Community

Eating sweets need NOT damage your teeth

Published

11 years ago

February 17, 2015

IF YOU need a filling at the dentist how many times have you heard the message ‘you must stop eating sweets and sugar’? Really, in this day and age with

Dr Mark Boulcott: Explaining dental disease to a patient.

sugar being added or included in almost all foods as not only a sweetener but as a preservative, texture modifier, fermentation substrate, flavouring and colouring agent, bulking agent and emulsifier, is it even possible to comply with this message and not starve?

It is no surprise, therefore that the statistics of decayed teeth in Pembrokeshire as regularly reviewed by the Hywel Dda Health Board Oral Health Profile (last published in 2013) shows an appalling incidence of dental decay in 5 year olds – and yet dental decay is a totally preventable disease!

So what in reality can you and your children eat and be reassured that your teeth will remain decay free? The answer is that there are really no safe foods. The food industry confuses us with statement like ‘no added sugar’, ‘contains natural sugars’ or ‘reduced sugar’. Sucrose, Glucose, Maltose, Fructose (as labeled on many foodstuffs) are all naturally occurring sugars and all, when eaten, cause acid to form in the mouth: The cause of dental decay with the acid ‘dissolving’ teeth. What is less obvious is the amount of sugar contained within the product.

In essence, sugar is sugar: They all cause dental decay no matter how much or how little you eat. One teaspoon of sugar (sucrose) in your Tea is just as bad for your teeth as five sugars. The only difference is that you may get fat, more prone to diabetes and other health complications with a higher sugar intake but much lower amounts of sugar ingestion will still cause teeth damage. So we have to assume all foods we eat contain sugar (fermentable carbohydrate) of some type.

This dissolving of the teeth, called dental decay or dental caries, puts you and your child at the risk of dental pain, infection and the need for treatments possibly including tooth removal.

Thinking that, in the case of young children, it does not matter (after all, ‘baby teeth’ will be replaced) is wrong. The decay of deciduous teeth may still lead to your child having pain and infection but worse, teeth removal possibly needing General Anaesthesia. This is a procedure not without risk and not easy to access in Pembrokeshire with the nearest GA treatment centre being in Swansea with waiting times often inappropriate for acute pain. There is also the fact that early loss of first teeth is much more likely to lead to crowded or crooked permanent teeth: a fact that may require later orthodontics (treating with braces).

The dentists at Herbrandston, one of Pembrokeshire’s most proactive dental practices in regard to prevention of dental disease, give a different message. Dr Mark Boulcott, the principal dental surgeon states: “I never tell parents to stop giving sweets. That message is unrealistic and unhelpful. The modern diet is full of sugary drinks, sugary confectionary and sugar containing meals. Instead I am far more interested in the frequency of sugar ingestion: how often patients eat sugar, not how much sugar.”

“It has been known for decades that sugar causes bacteria in the mouth to form acid which in turn damages teeth. Of course, no sugar equals no tooth decay, but what most patients (and indeed many dentists) fail to understand is that the amount of sugar required to cause bacteria to produce acid is minimal. The more sugar you eat does not mean more acid in your mouth – but even the slightest sugar intake causes tooth damage.”

Dr Boulcott points to evidence from as far back as the 1940s, when Dr Robert Stephan postulated the coincidence of reducing pH (acidity) and tooth decay: “It is evident even before the advent of the NHS that dental decay was not caused by having too much sugar, but by having too great a frequency of intake. Sugar causes damage by allowing mouth bacteria to produce acid but the amount of sugar eaten is irrelevant. Any damage caused by the acid (at a microscopic level) should be repaired provided the saliva is allowed and able to work properly, converting acid back to neutral products and acting to ‘repair’ damaged teeth. If sugar is regularly ingested and more acid is produced before this ‘repair’ process is completed then dental decay will result. The upshot of this is that if a child ate a chocolate bar for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it is in fact unlikely that they will get significant dental decay. If they eat the same amount of chocolate between meals, then they are much more likely: Twice the cycle of damage and far less time for repair. It should be understood that a sugar diet is inevitable,” states Dr Boulcott.

“What people must understand is that keeping food intake to mealtimes only is the best way to keep your teeth safe. This one fact is more important than tooth brushing or Fluoride. So, yes, Children (and adults) can eat sweets but keep these short acting (chocolate rather than a chewy sweet) and confine these to mealtimes – avoid eating between meals.”

Sadly some 60 years on and this simple message is still failing to get through. Dentistry and preventive messages still seem to mean little to a large percentage of the population with people in Wales being less likely to have been seen a dentist in the past two years than people in England. (52.2% of adults in Wales and 56% in England; and 64.7% of children in Wales compared to 69.1% in England). Many people argue that the reducing amount of NHS dentistry is to blame but in reality many patients (over half the population of Wales) seek dentists only in event of an emergency; citing anxiety rather than money (or NHS access) as being the major obstacle to visiting.

At Herbrandston, the dentists are trying to change this attitude by breaking down the barriers of fear and anxiety offering often unique ways of dealing with even the most difficult of dental phobias. This not only includes a gentle caring atmosphere of quiet professionalism mixed with genuine friendliness but also techniques such as dental sedation, hypnosis, introductory sessions without treatment and even animal therapy using pigs and ferrets to desensitize. They are working hard to emphasise the preventative message rather than the cycle of repair after repair. A very busy practice despite being in a rather isolated part of Pembrokeshire, Herbrandston will be expanding to open a state of the art new practice in Narberth in March.

