Community

Eating sweets need NOT damage your teeth

Published

10 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

Save Lampeter University petition hits 2,600 in two days

Published

14 hours ago

November 18, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A 2,600-STRONG petition has been launched calling for a sustainable future for Wales’ oldest university, Lampeter, after fears all undergraduate teaching is to end.

The change.org petition, by John Jennings, was started on November 13 and, to date, has gained 2,579 signatures

It says: “The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) has announced a plan to end all undergraduate teaching at its Lampeter campus by September 2025, a decision that would sever nearly 200 years of Lampeter’s role as a centre of higher education and devastate the local community.

“As alumni, students, and supporters, we call upon UWTSD and the Welsh Government to protect Lampeter’s legacy and commit to a sustainable future for this historic campus.”

It adds: “Lampeter is not only Wales’s oldest university institution but a pillar of its educational and cultural history. By allowing undergraduate teaching to end, UWTSD would undermine the very essence of Lampeter’s mission, weaken the local economy, and sever its historic role as a centre of learning. The town of Lampeter, the alumni community, and the people of Wales deserve better.

“We urge UWTSD and the Welsh Government to halt the planned end of undergraduate teaching at Lampeter and instead work with all stakeholders to create a viable, sustainable plan for the campus. This must include a serious investment in new courses, marketing, and student recruitment efforts to ensure Lampeter’s relevance and appeal for future generations.”

The petition has three demands.

It calls for a “deep and transparent consultation,” saying: “UWTSD must engage meaningfully with all stakeholders, including current students, staff, alumni, and the local community, to ensure that any decision regarding the campus’s future is fully informed by those who care most deeply about its heritage and potential.”

It also asks for a “Commitment to Sustainable Solutions,” saying: “Rather than abandoning Lampeter’s undergraduate provision, UWTSD should commit to a strategy that revitalises the campus, leverages the unique academic and cultural appeal that Lampeter has held for nearly two centuries, and makes use of the considerable skills, knowledge, and dedication of its alumni.”

It finishes: “As outlined in UWTSD’s Royal Charter, the university has a constitutional responsibility to maintain ‘a significant physical University presence’ at Lampeter. Closing undergraduate provision would effectively hollow out the campus, eroding its educational mission and violating the university’s own mandate to uphold Lampeter’s historic role within Welsh higher education.”

A spokesperson for UWTSD said: “The university is aware of the petition. We held a very helpful and extensive meeting with our students on Wednesday afternoon in which we listened to a range of opinions and concerns which we will be carefully considering as we develop the initial proposals further.

“We are early in the process and as well as our students we are discussing the best way forward with staff and representatives of other key stakeholders.”

Community

Ogi gives back this Black Friday with big rewards for customers

Published

17 hours ago

November 18, 2024

Design Team

This Black Friday, Ogi – Wales’s biggest alternative telecoms company – is giving back to its customers with up to £400 available in rewards for new introductions.

Existing customers can earn £40 for each introduction – unlocking up to 10 rewards a year every time a new sign up is successful.

New customers can also enjoy great savings this “Black Fibre Friday”, with Ogi doubling the speed of its £15 a month entry-level package (now 400Mbps). Plus, if they sign up through an introduction, they’ll receive a £40 referral voucher too. The “Black Fibre Friday” event package also includes two Amazon eero routers at no extra cost.

Offering standard installation slots right up until Christmas, all new customers could get full fibre speeds in time for the festive film, tv and gaming binge.

With nearly half of UK adults shopping during Black Friday, retailers are expecting around £3.8 billion* in sales as consumers hunt for the best deals amid continuing pressure on household budgets.

Announcing the time-limited “Black Fibre Friday” deal, Chief Revenue Officer, Sally-Anne Skinner, said: “Traditionally, Black Friday tends to reward new customers, but this year we’re excited to give back in a way that benefits existing customers too. With our new ‘introduce a friend’ programme, current customers can earn up to £400 by recommending Ogi to friends and family – a great way to share the love and get rewarded. For new customers, we’re offering unbeatable value too, doubling the speed of our entry-level £15 per month plan, plus two smart Amazon eero routers included.

