Dietary Advice

Question 1

What are the important factors in caries control

Answer 1

• plaque control
• use of flouride
• dietary modification

Question 2

What factors place the patient at high risk for caries

Answer 2

• high sugar intake
• inadequate brushing habits
• no flouride exposure
• irregular dental attendee
• medically compromised
• xerostomia

Question 3

What are some investigations required for a patient that has bad plaque

Answer 3

-diet analysis
- investigation on flouride intake
- medical history
- oral hygiene practises
- bitewing radiographs

Question 4

Why are bitewing rdaiographs commonly used for bad caries

Answer 4

Shows all teeth therefore no unnecessary radiation

Question 5

What medical and dental disorders does sugar impact

Answer 5

• overweight and obesity
• type 2 diabetes
• dental caries

Question 6

Give some examples of dietary factors associated with caries incidence

Answer 6

• 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

Question 7

What study showed the relationship between sugar and caries

Answer 7

Vipeholm study
Found the consumption of sugary foods is associated with a higher caries incidence

Question 8

What is the Stephen curve

Answer 8

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

Question 9

What is the WHO recommended sugar intake

Answer 9

Intake of free sugars should not exceed 10% of total energy consumption, this equates ro approx 50g/person/day or 18kg/person/year

Question 10

What are carbohydrates that can cause caries

Answer 10

Sucrose, fructose, glucose, maltose

Question 11

What does no added sugar on food labels mean

Answer 11

It means there has already been sugars present in the product

Question 12

What way can sugar intake be tracked by a dentist

Answer 12

A diet sheet

Question 13

What factors are important when keeping a diet sheet

Answer 13

Time, the content and the amount of food and drink consumed

Question 14

Why should a diet diary contain weekdays and the weekends

Answer 14

Because behaviours can be very different on the weekends

Question 15

What is important when a patient keeps a diet diary

Answer 15

The patient must be honest

Question 16

What is the main point of the diet analysis for the dentist

Answer 16

Highlight sugar rich foods and note whether they are confined to meal times or if they are spaced out across the day

Question 17

Why is it important not to have sugary drinks before bed

Answer 17

Sugary drunks taken out immediately before bed because they are highly significant, salivary flow is reduced during sleep thus clearance time is greater

Question 18

What advice can the dentist give based on diet analysis

Answer 18

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

Question 19

What advice should be given based on the NHS advice in prevention and management of caries in children

Answer 19

• give dietary advice at least once a year
• advise parent
• limit consumption of sugar
• snack on healthier foods ect

Question 20

What is dental erosion

Answer 20

The loss of tooth surface by a chemical process that does not involve bacterial action

Question 21

What is tooth erosion caused by

Answer 21

Chronic exposure of dental hard tissues to acidic substances which can be extrinsic or intrinsic

Question 22

What is extrinsic erosion

Answer 22

Caused by acid originating outside the body (for example in drinks). Generally the acid strength will be pH 2.5 or weaker

Question 23

What is intrinsic erosion

Answer 23

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

Question 24

What is the titratable acidity

Answer 24

Reflects the number of hydrogen ions available for erosive attack, rather than pH

More accurate assessment of the erosion potential

Question 25

What acid is worst for your teeth

Answer 25

Citric acid

Question 26

What is some dietary advice with regards to fizzy drinks

Answer 26

• 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

Question 27

What is nursing caries

Answer 27

Consumption of a sweetened drink or fruit flavoured drink by bottle past the age of 12 months

Question 28

What advice should be given based o night time feeding

Answer 28

Only water should be given during the night after 12 months of age