Word of mouth June 2013

WordofMouth ISSUE 08 / JUNE 2013

National Smile Month Special Edition Featuring • • • •

Your Brushing Habits Eight Tips For Terrific Teeth The Superstar Smile Approval Schemes

British Dental Health Foundation

WordofMouth CONTENTS

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

Hello, and welcome to the June edition of Word of Mouth – a National Smile Month special edition.

04 All smiles for launch of NSM

11 Illegal tooth whitening

05 Millions forget to brush

12-13 Forget wobbly bits

06 England captain left smiling

14-15 Bring out your Superstar Smile

07 Record numbers seeking braces

16-17 Keep Smiling

08-09 Eight top tips for terrific teeth

18 Could exams cause tooth decay?

Welcome to National Smile Month 2013

7 million Brits ‘forget’ daily brushing

Alastair Cook and Essex C.C pose with Smileys

One million people looking for a natural smile

Karen Coates offers oral health advice

20 million Brits putting themselves in danger

Invest in a ‘smile plan’ this summer

Binky Felsted launches bid for Superstar Smile

The impact a smile has on physical and mental health

Academic stress and possible tooth decay links

19 10 Oral health consequences ‘unknown’ Seal of approval works for Many unaware of systemic links with the mouth

Consumer value accreditation schemes

Oral health in the UK has dramatically improved since our first campaign back in 1977. In this time there have been huge advances in technology and dental treatment methods, the introduction of fluoride into almost all toothpaste and a greater emphasis on oral health education all working alongside our craving for the perfect smile. As a country our teeth are now healthier and better looking than ever before but despite the undoubted progression in the quality of our oral health there are still many aspects of care, particularly in many disadvantaged areas of the UK, which need support and time to develop. In 2013, National Smile Month will attempt to decrease the gap in oral health that currently exists between the socio-economic groups of the UK, to once again try and improve our health as a nation for the better.

Throughout this issue, we will be looking at just some of the reasons why you should keep up good oral health and why a healthy mouth really does give you a better chance of having a healthy body. We will

take an in-depth look into our new nationwide survey and what it says about our attitudes and behaviours towards oral health and we also have some excellent guest articles too!

I would ask you to visit the National Smile Month website – www.smilemonth.org – for more information on the campaign, and to keep a look out for our campaign messages if you plan to visit the dentist over the coming few weeks.

Finally, I would like to thank our campaign sponsors for National Smile Month; Platinum sponsors Oral-B, Extra, Listerine, who together with Philips, Lloyds Pharmacy, Bupa, Invisalign, NUK and Denplan have all contributed and invested in the campaign. Their efforts and support are very much appreciated by all here at the Foundation.

I hope you enjoy this special edition of Word of Mouth and have fun for National Smile Month in 2013. Over the past 30 years the campaign has coincided with major improvements of oral health in the UK and continues to provide everyone with the opportunity to participate in that continuing challenge.

David Westgarth

davidw@dentalhealth.org

WordofMouth Editor David Westgarth

Art Director Doychin Sakutov

Writers David Arnold Karen Coates

Educational Resources Amanda Oakey Becky Sollis

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ALL SMILES FOR LAUNCH

OF ORAL HEALTH CAMPAIGN

BRUSH THEIR TEETH

The British Dental Health Foundation is delighted to announce the start of National Smile Month the UK’s biggest oral health campaign.

New statistics reveal almost seven million people in the UK give are likely to give cleaning their teeth the brush-off.

The month-long spotlight on oral health runs until 20 June, with as many people as possible urged to take a moment to consider how they can do something to improve their oral health.

In its simplest form, National Smile Month promotes three key messages for great oral health: •

Brush for two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste,

•

Cut down on how often you eat sugary foods and drinks,

•

Visit the dentist regularly, as often as they recommend.

With almost 2,500 organisations taking part in the campaign, people up and down the country have the opportunity to get smiling with the icon of this year’s campaign - the ‘smiley’. From local dental practices

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MILLIONS FORGET TO

and education centres to shopping centres and sports teams, the smiley will not be too far away.

Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, said: “The smileys are a great way for everyone to engage with the campaign. They’re fun and can make oral health an approachable subject.

