National Smile - British Dental Health Foundation

WordofMouth
ISSUE 08 / JUNE 2013
National Smile
Month Special Edition
Featuring
•
•
•
•
Your Brushing Habits
Eight Tips For Terrific Teeth
The Superstar Smile
Approval Schemes
British Dental Health Foundation
WordofMouth
CONTENTS
DR NIGEL
CARTER
OBE
Chief Executive of the British
Dental Health Foundation
Hello, and welcome to the June
edition of Word of Mouth – a National
Smile Month special edition.
04
All smiles for launch of NSM
11
Illegal tooth whitening
05
Millions forget to brush
12-13
Forget wobbly bits
06
England captain left smiling
14-15
Bring out your Superstar Smile
07
Record numbers seeking braces
16-17
Keep Smiling
08-09
Eight top tips for terrific teeth
18
Could exams cause tooth decay?
Welcome to National Smile Month 2013
7 million Brits ‘forget’ daily brushing
Alastair Cook and Essex C.C pose with Smileys
One million people looking for a natural smile
Karen Coates offers oral health advice
20 million Brits putting themselves in danger
Invest in a ‘smile plan’ this summer
Binky Felsted launches bid for Superstar Smile
The impact a smile has on physical and mental health
Academic stress and possible tooth decay links
19
10
Oral health consequences ‘unknown’ Seal of approval works for
Many unaware of systemic links with the mouth
Consumer value accreditation schemes
Oral health in the UK has dramatically
improved since our first campaign
back in 1977. In this time there have
been huge advances in technology
and dental treatment methods,
the introduction of fluoride into
almost all toothpaste and a greater
emphasis on oral health education
all working alongside our craving
for the perfect smile. As a country
our teeth are now healthier and
better looking than ever before but
despite the undoubted progression
in the quality of our oral health
there are still many aspects of care,
particularly in many disadvantaged
areas of the UK, which need support
and time to develop. In 2013,
National Smile Month will attempt
to decrease the gap in oral health
that currently exists between the
socio-economic groups of the UK,
to once again try and improve our
health as a nation for the better.
Throughout this issue, we will be
looking at just some of the reasons
why you should keep up good oral
health and why a healthy mouth
really does give you a better chance
of having a healthy body. We will
take an in-depth look into our new
nationwide survey and what it says
about our attitudes and behaviours
towards oral health and we also
have some excellent guest articles
too!
I would ask you to visit the
National Smile Month website –
www.smilemonth.org – for more
information on the campaign, and
to keep a look out for our campaign
messages if you plan to visit the
dentist over the coming few weeks.
Finally, I would like to thank our
campaign sponsors for National
Smile Month; Platinum sponsors
Oral-B, Extra, Listerine, who together
with Philips, Lloyds Pharmacy, Bupa,
Invisalign, NUK and Denplan have
all contributed and invested in the
campaign. Their efforts and support
are very much appreciated by all
here at the Foundation.
I hope you enjoy this special edition
of Word of Mouth and have fun for
National Smile Month in 2013. Over
the past 30 years the campaign has
coincided with major improvements
of oral health in the UK and
continues to provide everyone with
the opportunity to participate in
that continuing challenge.
David Westgarth
[email protected]
WordofMouth
Editor
David Westgarth
Art Director
Doychin Sakutov
Writers
David Arnold
Karen Coates
Educational Resources
Amanda Oakey
Becky Sollis
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ALL SMILES FOR LAUNCH
OF ORAL HEALTH CAMPAIGN
BRUSH THEIR TEETH
The British Dental Health Foundation is delighted
to announce the start of National Smile Month the UK’s biggest oral health campaign.
New statistics reveal almost seven million people
in the UK give are likely to give cleaning their
teeth the brush-off.
The month-long spotlight on oral health runs until 20
June, with as many people as possible urged to take
a moment to consider how they can do something to
improve their oral health.
In its simplest form, National Smile Month promotes
three key messages for great oral health:
•
Brush for two minutes twice a day with a fluoride
toothpaste,
•
Cut down on how often you eat sugary foods and
drinks,
•
Visit the dentist regularly, as often as they
recommend.
With almost 2,500 organisations taking part in the
campaign, people up and down the country have the
opportunity to get smiling with the icon of this year’s
campaign - the ‘smiley’. From local dental practices
4
MILLIONS FORGET TO
and education centres to shopping centres and sports
teams, the smiley will not be too far away.
Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation,
Dr Nigel Carter OBE, said: “The smileys are a great way
for everyone to engage with the campaign. They’re fun
and can make oral health an approachable subject.
