest assured there’s no difference to preparing it en masse. The ciabatta is a perfect accompaniment to the soup, preferably served warm. It’s an excellent way to warm up for the main course!

The recipe is really simple and straightforward to follow, and there’s nothing wrong with adding a touch more spice to the paste if you like it hot. You don’t have to look far to get hold of the ingredients, and while my local supermarket didn’t have any Thai or Malay shrimp paste (it was out of stock), it is available in most supermarkets. TIP: The recipe recommends adding 10 garlic cloves, thinly chopped. However, this might not go down too well for a Valentine’s dinner. After all, you don’t want to repel your date like a Vampire! The dish will work just fine with half of that.

Finish off with a touch of crème fraiche and dive in to this Duck and Mango Curry – you’d be quackers not to!

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STARTER

The dish itself divides into around ten pieces, so there’s plenty left over for the next morning. From start to finish, the tart takes around three hours, including preparation and baking time, and an hour and a half to set. All the ingredients are very easy to find. The tart uses five lemons which gives the dessert just the correct amount of acidity so that the mixture sets well. And although you could buy your own pastry to save time, Richard’s is a particularly good and simplistic example of a pastry shell that can’t go wrong. Finished off with crème fresh or fresh fruits… delicious! It just makes you want another slice.

For a minimum suggested donation of £5, you can share in Richard’s passion. By visiting Richard’s JustGiving page, you can download your copy of The Duck House Cookbook. Any donations made are gratefully accepted and will go to Mouth Cancer Action Month, a topic and campaign close to Richard’s heart. Please visit http://www.justgiving. com/The-Duck-House-Cookbook to make a donation.

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Implemetation of fizzy drinks tax is

‘essential’

The British Dental Health Foundation has joined more than 60 organisations backing recommendations for a tax on sugary drinks. The report, compiled by Sustain entitled ‘A Children’s Future Fund – How food duties could provide the money to protect children’s health and the world they grow up in’, makes three main recommendations for Budget 2013 it believes would help to improve children’s health. They are:

As well as combatting the growing obesity epidemic, successful implementation of the recommendations would greatly benefit the oral health of children today and those in future generations. That is why Chief Executive of the Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, fully backs Sustain’s report.

•

Dr Carter said: “Three in every ten children starting school have tooth decay, and around one in three 12 year-olds have visible dental decay. These figures support the need for health bodies and professionals across the country to work together in safeguarding the general and oral health of children. “The increase in consumption of sugary drinks is one of the key reasons for dental decay, particularly in children.

•

Introduce a sugary drinks duty for the UK which, for example at 20p per litre, would raise around £1 billion a year; Ring-fence the majority of money raised from a sugary drinks duty for a Children’s Future Fund, which could be spent on improving children’s health by, for example, providing free school meals; Give an independent body the responsibility to oversee how the sugary drinks duty is implemented and make sure the revenue is spent effectively.

In the UK 60 per cent of adults are considered overweight and obese. Diet-related illnesses cost the NHS billions each year, and conditions such as type II diabetes and heart disease have also increased.

By proposing the introduction of a duty on sugary drinks there will be an inevitable reduction in consumption and benefits for both general and dental health. Cutting down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks is one of the Foundation’s key messages, and any measure which helps reduce how often our teeth are exposed to sugary foods and drinks is one the Foundation wholeheartedly welcomes.”

“Drinks packed with sugar have long been problematic to oral health. The Foundation has supported a number of policies designed to curb sugary drinks consumption, and the report put forward by Sustain is another step in the right direction.“

Don’t be left counting the cost of neglecting oral health Three in every four people would point to their bank balance as a reason for not visiting the dentist, a new poll reveals.

pennies in the short-term, but the cost of neglecting your oral health is even higher.

When quizzed about what would most prevent people from going to the dentist, 75 per cent of people said cost1.

“The financial savings of prevention – to your mouth and to your wallet – are much higher than if you put off oral health treatment until it’s too late. Regular check-ups can nip problems in the early stages. If you forego basic check-ups due to cost, there’s every chance when something goes wrong and you do need to visit the dentist you’ll have to pay a much larger amount upfront.

The squeeze on budgets in the last 12 months is plain for all to see. In March 2011, findings released by the Adult Dental Health Survey – undertaken every 10 years – revealed just over a quarter (26 per cent) of adults said the type of dental treatment they opted for was influenced by cost, while nearly one in five (19 per cent) said they had delayed having treatment for financial reasons. In times of economic difficulty, it is understandable to look at ways to trim money off monthly outgoings. However, heart diseases, strokes, pneumonia, diabetes and pregnancy complications are proven conditions that have been made worse by poor oral health. According to Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, dental care is one luxury you cannot afford to lose. Dr Carter said: “While budgets are feeling the squeeze, there is a very good reason looking after your oral health should not be cut-back. You may think you’re saving yourself some

“There are three basic price bands under NHS treatment, starting from £17.50. “There are three basic price bands under NHS treatment, starting from £17.50. There are circumstances in which you may be exempt from paying for

treatment, including if you are pregnant.”