“Behind the smiles there are still some important oral health messages to remember. That’s why our smileys have the Foundation’s three key messages to improve oral health on them. We hope more people than ever before will take part in National Smile Month and help to educate as many people as possible about how to gain and the benefits of great oral health.”

A further one in five people (21 per cent) are most likely to forget flossing while an alarming number of people also aren’t doing their bit to stop germs spreading, as one in four (25 per cent) forget to cover their mouth when coughing and washing their hands after going to the loo.

“It is troubling to learn that people still have a poor attitude when it comes to their oral health. Anyone who regularly skips brushing their teeth morning or night is storing up oral health problems for the future such as tooth decay and gum disease – the biggest cause of tooth loss.

“Brushing last thing at night removes the deposits which have built up from eating and drinking during the day, as well as removing plaque – the cause of both tooth decay and gum disease. The last brush of the day

The campaign has the backing of platinum sponsors Listerine, Oral-B and Wrigley. Philips, Lloyds Pharmacy, Argos, Invisalign, Bupa, NUK and Denplan are also supporting this year’s campaign - which promises to be the biggest on record.

The findings have been revealed by the British Dental Health Foundation as part of its National Smile Month campaign. The results of the survey also found that attitudes towards oral hygiene haven’t improved in the last two years. In 2011 over a quarter of the population (28 per cent) admitted to not brushing their teeth even once in 24 hours and around one in seven people (15 per cent) said they did not clean their teeth for more than two days.

To see where your local event is taking place and to find out more about the campaign, please visit www. smilemonth.org.

Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, said: “What surprises me the most is that some of these things are basic hygiene tasks.

use interdental brushes or floss. Brushing alone only

also coats the teeth with fluoride, which is not washed away through eating and drinking, and continues to protect the tooth’s surface further during sleep.

“Flossing is also something that really is not a luxury.

Removing food stuck in between your teeth close to gum lines is a really important step to preventing gum disease, and the most effective way of doing this is to cleans 60 per cent of the tooth’s surface, so this is an excellent way of keeping plaque at bay.”

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ENGLAND CAPTAIN LEFT

WITH PLENTYTO SMILE ABOUT After recording a superb century and overseeing a series victory against New Zealand, it’s little wonder England captain Alastair Cook has a smile on his face.

The Essex batsman has been sharing a smile along with his county team-mates after they posed with a Smiley to show their support for National Smile Month, the UK’s largest oral health campaign.

The campaign, which runs until 20 June, encourages everyone to follow three key messages for good oral health and to find out just why oral hygiene is important.

Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, is delighted to see such high profile stars playing their role in spreading these messages, particularly for the next generation.

Dr Carter said: “Sports stars are often seen as role models for young children, and if they are seen to be promoting good oral health then children will undoubtedly follow. There are few role models bigger than the England captain, so I’m thrilled to see Alastair and the rest of the Essex County Cricket team posing with their smileys.

“A decade ago approaching half of five-year-olds had obvious tooth decay and by 2008 three out of ten five-yearolds in England had decay. This shows how important it is for children to learn about good oral health practices from an early age.

“National Smile Month has coincided with major improvements in these areas, which goes to show how important getting involved with the campaign is. Essex Country Cricket Club has shown how easy it is to get involved. With the support of local communities, oral health promoters and involvement from leading sports figures, I am confident the oral health of the UK will continue to improve.”

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RECORD NUMBER OF BRITS SEEKING BRACES

A record number of people are seeking out braces to achieve a celebrity smile the au natural way.

According to the British Orthodontic Society, more than one million people are looking to braces to bring a beautiful smile back to their faces, rather than undergoing alternative invasive treatments.

New research by oral health charity the British Dental Health Foundation also shows that one in five people now spend more money per month on oral care products, compared with hair products, skincare, fragrances and cosmetics.

Clinically recognised, virtually invisible orthodontic treatment, Invisalign, has reported a 25 per cent increase in demand over the last five years, with the average age of people seeking braces shifting to persons 25 and over - evidence of crooked teeth no longer being an issue solely tackled in your teens. Be it parents, students or businessmen, a set of pearly whites is the new coveted trend.

Braces are a way of straightening or moving teeth to improve their appearance and the way they work. They can also help to look after the long-term health of the teeth and gums. With the treatment on the rise, Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, discusses why braces are no longer considered a stigma.