“Behind the smiles there are still some important oral
health messages to remember. That’s why our smileys
have the Foundation’s three key messages to improve
oral health on them. We hope more people than ever
before will take part in National Smile Month and help
to educate as many people as possible about how to
gain and the benefits of great oral health.”
A further one in five people (21 per cent) are most likely
to forget flossing while an alarming number of people
also aren’t doing their bit to stop germs spreading, as
one in four (25 per cent) forget to cover their mouth
when coughing and washing their hands after going to
the loo.
“It is troubling to learn that people still have a poor
attitude when it comes to their oral health. Anyone
who regularly skips brushing their teeth morning or
night is storing up oral health problems for the future
such as tooth decay and gum disease – the biggest
cause of tooth loss.
“Brushing last thing at night removes the deposits
which have built up from eating and drinking during
the day, as well as removing plaque – the cause of both
tooth decay and gum disease. The last brush of the day
The campaign has the backing of platinum sponsors
Listerine, Oral-B and Wrigley. Philips, Lloyds Pharmacy,
Argos, Invisalign, Bupa, NUK and Denplan are also
supporting this year’s campaign - which promises to
be the biggest on record.
The findings have been revealed by the British Dental
Health Foundation as part of its National Smile Month
campaign. The results of the survey also found that
attitudes towards oral hygiene haven’t improved in the
last two years. In 2011 over a quarter of the population
(28 per cent) admitted to not brushing their teeth even
once in 24 hours and around one in seven people (15
per cent) said they did not clean their teeth for more
than two days.
To see where your local event is taking place and to
find out more about the campaign, please visit www.
smilemonth.org.
Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation,
Dr Nigel Carter OBE, said: “What surprises me the most
is that some of these things are basic hygiene tasks.
use interdental brushes or floss. Brushing alone only
also coats the teeth with fluoride, which is not washed
away through eating and drinking, and continues to
protect the tooth’s surface further during sleep.
“Flossing is also something that really is not a luxury.
Removing food stuck in between your teeth close to
gum lines is a really important step to preventing gum
disease, and the most effective way of doing this is to
cleans 60 per cent of the tooth’s surface, so this is an
excellent way of keeping plaque at bay.”
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ENGLAND CAPTAIN LEFT
WITH PLENTYTO SMILE ABOUT
After recording a superb century and overseeing a series victory against
New Zealand, it’s little wonder England captain Alastair Cook has a smile
on his face.
The Essex batsman has been sharing a smile along with his county team-mates
after they posed with a Smiley to show their support for National Smile Month, the
UK’s largest oral health campaign.
The campaign, which runs until 20 June, encourages everyone to follow three key
messages for good oral health and to find out just why oral hygiene is important.
Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, is
delighted to see such high profile stars playing their role in spreading these
messages, particularly for the next generation.
Dr Carter said: “Sports stars are often seen as role models for young children, and if they are seen to be promoting
good oral health then children will undoubtedly follow. There are few role models bigger than the England captain,
so I’m thrilled to see Alastair and the rest of the Essex County Cricket team posing with their smileys.
“A decade ago approaching half of five-year-olds had obvious tooth decay and by 2008 three out of ten five-yearolds in England had decay. This shows how important it is for children to learn about good oral health practices
from an early age.
“National Smile Month has coincided with major improvements in these areas, which goes to show how important
getting involved with the campaign is. Essex Country Cricket Club has shown how easy it is to get involved. With the
support of local communities, oral health promoters and involvement from leading sports figures, I am confident
the oral health of the UK will continue to improve.”
6
RECORD NUMBER OF
BRITS SEEKING BRACES
A record number of people are seeking out braces to achieve a celebrity smile the au natural way.
According to the British Orthodontic Society, more than one million people are looking to braces to bring a
beautiful smile back to their faces, rather than undergoing alternative invasive treatments.
New research by oral health charity the British Dental Health Foundation also shows that one in five people now
spend more money per month on oral care products, compared with hair products, skincare, fragrances and
cosmetics.
Clinically recognised, virtually invisible orthodontic treatment, Invisalign, has reported a 25 per cent increase
in demand over the last five years, with the average age of people seeking braces shifting to persons 25 and
over - evidence of crooked teeth no longer being an issue solely tackled in your teens. Be it parents, students or
businessmen, a set of pearly whites is the new coveted trend.
Braces are a way of straightening or moving teeth to improve their appearance and the way they work. They can
also help to look after the long-term health of the teeth and gums. With the treatment on the rise, Chief Executive
of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, discusses why braces are no longer considered a
stigma.