“At Ogi, we’re all about making life easier and more affordable, and this offer is a great way to get fast, reliable broadband just in time for the festive season. It’s a win-win: customers get the best broadband deals and extra rewards for sharing with others, and all from a Wales-based service provider.”

With Ogi’s latest “Black Fibre Friday” event, customers can refer up to 10 friends a year, and earn £40 for every successful new installation – with the potential to earn up to £400 in vouchers.

The deal runs for 15 days from Monday 18 November, until Monday 2 December (Cyber Monday), before prices return to Ogi’s standard £15, £20 and £30 a month for new customers signing up for 12 months. The introduce a friend programme will continue after the end of the Black Friday period, subject to terms and conditions.

Community

Claims Porthgain parking charges to be introduced denied

Published

21 hours ago

November 18, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PLANNED changes to the Pembrokeshire seaside beauty spot village of Porthgain, which have caused huge divisions in the village, will not lead to parking charges, councillors heard.

Pembrokeshire County Council, in an application before the September meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee, was granted approval for a long list of changes to Porthgain Harbour.

It includes highway and environmental improvements, including new parking bays, a realignment of the existing Llanrhian Road carriageway, resurfacing of existing parking areas, designated pedestrian footways and crossings, and traffic calming features.

The National Park owns the land subject to the application; the proposals securing some £300,000 in Welsh Government funding

Local concerns said the proposal would “change the ‘feral and free’ nature of Porthgain,” and is “a complete urbanisation of a very rural historic working harbour village” and the “natural charm of village will be ruined”.

Speaking at the September meeting, local county councillor Cllr Neil Prior said there had been much local division over the proposals, and he had been to “numerous meetings trying to smooth things out”.

Since then, a 517-strong e-petition was received on the council’s own website, started by Andrew Harries, which was heard at the November 15 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The petition, which claimed the scheme was “nothing more than a cash grab” which would lead to a charged-for car park, said: “We are all dead against the proposals to change Porthgain. The village has been trapped in time since the quarry closed in the 1930s. The original houses, foundations, grounds and landscape have all remained the same since that day all of the workers lost their jobs.

“The proposed plans for Porthgain were drawn up by PCC and The National Parks. The plans would add dedicated parking spaces around the village, zebra crossings, pavements and more.

“To replace the grounds of where the workers and its buildings once stood with pavements and car parks is absolutely disgraceful.

“This is nothing more than a cash grab by PCC and National Parks. The new car park will most likely charge visitors, which will also affect the businesses as well as decrease the villages footfall.”

Speaking at the November meeting, on behalf of the petition creator, chair of local group Pobl Porthgain Robert Jones said he had never seen any traffic-related incidents in the village, and their concerns had been “totally ignored”.

He said the scheme was supported by “people that moved in looking to turn it into a retirement home,” adding: “People who live there aren’t bothered; there’s been traffic in Porthgain since the motor car.”

Local member Cllr Neil Prior said the issue had become “heated” locally, with “a lot of the blame levelled at my door”.

“I feel like there has been a thorough exercise over the last few years to get the majority view, I completely accept it has been difficult, we are talking in any community about different views and different priorities.

“It has caused division in the village, and I regret that, I really hope that the village can come back together.”

He added: “Residents have been in touch with me, people have stepped back from the group because it has felt combative, they have felt it’s an aggressive environment.”

He stressed there were no plans in the scheme to introduce paid-for parking: “I still feel the majority of residents want something. I’m all for public participation and democracy, what has been ramped up is the public outcry, we’ve had things on this that are frankly not accurate.

“We are discussing a petition today, I don’t think it should’ve come to committee, the petition is based on untruth.”

Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett warned there was a limited timescale to take advantage of the funding, adding: “If the community is saying to us ‘We don’t want any of these measures,’ sadly we’ll walk away, it would be sad if we couldn’t find a way to do some of these works.”

He stressed: “Pembrokeshire County Council has no ownership of the land in that area and no interest in it, with no plans for parking charges.”

Committee chair Cllr Mark Carter hoped there would be some way for all involved to “come together” with sympathetic changes.

After that proposal to encourage all sides to agree suitable changes was defeated, members agreed to merely note the petition.