Dr Carter says: “The significant advances in technology mean you can now wear braces without them being blindingly obvious. Celebrities are often seen as role models in society, and the visible standard of their oral hygiene is no exception. With many stars often improving their own smile through cosmetic dentistry, it’s no wonder we are now seeing a growing trend within the British public.

“A direct reflection of this can be seen in the success of certain dental brands, for example interest in Invisalign, the virtually invisible way to straighten teeth, has grown by 25 per cent in the last five years alone.

Jamie Morley, UK & Ireland General Manager at Invisalign, comments: “Working with over 2 million people worldwide to transform their smiles, Invisalign is dedicated to improving oral health and leading innovation in orthodontic technology. As such, we are proud to be sponsors of National Smile Month 2013 and help towards driving awareness of dental hygiene across the UK.”

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‘EIGHT TOP TIPS FOR TERRIFIC TEETH’ National Smile Month is the perfect opportunity for you to pay extra attention to the importance of oral health. With this in mind, Karen Coates, Dental Advisor at the British Dental Health Foundation, has eight top tips for terrific teeth.

1. Visit the dentist regularly, as often as they recommend

3. Brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste

It doesn’t matter how old you are, or how many teeth you have, you should always follow your dentist’s advice about how often they need to see you.

It’s important to brush your teeth first thing in the morning and just before you go to bed for two minutes using a fluoride toothpaste. Why? During the night the flow of saliva, which is the mouth’s cleaning system, slows down. This leaves the mouth more at risk to decay; therefore brushing acts as a preventive measure.

So why are check-ups so important? Well, for starters prevention is always better than cure. Regular visits to the dentist can identify problems developing early, and more importantly set you on a path to rectify them. There’s a chance everyone will suffer from gum disease at some point in their lives – it’s that common – so do remember to get to your dentist or hygienist as often as they recommend.

2. Take diet into consideration Diet may have a large impact on the growing obesity problem in the UK, but there’s no escaping the damage a poor diet does to our teeth.

One of the Foundation’s key messages is ‘cut down how often you have sugary foods and drinks’. This is a particularly important message for parents to remember. The more often your child has sugary or acidic foods or drinks, the more likely they are to have decay. It is therefore important to keep sugary and acidic foods to mealtimes only. Food and drinks which are kindest to teeth include cheese, crackers, breadsticks, raw vegetables, plain water and milk.

It is also worth remembering that some processed baby foods contain quite a lot of sugar. Try checking the list of ingredients – the higher up the list sugar is, the more there is in the product. Sometimes, these are shown as fructose, glucose, lactose, or sucrose.

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Fluoride is an incredibly important addition to the toothpaste we use. It’s also found in drinking water across the country. There are different levels depending on how old you are. All children up to three years old should use a toothpaste with a fluoride level of at least 1000ppm (parts per million). After three years old, the Foundation recommends you use a toothpaste that contains 1350ppm-1500ppm.

If you’re unsure how much fluoride is on a particular brand, check the packaging for the Foundation’s approved symbol for reassurance.

4. Indulge in interdental cleaning As brushing alone only cleans around two thirds of the mouth, it is important to use interdental brushes or floss to clean away any food debris caught between the teeth. It can help to reduce the risk of gum disease. Given that gum disease has been linked to heart problems, pneumonia and even pancreatic cancer to name but a few, interdental cleaning at least once a day isn’t too much to ask!

5. Get empowered with a power toothbrush Rigorous tests have proven electric toothbrushes with

small round oscillating rotating heads to be up to twice as effective at removing plaque than a manual brush. Many also have two minute timers to ensure you clean for the recommended period of time.

Some such as the Oral B Triumph with Smart Guide also have a remote display to help your brush for the correct time and sensors to show you when you are brushing too hard. Look for the British Dental Health Foundation accredited logo which shows that the claims the product is making have been scientifically proven.

6. Remember the one hour rule It takes an average of 40 minutes for the mouth to neutralise the acid caused by eating or drinking sugar. Therefore it is best to wait at least one hour after eating before brushing teeth. Eating or drinking weakens the enamel on the teeth, meaning if you brush too soon it cause tiny particles of the enamel to be brushed away. You can help to speed up the time that is takes for the saliva to neutralise these plaque acids and lessen the damage that they can cause by chewing sugar-free gum containing Xylitol, rinsing with a fluoride mouthrinse or plain water.