Dr Carter says: “The significant advances in technology mean you can now wear braces without them being
blindingly obvious. Celebrities are often seen as role models in society, and the visible standard of their oral hygiene
is no exception. With many stars often improving their own smile through cosmetic dentistry, it’s no wonder we are
now seeing a growing trend within the British public.
“A direct reflection of this can be seen in the success of certain dental brands, for example interest in Invisalign, the
virtually invisible way to straighten teeth, has grown by 25 per cent in the last five years alone.
Jamie Morley, UK & Ireland General Manager at Invisalign, comments: “Working with over 2 million people
worldwide to transform their smiles, Invisalign is dedicated to improving oral health and leading innovation in
orthodontic technology. As such, we are proud to be sponsors of National Smile Month 2013 and help towards
driving awareness of dental hygiene across the UK.”
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‘EIGHT TOP TIPS FOR
TERRIFIC TEETH’
National Smile Month is the perfect opportunity for you to pay extra attention to the importance of oral
health. With this in mind, Karen Coates, Dental Advisor at the British Dental Health Foundation, has
eight top tips for terrific teeth.
1. Visit the dentist regularly, as often as
they recommend
3. Brush your teeth for two minutes twice a
day using a fluoride toothpaste
It doesn’t matter how old you are, or how many teeth
you have, you should always follow your dentist’s
advice about how often they need to see you.
It’s important to brush your teeth first thing in the
morning and just before you go to bed for two
minutes using a fluoride toothpaste. Why? During the
night the flow of saliva, which is the mouth’s cleaning
system, slows down. This leaves the mouth more at
risk to decay; therefore brushing acts as a preventive
measure.
So why are check-ups so important? Well, for starters
prevention is always better than cure. Regular visits
to the dentist can identify problems developing early,
and more importantly set you on a path to rectify
them. There’s a chance everyone will suffer from gum
disease at some point in their lives – it’s that common
– so do remember to get to your dentist or hygienist
as often as they recommend.
2. Take diet into consideration
Diet may have a large impact on the growing obesity
problem in the UK, but there’s no escaping the
damage a poor diet does to our teeth.
One of the Foundation’s key messages is ‘cut down
how often you have sugary foods and drinks’. This
is a particularly important message for parents to
remember. The more often your child has sugary
or acidic foods or drinks, the more likely they are to
have decay. It is therefore important to keep sugary
and acidic foods to mealtimes only. Food and drinks
which are kindest to teeth include cheese, crackers,
breadsticks, raw vegetables, plain water and milk.
It is also worth remembering that some processed
baby foods contain quite a lot of sugar. Try checking
the list of ingredients – the higher up the list sugar
is, the more there is in the product. Sometimes, these
are shown as fructose, glucose, lactose, or sucrose.
8
Fluoride is an incredibly important addition to
the toothpaste we use. It’s also found in drinking
water across the country. There are different levels
depending on how old you are. All children up to
three years old should use a toothpaste with a fluoride
level of at least 1000ppm (parts per million). After
three years old, the Foundation recommends you
use a toothpaste that contains 1350ppm-1500ppm.
If you’re unsure how much fluoride is on a particular
brand, check the packaging for the Foundation’s
approved symbol for reassurance.
4. Indulge in interdental cleaning
As brushing alone only cleans around two thirds
of the mouth, it is important to use interdental
brushes or floss to clean away any food debris caught
between the teeth. It can help to reduce the risk of
gum disease. Given that gum disease has been linked
to heart problems, pneumonia and even pancreatic
cancer to name but a few, interdental cleaning at least
once a day isn’t too much to ask!
5. Get empowered with a power toothbrush
Rigorous tests have proven electric toothbrushes with
small round oscillating rotating heads to be up to
twice as effective at removing plaque than a manual
brush. Many also have two minute timers to ensure
you clean for the recommended period of time.
Some such as the Oral B Triumph with Smart Guide
also have a remote display to help your brush for the
correct time and sensors to show you when you are
brushing too hard. Look for the British Dental Health
Foundation accredited logo which shows that the
claims the product is making have been scientifically
proven.
6. Remember the one hour rule
It takes an average of 40 minutes for the mouth to
neutralise the acid caused by eating or drinking
sugar. Therefore it is best to wait at least one hour
after eating before brushing teeth. Eating or drinking
weakens the enamel on the teeth, meaning if you
brush too soon it cause tiny particles of the enamel to
be brushed away. You can help to speed up the time
that is takes for the saliva to neutralise these plaque
acids and lessen the damage that they can cause by
chewing sugar-free gum containing Xylitol, rinsing
with a fluoride mouthrinse or plain water.
