Dietary Advice Flashcards
What are the important factors in caries control
- plaque control
- use of flouride
- dietary modification
What factors place the patient at high risk for caries
- high sugar intake
- inadequate brushing habits
- no flouride exposure
- irregular dental attendee
- medically compromised
- xerostomia
What are some investigations required for a patient that has bad plaque
-diet analysis
- investigation on flouride intake
- medical history
- oral hygiene practises
- bitewing radiographs
Why are bitewing rdaiographs commonly used for bad caries
Shows all teeth therefore no unnecessary radiation
What medical and dental disorders does sugar impact
- overweight and obesity
- type 2 diabetes
- dental caries
Give some examples of dietary factors associated with caries incidence
- amount of fermentable carbohydrate eaten
- sugar content of food
- physical form of carbohydrate
- oral realtiveness
- frequency of eating meals and snacks
- length of interval between eating
- sequence of food consumption
What study showed the relationship between sugar and caries
Vipeholm study
Found the consumption of sugary foods is associated with a higher caries incidence
What is the Stephen curve
Shows what happens after the consumption of sugar in relation to dental caries
After sugar intake demineralisation of the tooth surfaces take place due to the drop in pH as the bacteria in the mouth convert the sugar to acid after 20-30 mins the saliva buffers the pH and it returns back to normal
What is the WHO recommended sugar intake
Intake of free sugars should not exceed 10% of total energy consumption, this equates ro approx 50g/person/day or 18kg/person/year
What are carbohydrates that can cause caries
Sucrose, fructose, glucose, maltose
What does no added sugar on food labels mean
It means there has already been sugars present in the product
What way can sugar intake be tracked by a dentist
A diet sheet
What factors are important when keeping a diet sheet
Time, the content and the amount of food and drink consumed
Why should a diet diary contain weekdays and the weekends
Because behaviours can be very different on the weekends
What is important when a patient keeps a diet diary
The patient must be honest
What is the main point of the diet analysis for the dentist
Highlight sugar rich foods and note whether they are confined to meal times or if they are spaced out across the day
Why is it important not to have sugary drinks before bed
Sugary drunks taken out immediately before bed because they are highly significant, salivary flow is reduced during sleep thus clearance time is greater
What advice can the dentist give based on diet analysis
Diet analysis must be acceptable, practical and affordable
For example reduce snacks containing sugar, avoid adding sugar, best time to have fizzy drinks is meal times, eat sweets in one time period, avoid food 20mins before bed time
What advice should be given based on the NHS advice in prevention and management of caries in children
- give dietary advice at least once a year
- advise parent
- limit consumption of sugar
- snack on healthier foods ect
What is dental erosion
The loss of tooth surface by a chemical process that does not involve bacterial action
What is tooth erosion caused by
Chronic exposure of dental hard tissues to acidic substances which can be extrinsic or intrinsic
What is extrinsic erosion
Caused by acid originating outside the body (for example in drinks). Generally the acid strength will be pH 2.5 or weaker
What is intrinsic erosion
Due to stomach acid reaching the teeth, with a PH of 1 typically 100 times stronger than in extrinsic erosion and so much more destructive
What is the titratable acidity
Reflects the number of hydrogen ions available for erosive attack, rather than pH
More accurate assessment of the erosion potential
What acid is worst for your teeth
Citric acid
What is some dietary advice with regards to fizzy drinks
- having it as part of a meal
- do not sip the drink slowly
- drinking with a straw
- drink diluting squash instead
- do not drink fruit juice instead of a fizzy drink
What is nursing caries
Consumption of a sweetened drink or fruit flavoured drink by bottle past the age of 12 months
What advice should be given based o night time feeding
Only water should be given during the night after 12 months of age