7. Teeth are not tools!

Although you can’t legislate for genuine accidents, please remember your teeth aren’t tools. If your party trick is to open a bottle of beer with your teeth, or if you’re always biting open the crisp packet, you’re actually doing your teeth more harm than good.

If you somehow lose a tooth, the important thing to remember is not to panic. Get to the emergency dentist as soon as possible, as with the right care, the

tooth could be successfully put back into the socket.

Ideally you should try and put it back in straight away, without handling the root.

The best chance of having your tooth successfully put back in is to keep the tooth in the cheek. If this isn’t possible, keep it in some milk until you receive the necessary emergency dental work. The sooner you can do this the better.

8. Think about appearance If you have a great oral hygiene routine, or even if you don’t, there’s no reason why you can’t think about some cosmetic treatment to help brighten or restore your smile. People who smoke, drink red wine and lots of coffee may find over time their teeth become stained. There are toothpastes available that can remove these stains, but they won’t alter the natural shade of your teeth. It’s always best to have a good chat with your dentist about the options, which can include tooth whitening, crowns or veneers.

The Dental Helpline (0845 063 1188), staffed by fully trained oral health experts and dental nurses, offers free and impartial advice on oral hygiene. The Helpline has taken more than 300,000 calls since its formation a little over a decade ago and can help you on subjects such as dental terms and treatment procedures, oral hygiene, current UK legislation and regulations, NHS and private dental charges, complaints procedures, and referrals to other organisations.

For more information on any of these topics and more, please visit www.dentalhealth.org/tell-me-about. The Foundation’s ‘Tell Me About’ leaflets are all produced in plain English, making them easy to understand.

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A shocking number of Brits do not realise the consequences of poor oral health, new research reveals.

Dementia topped the poll, as 90 per cent of people were unaware it could potentially be linked to poor oral health.

A further four in five people were unaware poor oral health could potentially be linked pneumonia (83 per cent) and colon cancer (82 per cent) while a similar figure (79 per cent) thought strokes could not result from poor oral health. Only heart problems registered with those questioned, as two in five people (40 per cent) thought they could be brought on by poor oral health.

In the last two years poor oral health has been linked to a number of conditions, some of which are life-threatening. Breast cancer, strokes, diabetes, hospital-acquired infections, erectile dysfunction, pneumonia, bowel cancer, endocarditis, oral cancer, dementia, pancreatic cancer, psoriasis and pregnancy complications have all been associated with varying degrees of poor oral health. Yet the survey appears to suggest as a nation we appear to be completely oblivious to these links.

More than 2,000 people were questioned as part of the nation’s annual reminder about the importance of oral health, National Smile Month. The campaign, which runs from 20 May to 20 June, encourages everyone

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to brush their teeth for two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, cut down on how often they have sugary foods and drinks and to visit their dentist regularly, as often as they recommend.

Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE said: “The survey results are the clearest indication yet that the public is unaware of just how important their oral health is.

“Gum disease in particular has been associated with serious health issues. It affects most people at some point in their lives, so there is no excuse for ignoring good dental hygiene. The good news is that poor oral health is nearly always preventable, so it is important that people make caring for their teeth a top priority. Regular visits to the dentist, as often as they recommend, are really important to give the dentist a chance to assess your oral health and, if necessary, give your teeth a scale and polish.

“Doing this alone won’t help your oral health. That’s why I’d also encourage a simple routine of brushing teeth, twice a day for two minutes using a fluoride toothpaste, which will help to remove plaque - the cause of gum disease. It is also important to clean in between teeth using interdental brushes or floss.”

National Smile Month is being supported by a record number of sponsors in 2013 including Extra, Listerine, Oral-B, Philips, Bupa, Invisalign, NUK, Denplan and Lloyds Pharmacy.

20 million people in the UK are leaving themselves open to illegal and potentially harmful toothwhitening.

New survey data suggests more than one in four people (28 per cent) would not go to the dentist for their tooth whitening treatment and purchase home kits over the internet, visit beauticians and kiosks instead.

When asked who is qualified to carry out the treatment, 25 per cent of people believe beauty kiosk staff and beauticians can do so, a move rendered illegal on 31 October last year.

Under the European Council directive, tooth whitening products containing or releasing between 0.1 and six per cent hydrogen peroxide can now only be sold to a registered dental professional offering the treatment in their practice.

