Holy molar, those sugar-free treats can damage children's teeth, too 22/06/10

written by AMY CORDEROY HEALTH .

June 22, 2010 www.smh.com.au.

POPULAR sugar-free foods and drinks can be so acidic they are as likely to damage teeth as sugar-filled products, a consumer group warns .

Parents who try to protect their children's teeth by buying sugar-free do not realise high-acid foods should also be avoided, according to Choice. .

"People look at products that have 'sugar-free' on the label and think they are good for your teeth," Choice's spokesman, Brad Schmitt, said. "What they don't realise is these products in some cases are just as bad"..

The group tested 85 different processed foods and drinks for both acid and sugar levels, and found many popular snacks such as Kellogg's Nutri-Grain bars and Golden Circle orange juice to be high in both acid and sugar. .

But parents should be careful of even medium-risk foods that were low in one but high in the other, Mr Schmitt said. .

"Kids love their muesli bars and fruit snacks but parents should limit them to be a once-a-week treat," he said. .

Both sugar and acid damage the teeth by eroding the minerals in the enamel of the tooth, says Neil Hewson, president of the Australian Dental Association. But sugar is worse as bacteria thrive on it. .

Eating a lot of acidic food can also make teeth more susceptible to damage from sugar. .

"I have seen patients who have [acid] erosion but don't have [sugar] decay," he said. "But it does require prolonged exposure. If you just quickly drink an orange juice that will have little effect but if you sip on juice all day you will do damage"..

Saliva helps ''re-mineralise'' teeth that have been damaged by sugar and acid. "That means if you only have exposure now and then the natural balance will work out," Dr Hewson said. .

Dr Alford explains the secrets to keep your teeth for life!22/06/10

POPULAR sugar-free foods and drinks can be so acidic they are as likely to damage teeth as sugar-filled products, a consumer group warns .

Parents who try to protect their children's teeth by buying sugar-free do not realise high-acid foods should also be avoided, according to Choice. .

"People look at products that have 'sugar-free' on the label and think they are good for your teeth," Choice's spokesman, Brad Schmitt, said. "What they don't realise is these products in some cases are just as bad"..

The group tested 85 different processed foods and drinks for both acid and sugar levels, and found many popular snacks such as Kellogg's Nutri-Grain bars and Golden Circle orange juice to be high in both acid and sugar. .

But parents should be careful of even medium-risk foods that were low in one but high in the other, Mr Schmitt said. .

"Kids love their muesli bars and fruit snacks but parents should limit them to be a once-a-week treat," he said. .

Both sugar and acid damage the teeth by eroding the minerals in the enamel of the tooth, says Neil Hewson, president of the Australian Dental Association. But sugar is worse as bacteria thrive on it. .

Eating a lot of acidic food can also make teeth more susceptible to damage from sugar. .

"I have seen patients who have [acid] erosion but don't have [sugar] decay," he said. "But it does require prolonged exposure. If you just quickly drink an orange juice that will have little effect but if you sip on juice all day you will do damage"..

Saliva helps ''re-mineralise'' teeth that have been damaged by sugar and acid. "That means if you only have exposure now and then the natural balance will work out," Dr Hewson said. .

Dr Adam Alford Rated Expert on Ezine Articles16/08/07

Cosmetic Dentistry, What is it all about?

Every dental advertisement you see mentions Cosmetic Dentistry. It is the new catch cry of the dental professional in the 21st century, but what does it really mean.

Cosmetic Dentistry or Aesthetic dentistry is a rather broad description for dental procedures that improve or enhance a patients smile and so therefore their dental appearance. Remember though that not all cosmetic dentistry needs to be expensive, or it doesn’t mean complete ‘Dental makeovers’. A true cosmetic dentist is one that just carries out all of their treatment not only to a high functional level but also to a high cosmetic level. If you have a dentist who has cosmetic prowess then by the time you see them year in year out, and you replace fillings etc as they fail, then in the end you will have a beautiful long lasting cosmetically pleasing smile.

To read more on Cosmetic Dentistry please view the link below or http://ezinearticles.com/?Cosmetic-Dentistry,-What-Is-It-All-About?&id=644823
Cosmetic-Dentistry, What is it All About?

ADA concerned over sports drinks aimed at kids under 1326/06/07

The ADA has expressed concern over Gatorade’s Australian launch this week of its “world first” sports drink specifically targeting children under 13, “the tween market”. It is particularly disappointing given that company executives made verbal assurances to the association less than a year ago that children were not a prime market for its sports drinks.

Experts pour cold water on Gatorade Kelly Burke Consumer Affairs Reporter May 3, 2007 Sydney Morning Herald 03/05/07 www.smh.com.au

"WHEN we're done, tap water will be relegated to showers and washing dishes." The messianic ambitions of Gatorade's former American president came a step closer to being realised in Australia this week, with the launch of a "world first" sports drink targeting children under 13. But the product has not impressed nutritionists and dentists, who say the sugary acidic beverages are contributing to childhood obesity and poor dental hygiene.

Of perhaps even greater concern is the way Gatorade Active Under13s is being promoted as an alternative to water, with claims by the manufacturer that its product is more effective at rehydrating children after sport.

The Australian Dental Association said Gatorade's first foray into the "tween" market was particularly disappointing, given executives from the company had made verbal assurances to the association little more than a year ago that children were not a prime market for its sports drinks.

Dr Derek Lewis, the chairman of the association's Oral Health Committee, said there was evidence showing that the acid content in sports drinks was contributing to dental erosion and dissolving the hard enamel.

In the promotional material for the new sports drink, Simone Austin, the consultant dietitian to the Australian cricket team, is quoted as saying: "For very active kids, water is not enough."

ADA Supports Fluoride in Bottled Water05/06/07

The Australian Dental Association Inc (ADA) supports the addition of fluoride to bottled water.

“Recent calls by the Prime Minister, John Howard, and Choice Magazine to consider the addition of fluoride to bottled water are supported by the ADA.

Last year, a survey of fluoride content in still bottled water was published in the Australian Dental Journal. The average level was less than 10% (.08 part per million) of the optimum (1.00 part per million)” says Dr John Matthews, President of the ADA.

“The impact that consumption of non-fluoridated bottled water has on teeth is difficult to determine. It has to be taken in context with the consumption of other beverages that have grown recently in popularity. The intake of carbonated drinks, fruit juice and sports drinks places an individual at far greater risk of tooth decay than the consumption of non-fluoridated water.

However, the ADA suggests there is a potential link between increasing decay rates in children and teenagers and increased consumption of non-fluoridated water. The ADA believes bottled water should be fluoridated and that the fluoride content should be clearly marked on the label.

Many parents give young children filtered tap water. Parents should be aware that some filters (reverse osmosis) remove fluoride. The ADA believes manufacturers of filter systems should clearly stipulate a filter’s capacity to remove fluoride.

The overall ADA strategy recommended to prevent childhood caries (tooth decay) is:

• Use fluoride daily – in drinking water and toothpaste