Tooth fairies say lose the juice

DENTAL therapist Lynn Wilkinson keeps it short and sweet when she talks to young mums. "Dental decay is totally preventable. The simple message I try to get across is to restrict sugary food and drinks to mealtimes only," says Lynn, who is employed by Hambleton and Richmond Primary Care Trust.

This week is National Smile Week and NHS dental staff have been holding events throughout the region to promote better dental care.

Lynn visited the Bumps & Babes group at Colburn Recreation Hall to give expectant and nursing mothers a headstart when it comes to protecting young teeth. But she and her colleagues certainly have their work cut out, with the region having pockets of very poor oral health.

"When we see children who are having all their front teeth out at the age of 18 months, we know we still have work to do," says Lynn.

The damage is mainly caused by sugary food and drinks between meals. "People think it's all right because they are giving their child 'pure' fruit juice but it contains very sticky forms of glucose which can strip away the enamel on teeth," says Lynn.

Unfortunately, the truth is that the only really tooth-friendly drinks to give children between meals is milk or plain water. "I always tell people that cheese is a brilliant snack for children because it neutralises the acids which can attack teeth," she adds.

If sugar intake is restricted to mealtimes it allows the protective work of saliva to go on uninterrupted. "Saliva is the body's natural way of repairing damage to the teeth," says Lynn.

Jerry Ward, a dental hygienist with North Yorkshire Dental Care Service says the three essential messages for everyone are:

1. Visit a dentist regularly;

2. Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste;

3. Don't eat sweets between meals.

Apart from the events in Colburn, the North Yorkshire dental care teams were out in Romanby, Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon, Scarborough and York.