While 98 per cent of people in the survey correctly identified dentists as those able to carry out the treatment, Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, issues a stern warning to anyone considering tooth whitening outside the dentist’s chair.

Dr Carter said: “There is no doubt tooth whitening is becoming more popular due to the sheer number of places you can now have it done. There is also no doubt a vast number of these are operating illegally and pose a significant health risk.

“Beauticians and those working in kiosks carry out the procedure without the correct training, qualifications or the expertise required. In many cases the tooth whitening agent contains hydrogen peroxide above the recommended limit, which can result in permanent damage.

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ORAL HEALTH SYSTEMIC LINKS AN ‘UNKNOWN’ FOR BRITS

MILLIONS IN DANGER THROUGH ILLEGAL WHITENING

“If it is carried out by someone who does not have the necessary qualifications, it can result in increased sensitivity and damage to gums. Crowns, bridges and denture teeth will not bleach, which is something the unqualified will miss. If it is carried out by the dentist they will use the time to examine for other problems.”

The clamour for whiter teeth has been driven by the desire for the celebrity look, with many people seeking the perfect smile. In fact, only last year the Foundation revealed the stigma attached to stained teeth, as it was voted second in a list of turn-offs in the opposite sex.

Dr Carter added: “There are a number of ways to stop your teeth from becoming stained and discoloured, reducing the need for tooth whitening. Smoking is a major culprit. Many smokers have yellow teeth due to the nicotine and tar content, and they can become brown if you’ve smoked over a prolonged period of time.

“Too much red wine, tea, coffee and blackcurrant can also lead to stained teeth. Cutting down on these things will stop your teeth becoming so discoloured you need a tooth whitening treatment. Although whitening toothpastes do not alter the natural colour of your teeth, they are more effective at removing staining.

“If you are considering getting your teeth whitened, there are now clear guidelines for everyone to follow when it comes to the procedure. It must be done in a dental practice. If you have any questions or need advice on tooth whitening, don’t take the cheap alternative in a kiosk. The Foundation’s Tell Me About leaflet offers basic, easy to understand information on the topic. The Dental Helpline can also field any questions you may have.”

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Research released today by dental aligner brand Invisalign suggests Brits should ditch the summer diet plan and invest in a ‘smile’ plan. The National Smile Month sponsor discovered it’s not wobbly body parts gnawing at a quarter of the nation’s confidence, but their crooked smiles – resoundingly beating concerns about bottoms, legs, hair and chests!

Summer Romance And if it’s romance you’re looking for this summer a cracking smile could be the secret to success, as research discovered that when it comes to attraction three quarters of Brits rated a person’s smile as important when first considering going on a date with them. Crooked teeth would put 26% of people off dating someone, a much bigger turnoff than wrinkles and 50% of people surveyed believe that straight teeth reflect how much pride you take in your overall personal hygiene.

Faking it on a date is also a big no-no, with genuine smiles (58%) rated as the top flirty signal we look out for to tell if someone’s interested in us, versus eye contact, sparking up a conversation or physical contact.

Personality and having a good sense of humour also

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FORGET WOBBLY BITS – WHAT BRITS ARE REALLY SCARED OF FLASHING THIS SUMMER IS THEIR SMILE! rated highly in the attraction charts.

Getting Ahead At Work Lack of confidence in our smiles could also be holding us back in our career, with 90% of Brits rating a sense of humour important to making human connection with colleagues – and its men that feel most comfortable instigating humour in the workplace (34%), whereas women tend to feel more comfortable using humorous ice breakers in their social lives (31%).

The survey also discovered that people with straight teeth and a great smile are seen as more successful (32%), wealthier (23%) and more likely to get a job (27%) than those with crooked teeth and a bad smile suggesting perception is everything!

Smile And The World Smiles With You And as a nation who spends three quarters of the year living under grey skies, it’s not surprising that almost half of us are convinced we smile for less than one hour a day, even though a whopping 75% of us wish we smiled two hours or more, with a dreamy 22% wishing they could smile all day long! And if you really want to make Britain smile again, a compliment or a beaming smile should do the trick – both topped as the key drivers behind making us grin!

But watch out for the phoneys as 59% of us still feel the pressure to ‘fake it’ – on average 2-5 times a day – and are most likely to do it when meeting a stranger or when the boss is around!