The survey also showed one in five (19 per cent) blamed their fear of the dentist for not visiting their dentist. Only six per cent said access was the major barrier. Dr Carter added: “If you haven’t seen a dentist for years through fear or anxiety, be reassured that you should find the experience dramatically more bearable nowadays. “Most people who are scared of the dentist have bad memories from childhood of the smells and sounds of the surgery. Modern dental surgeries are much friendlier environments with flowers in the waiting room, art on the walls, a pleasant reception area and polite staff. It’s altogether a gentler experience.” 1. BDHF 2013 ‘Which of these would most prevent you from going to the dentist’, total votes: 204

Fear Cost Access

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Time to register

If, in the words of the Righteous Brothers, you’ve lost that loving feeling, we have the perfect reason to smile National Smile Month takes place from 20 May to 20 June this year and is the UK’s largest oral health campaign. To get as many people smiling as possible, we’re giving away 15,000 FREE Smiley’s to the first 3,000 people who register. BUT HOW DO I REGISTER, I hear you cry! The answer is simple – all you need to do is visit the National Smile Month website at www.smilemonth.org and click on register your interest. Last year more people than ever before took part in the campaign. More than 100,000 Smiley’s hit the streets of the UK (and beyond), making National Smile Month 2012 one of the best on record. It’s not all smiles, however. Research has shown oral health problems persist, with many people overlooking the value of good oral health. More than a third of adults are likely to delay dental treatment due to cost. More than half of the UK workforce isn’t allowed to take paid leave off work to visit their dentist and 60 per cent of people aged 65 and over regret not looking after their teeth earlier in life. So, what are you waiting for? please visit www.smilemonth.org

To join in the fun and register NOW!

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Continually during the clean she kept commenting how different her teeth were feeling and she became more excited as she realized her smile could and would look better. At the end of the treatment I passed her the mirror and she was at first speechless, peering in her mouth right to the inside of the back teeth and then examining the lower front“talking teeth”and then she burst into tears!

your e Lov

Love your smile...............well,what’s NOT to love? But then I am entirely biased as I love seeing people smile!

s a Dental Hygienist for 18 years now, my job is to treat and educate patients to care for their mouths as part of their general health and well being. Healthy gums are the foundations to healthy teeth and great smiles. Every day I bring patients that step closer to achieving smiles they can love and be proud of. It’s a joy to see patients more confident in themselves and smile freely and readily once their mouths are healthy. For a long time now we Brits have been notoriously know for our awful teeth especially next to our American friends, however dentistry in the UK is moving forward in leaps and bounds and so many practices now offer complex treatment options to allow the patient to change their unsightly smile for good. Treatment though does not always have to be complicated, as in the case of a lady I saw recently...

smile

This lady was in her late 50’s and was severely embarrassed by her very discoloured teeth. She was a fit and active lady who had made the choice to give up cigarettes after 20 years of smoking as she wanted to live a healthier life. She informed me she swam every morning and regularly went out hill walking at the weekends.

However she was upset that although she had embarked on these healthy lifestyle choices she felt her mouth did not reflect the person she now was and she found her confidence lacking when socialising and meeting new people. After reading the dentists prescription, examining her mouth and carrying out the basic gum health checks I could explain to the patient that her gums in fact were healthy. The problem was heavy staining from smoking had accumulated over the years and although she had stopped smoking her toothbrush was not adequate enough to remove those stains and she needed a professional clean. She was amazed that it would be that simple as she had resigned herself to thinking she had “terrible teeth”.

The emotion of being embarrassed all those years when she knew she had made the right choice for her health to stop smoking, well, it all poured out!

Gorgeous healthy 2013 smile As I took her out to reception she hugged me again and told me I was her Super Hero! By this point I was feeling emotional too. That’s the thing about Smiles, if it’s a Smile that we can love and be proud of then we are happy, confident and show more of our personalities.

“Old School” British Smile And then she was smiling and giggling and hugging me! The transformation in this lovely lady was incredible, she couldn’t wait to go home to show her husband her “new smile”.

About the author Karen Walker RDH qualified in Edinburgh in 1994. Karen splits her working week between two Specialist practices, one in Nottingham and one in Derbyshire. She is passionate about helping her patients achieve their optimum oral health and feel the benefits in their general health. Karen has written articles on dental implant maintenance for her peers and has lectured for the ITI and BSDHT. Contact at kazhyg@gmail.com

On the other hand if we are embarrassed and ashamed by our Smiles we remain introverted and lacking in confidence.

“I was her Super Hero!”

Learn to Love Your Smile by paying a visit to your dentist and hygienist today, you never know it could be a lot easier than you think!

Karen Walker 15

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For enquiries, to request a complete catalogue, or to order call: 01788 539 793 email: order@dentalhealth.org or visit www.dentalhealth.org/shop

*Standart pack includes 100 leaflet copies unless otherwise stated in brackets after code, (75) = pack of 75 leaflets, (50*) = pack of 50 leaflets

PROMOTE TREATMENTS AND

EXPLAIN CONDITIONS A resounding hit with dental professionals, the Foundation’s range of patient information leaflets provide the perfect way to explain conditions and promote treatments. Either handing these to individual patients, or making them available in the reception and waiting room areas, will ensure patients have the correct information. • Easy to understand question and answer format • Written and verified by qualified dental staff • Approved for plain English by the Word Centre • Regularly reviewed and updated