Scientific basis of oral health education

Question 1

What is health education

Answer 1

Process by which people are given information to enable them to take greater control over their own health

Question 2

Whats the importance of health education

Answer 2

Diseases can be prevented or controlled by changes in behaviour

Question 3

Why do we need an agreed scientific basis

Answer 3

• To ensure that the information is sound
• To give confidence to the public
• To prevent commercial biasW

Question 4

What does health education require

Answer 4

• An agreed scientific basis
• Identification of the behavioural changes to reduce disease risks
• Formulation of acceptable messages to produce desired behavioural changes

Question 5

What was oral health education like prior to 1975

Answer 5

• No agreed scientific basis for OHE in the UK
• Messages were influenced by the sugar industry

Question 6

What happened to OHE in 1975

Answer 6

BASCD and HEC produced an agreed scientific basis for dental health education

Question 7

What were the key messages from the scientific basis of dental health education - 1st edition

Answer 7

• Insist on water fluoridation
• Restrict food and drinks containing sugar
• Clean teeth + gums everyday with a fluoride toothpaste

Question 8

Explain the 4th edition 1996

Answer 8

• Reduce frequency + consumption of food and drink containing sugar
• Clean teeth thoroughly twice-a-day with a fluoride toothpaste

Question 9

What are the different levels of evidence

Answer 9

• Evidence Base A: Statements supported by very strong evidence from pooled research data
• Evidence Base B: Statements supported by the majority of relevant research studies
• Evidence Base C: Statements that cannot be supported by a substantial body of research evidence but there’s professional opinion to support the statement

Question 10

What are the key messages

Answer 10

1. Diet = Reduce consumption + frequency of sugars (food, drink, etc.)
2. Toothbrushing = Clean teeth thoroughly twice everyday w/ fluoride toothpaste
3. Fluoride = Fluoridation of the water supply is safe
4. Dental attendance = Have an oral examination every year

Question 11

Describe the caries mechanism

Answer 11

• Simple sugars in food and drinks
• Sugars enter mouth
• Taken up by bacteria on teeth
• Bacteria metabolise sugar into acid
• Acid attacks tooth surface

Question 12

How is acid generated

Answer 12

Sugars enter the bacterial cell and glycolysis occurs, producing an acid

Question 13

What happens to tooth pH as sugar intake increases

Answer 13

• As sugar intake increases, pH decreases, resulting in demineralisation.
• Remineralisation will occur after 30 minutes

Question 14

When does caries occur in relation to demineralisation and remineralisation

Answer 14

When demineralisation is greater than remineralisation

Question 15

Which sugars cause caries

Answer 15

• Non-milk extrinsic sugars - (non-milk - sugars, mainly lactose in milk)(extrinsic - not contained with the cellular structure of fruit or veg)
• Sucrose (when not in whole fruit)
• Glucose (when not in whole fruit)
• Fructose (when not in whole fruit)
• Lactose (when not in milk)

Question 16

Which foods and drinks contain non-milk extrinsic sugars?

Answer 16

• Confectionary
• Soft drinks
• Fruit juice

Question 17

Which foods and drinks are safe

Answer 17

• Most dairy products
• Whole fruit
• Vegetables

Question 18

What happens during the day in regard to sugar intake with meals

Answer 18

Plaque acid is quickly neutralised

Question 19

What happens during the day in regard to sugar intake between meals

Answer 19

Plaque acid persists for up to 1 hr

Question 20

What happens at bedtime as sugar intake increases

Answer 20

Demineralisation is steep and remineralisation takes much longer