For more information and to find a practitioner near

The Invisalign® system is a clinically recognised, virtually invisible orthodontic treatment that can straighten teeth in both adults and teens, without the embarrassment of traditional fixed braces. Working with over 2 million people worldwide to transform their smiles, Invisalign is dedicated to improving oral health and is proud to be a

ENDS

you, visit: http://www.facebook.com/InvisalignUK / www.invisalign.co.uk or call 0845 644 5462.

Notes to editors: **Survey conducted by Align Technology in the UK, 23rd – 29th April with 2,000 respondents (OnePoll research).

sponsor of National Smile Month 2013.

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BRING OUT YOUR SUPERSTAR SMILE With today’s emphasis on achieving the perfect look, from top to toe, including that big confident smile, Wrigley’s Extra White has launched the ‘Bring out your Superstar Smile’ campaign to coincide with National Smile Month. Fronting the campaign is Binky Felstead, of Made in Chelsea fame, who is encouraging people to take a look at their daily oral care habits, knowing that taking care of your teeth means a healthier mouth, which brings a happier smile, helping to unleash the superstar in us all.

New research from Wrigley , revealed that consumers in their teens and early twenties are the demographic most likely to follow ‘unsatisfactory’ oral care routines.

Katie Codd, Extra Brand Manager explains: “Our research shows that, even though the oral care benefits

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of gum are what drive the majority of chewers, some of the younger generation are still uninformed about the importance of oral care. This is why we are launching our nationwide ‘Bring out your Superstar Smile’ campaign throughout National Smile Month to not only drive the importance of oral care, but to remind younger chewers that chewing Extra sugarfree gum is a convenient way to keep their teeth clean and healthy, after eating and drinking.

Binky explains: “I think it’s only natural that people have times when they lack self-confidence and can worry about how they look – I certainly have. So when Extra offered me the chance to help boost people’s confidence, and encourage them to bring out their ‘Superstar Smiles’ with their new Extra White Bubblemint flavour I couldn’t resist!”

She continues: “When I’m on set filming, I want to look and feel my best, so by chewing Extra White Bubblemint I know that my mouth is clean and healthy, and it helps to maintain my teeth’s natural whiteness - which gives me the confidence to smile!”

A fruity addition to the sugarfree range, Extra White Bubblemint will play a prominent role in the UK’s largest oral health campaign - National Smile Month (20th May - 20th June). Just like the existing Extra portfolio, Extra White Bubblemint is sugarfree and accredited by the British Dental Health Foundation. Look out for new packs instore now or visit Facebook.com/extraofficialUK to find out how to get involved in the Extra White ‘Bring out your superstar smile’ campaign.

Binky and Wrigley’s Extra launching Superstar Smile as part of National Smile Month 2013.

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KEEP SMILING AND YOU MAY FEEL HEALTHIER TOO...

Studies into smiling, laughter and generally feeling happy suggest they can have a positive effect on your physical and mental health.

The nation’s annual reminder about the importance of maintaining good oral health, National Smile Month runs until June 20. With around a third of adults and children in the UK still suffering from preventable tooth decay, and around ten million people admitting they only brush their teeth oncea-day, the UK still has much to do to improve its oral health habits.

But the simple act of smiling and laughter may also have other hidden health benefits. The scientific study of the effects of laughter – called Gelotology – can be traced back to the 1960s and has regularly pointed to positive mental and physical health benefits associated with being happy.

Clinical studies by some researchers have confirmed that the body changes when people laugh. The pituitary gland releases its own opiates, which suppress pain; the production of immune cells increases and the levels of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which are chronically high when an individual is under long-term stress and which suppress the immune system are reduced dramatically. At the same time, healthy hormones such as endorphins and neurotransmitters are increased.

Laughter also provides a physical workout for stomach muscles, the diaphragm, and even the heart. Some researchers also theorise that smiling and laughter improves mental performance by accelerating the heartbeat, helping to increase the oxygen supply to the brain.

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As pupils across the country settle into the new term, revision for SATs, GCSEs and A-Levels might not be the only cause for stress.

health has been proven to stave off a number of nasty bugs, many of which if you caught them would seriously hamper your ability to give your best during exams.

