North Yorkshire dentists urge people to look after their teeth, with children experiencing decay
We're told constant snacking can be very damaging.
Last updated 27th Dec 2024
Dentists in North Yorkshire say they're worried about the number of children having teeth taken out because of tooth decay.
Latest data suggests one in five year 6 pupils in Yorkshire have experience of tooth decay.
Mark Green works at a practice in Kirkbymoorside and has this advice for us over the Christmas period.
"If you see a box of some sort of mixture of sweets, grab a handful and eat them all in one go...and that's maybe not why I should be saying, eating too many, but having one now going back half an hour later, having another one is far more damaging.
Every time you eat your mouth releases acid, but we're hearing how it's when we graze all day that damage can be done: "5 acid attacks a day, 2 bushings a day, you'll be fine, but if you have breakfast, dinner and tea, your soon at 3, then mid afternoon and mid morning. You soon get to 5 without really thinking about it. So just be aware, if you are having sweets, have them with something else.
"Your teeth are very hard things, and if you have 5 acid attacks a day, your teeth can cope with that if you brush twice a day. But if you start straying into 6, 7, 8 times a day, then your teeth start to get a bit soft and then the holes start appearing."