Community

Milford Haven councillors attend library coffee morning to thank community

Published

1 hour ago

February 11, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MEMBERS of Milford Haven Town Council joined residents and staff at Milford Haven Library on Tuesday morning for a community coffee event celebrating local support for the town’s library service.

The gathering was organised by the library to thank the Town Council and the wider community for their continued backing.

The Mayor, Cllr William Elliott, attended alongside Deputy Mayor Cllr Mark Woodward and fellow town councillors, meeting residents over tea and coffee and speaking with library staff about the role the service plays locally.

Councillors said the event provided a relaxed opportunity to engage directly with the public and hear how the library is supporting people of all ages, from families and young readers to older residents who use the space socially.

A spokesperson for the council said the morning was “a wonderful turnout” and a chance to strengthen ties between the council, library staff and the community.

They added: “It was great to talk with residents and see first-hand how valued the library is. Thank you to the team for their warm hospitality.”

Pembrokeshire’s libraries continue to host regular community activities, groups and events aimed at tackling isolation and providing welcoming public spaces across the county.

Community

Community groups invited to apply for monthly funding boost from Cwm Arian

Published

4 hours ago

February 11, 2026

Tom Sinclair

£200 donations helping sports clubs, warm spaces, schools and local projects keep Pembrokeshire villages connected and thriving

COMMUNITY groups across north Pembrokeshire are being encouraged to apply for monthly funding as Cwm Arian Renewable Energy continues its programme of small grants aimed at strengthening local life.

The community energy organisation is offering £200 every month to support grassroots projects, with the funding open to clubs, charities, volunteer groups and informal community initiatives. Since the scheme launched in April 2022, the fund has supported a wide range of activities, from youth sport and schools to cultural events and wellbeing projects.

The grants are deliberately flexible, allowing groups to decide what their communities need most rather than fitting strict criteria. Money can be used for hall hire, equipment, refreshments, transport, training costs or materials, helping even the smallest organisations get ideas off the ground.

In Hermon, funding has supported the popular Warm Rooms project, providing hot meals, company and a welcoming space for older residents during the colder months. Organisers say the grant has helped tackle isolation while giving people somewhere safe and social to meet.

In Crymych, football and rugby clubs have used the donations to run training sessions, organise matches and purchase kit, giving young people regular opportunities to stay active, develop skills and build confidence. Elsewhere, cultural groups and local festivals have used the support to stage workshops, performances and events that bring residents together.

A spokesperson for Cwm Arian said the aim is to keep the process simple and accessible.

They said: “These donations are about helping local people do what they already do best. A relatively small amount of money can make a big difference to a village group or volunteer project. We want to support activities that strengthen communities and improve everyday life.”

Best known locally for its renewable energy and sustainability work, Cwm Arian says reinvesting income back into the community is central to its mission.

Groups with an idea that benefits people in Pembrokeshire are invited to apply, with guidance and application details available through the Cwm Arian website.

Community

Newgale road scheme paused after pressure from community

Published

4 hours ago

February 11, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A PROPOSED road realignment scheme at Newgale has been paused after Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet agreed to halt its plans amid concerns over cost, disruption and environmental impact.

Local Senedd Member Paul Davies welcomed the decision and is urging the authority to give full consideration to an alternative proposal developed by residents.

The Council had been examining options to move the A487 inland to address the long-running problem of coastal erosion and storm damage at the popular seaside village, where the road sits directly behind a narrow shingle bank separating the carriageway from the sea.

Years of storm disruption

Newgale has repeatedly suffered flooding and damage during winter storms.

High tides and heavy seas have previously thrown shingle and debris onto the road, forcing temporary closures and clear-up operations. At times, traffic has been reduced to single-lane working while machinery removes stones and sand.

The stretch is one of the main north–south routes through Pembrokeshire, linking Haverfordwest with St Davids and the north of the county, meaning closures can cause lengthy diversions for residents, businesses and emergency services.

Council officers have warned in recent years that rising sea levels and more frequent extreme weather events could make the situation worse, prompting work on longer-term solutions.

Cabinet pauses scheme

The Cabinet had been considering a significant realignment of the road further inland.

However, the proposal has drawn criticism locally over its potential cost and its impact on the landscape.

Following discussion, members agreed to pause the scheme.

Mr Davies, who has been working with residents on an alternative plan, said the decision gives the community a chance to be heard.

He said: “Coastal erosion in Newgale has been a longstanding issue, and it’s crucial that any response is both effective and proportionate.

“The community has developed its own Newgale Beach Access and Shingle Bank Realignment Scheme which offers a less invasive approach that would significantly reduce costs for the Council and local taxpayers.

“Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet is right to stop its own scheme from going ahead and I now urge the Council to consider the community’s proposal, which strikes a far better balance between environmental protection, financial responsibility and the needs of local residents.”

Community voices

Residents have previously raised concerns about both safety and affordability.

One local business owner said road closures during storms can have an immediate impact on trade, adding: “When the road shuts, visitors simply don’t come through. We just want something practical that protects the village without costing the earth.”

Another resident said: “Everyone accepts something needs to be done. The key is finding a solution that works with nature, not against it.”

The Council is expected to review options, including the community-led scheme, before deciding how to proceed.

Details of the pause were included under Item 8 of the Cabinet’s recent meeting papers.