A recent scientific study has suggested academic stress, often as its highest during exams, could cause tooth decay, with younger students at greater risk than older students.

“Many students also choose to snack during revision sessions, not to mention consuming sugary energy drinks ahead of exams. While these may give you a short-term boost, the long-term effects on oral health could end up being a failure.

The study looked at the oral health of 73 students before, during and after their exams. Results showed that students under stress had higher levels of tooth decay than students with a low stress level. It also found 18 year old students were almost twice more likely to develop tooth decay than 22 year old students.

The research also highlighted that women were more likely to suffer tooth decay when under academic stress than their male counterparts.

The findings are food for thought for the 2.5 million students in higher education. While plenty of information is readily available about how to combat exam-related stress and anxiety, keeping a good oral health routine is one piece of advice seldom associated with stress.

Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, said: “Exams are a stressful time for anyone, regardless of age. There is often quite a lot resting on them, and it is only normal for students to experience some degree of stress and anxiety over their results.

“However tired you may feel, ensuring you brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste - first thing in the morning and night - is really important for a number of reasons. Good oral

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“Every time we eat or drink anything sugary, teeth are under attack for up to one hour. Saliva plays a major role in neutralising acid in the mouth, and it takes up to an hour for that to happen. If sugary items are constantly being consumed, the mouth is constantly under attack and does not get the chance to recover. The key thing to remember is that it is how often sugar is consumed, rather than how much sugar, which heightens the risk of tooth decay. That is why one of the Foundation’s key messages is to cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks.

“Practical solutions such as chewing on sugar-free gum can help to speed up the time that is takes for the saliva to neutralise plaque acids and lessen the damage that these can cause. By chewing sugar-free gum for around 10 minutes and keeping to a good, healthy balanced diet during the revision and exam period will not only be beneficial to your overall health, but it will help to maintain your oral health. Snacking on sugary sweets may get you through a night’s revision, but repeating the practice night after night is harmful to your oral health. Consider foods such as cheese and nuts to graze on, while water or diluted juice drinks are an excellent alternative to sugary energy drinks.”

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COULD EXAMS CAUSE TOOTH DECAY?

SEAL OF APPROVAL WORKS FOR CUSTOMERS We are a nation seeking approval on the oral healthcare products we buy.

That is according to new research that reveals four in every five (80 per cent) would look for the Foundation’s ‘Approved’ logo before purchasing an oral hygiene product. Reassurance over healthcare appeared to top most people’s agenda, as more than one in four people (28 per cent) would most look for accreditation on those products, closely followed by food and drink (22 per cent) and electrical goods (20 per cent).

The survey questioned more than 2,000 people ahead of National Smile Month, the UK’s largest oral health campaign. Running until 20 June, the campaign is the annual reminder for everyone to take care of their oral health.

Since the accreditation scheme was established more than 20 years ago, over 700 products have been approved by the Foundation. The Foundation evaluates consumer oral healthcare products to ensure that product claims are clinically proven and not exaggerated. An independent panel of internationally recognised dental experts study all the claims carefully to make sure they are true, and backed up by reliable scientific evidence.

Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation,

Dr Nigel Carter OBE, said: “Our accreditation scheme is one of our many success stories and is continuing to grow into new markets. In the UK, our logo is being used by some of the top retailers of oral healthcare products. Some of the biggest brands also use the initiative, and during National Smile Month you will hopefully see a number of our products carrying the logo in supermarkets up and down the country.

“We know from previous research people are confused by the array of ingredients and product claims made by manufacturers and retailers. That is why the campaign is a great chance for people who may have overlooked their oral health to seek out our logo on products.

“Our scheme helps to give re-assurance to the public buying oral healthcare products that the manufacturer’s claims are clinically proven and not exaggerated. You wouldn’t put food or drink in your mouth if you didn’t know what was in it, and oral healthcare products are no different.”

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SUPPORTERS OF NATIONAL SMILE MONTH The British Dental Health Foundation would like to thank the following sponsors who are helping to make everyone smile in 2013 with their educational grants and generous charitable support.

SPONSORSHIP IN 2014 If you would like to support or sponsor National Smile Month in 2014, please contact Simon Howell at the British Dental Health Foundation at simon@dentalhealth.org for a sponsorship pack.

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Smileline

0845 063 1188

www.smilemonth.org