Sugar-free chewing gum can tackle early tooth decay- Norfolk dentist
Latest data suggests that severe tooth decay in children is rising and is putting increasing numbers of children in hospital
Sugar-free chewing gum could be a quick-fire way of tackling some of the earliest causes of tooth decay.
That's according to Dr Andy Bell- as there's plenty of chocolate around- and latest data suggests that tooth decay in children is rising.
It's the leading cause of hospital admissions for children between 5 and 9 years old, in England
"They are not going to last forever and will need to be replaced at some point"
Dr Andy Bell works in Gorleston- and told us why prevention is the best cure:
"So those people who are snackers, who are not as good with their toothbrush, they will quite often have a number of delayed teeth, they're at more risk of gum disease, and that just has a knock-on effect.
"As soon as you have a filling in a tooth- you need to be well aware that they are not going to last forever and will need to be replaced at some point.
"It's really important to try and keep the eating of things like chocolate to mealtimes. If you're already eating then that level of acidity doesn't increase but the impact is a lot less.
"When you go and see a dentist for sensitivity, the real thing you're trying to determine is, is it sensitivity from a bit of gum recession or is it from tooth decay. From sensitivity it gets more serious.