7. Teeth are not tools!
Although you can’t legislate for genuine accidents,
please remember your teeth aren’t tools. If your party
trick is to open a bottle of beer with your teeth, or
if you’re always biting open the crisp packet, you’re
actually doing your teeth more harm than good.
If you somehow lose a tooth, the important thing
to remember is not to panic. Get to the emergency
dentist as soon as possible, as with the right care, the
tooth could be successfully put back into the socket.
Ideally you should try and put it back in straight away,
without handling the root.
The best chance of having your tooth successfully put
back in is to keep the tooth in the cheek. If this isn’t
possible, keep it in some milk until you receive the
necessary emergency dental work. The sooner you
can do this the better.
8. Think about appearance
If you have a great oral hygiene routine, or even if you
don’t, there’s no reason why you can’t think about
some cosmetic treatment to help brighten or restore
your smile. People who smoke, drink red wine and
lots of coffee may find over time their teeth become
stained. There are toothpastes available that can
remove these stains, but they won’t alter the natural
shade of your teeth. It’s always best to have a good
chat with your dentist about the options, which can
include tooth whitening, crowns or veneers.
The Dental Helpline (0845 063 1188), staffed by fully trained
oral health experts and dental nurses, offers free and
impartial advice on oral hygiene. The Helpline has taken more
than 300,000 calls since its formation a little over a decade
ago and can help you on subjects such as dental terms and
treatment procedures, oral hygiene, current UK legislation
and regulations, NHS and private dental charges, complaints
procedures, and referrals to other organisations.
For more information on any of these topics and more,
please visit www.dentalhealth.org/tell-me-about. The
Foundation’s ‘Tell Me About’ leaflets are all produced in plain
English, making them easy to understand.
9
A shocking number of Brits do not realise the
consequences of poor oral health, new research
reveals.
Dementia topped the poll, as 90 per cent of people
were unaware it could potentially be linked to poor
oral health.
A further four in five people were unaware poor oral
health could potentially be linked pneumonia (83 per
cent) and colon cancer (82 per cent) while a similar
figure (79 per cent) thought strokes could not result
from poor oral health. Only heart problems registered
with those questioned, as two in five people (40 per
cent) thought they could be brought on by poor oral
health.
In the last two years poor oral health has been
linked to a number of conditions, some of which are
life-threatening. Breast cancer, strokes, diabetes,
hospital-acquired infections, erectile dysfunction,
pneumonia, bowel cancer, endocarditis, oral cancer,
dementia, pancreatic cancer, psoriasis and pregnancy
complications have all been associated with varying
degrees of poor oral health. Yet the survey appears
to suggest as a nation we appear to be completely
oblivious to these links.
More than 2,000 people were questioned as part of the
nation’s annual reminder about the importance of oral
health, National Smile Month. The campaign, which
runs from 20 May to 20 June, encourages everyone
10
to brush their teeth for two minutes twice a day with
a fluoride toothpaste, cut down on how often they
have sugary foods and drinks and to visit their dentist
regularly, as often as they recommend.
Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation,
Dr Nigel Carter OBE said: “The survey results are the
clearest indication yet that the public is unaware of just
how important their oral health is.
“Gum disease in particular has been associated
with serious health issues. It affects most people
at some point in their lives, so there is no excuse for
ignoring good dental hygiene. The good news is that
poor oral health is nearly always preventable, so it is
important that people make caring for their teeth a top
priority. Regular visits to the dentist, as often as they
recommend, are really important to give the dentist a
chance to assess your oral health and, if necessary, give
your teeth a scale and polish.
“Doing this alone won’t help your oral health. That’s
why I’d also encourage a simple routine of brushing
teeth, twice a day for two minutes using a fluoride
toothpaste, which will help to remove plaque - the
cause of gum disease. It is also important to clean in
between teeth using interdental brushes or floss.”
National Smile Month is being supported by a record
number of sponsors in 2013 including Extra, Listerine,
Oral-B, Philips, Bupa, Invisalign, NUK, Denplan and
Lloyds Pharmacy.
20 million people in the UK are leaving themselves
open to illegal and potentially harmful toothwhitening.
New survey data suggests more than one in four people
(28 per cent) would not go to the dentist for their tooth
whitening treatment and purchase home kits over the
internet, visit beauticians and kiosks instead.
When asked who is qualified to carry out the treatment,
25 per cent of people believe beauty kiosk staff and
beauticians can do so, a move rendered illegal on 31
October last year.
Under the European Council directive, tooth whitening
products containing or releasing between 0.1 and six
per cent hydrogen peroxide can now only be sold to a
registered dental professional offering the treatment in
their practice.
While 98 per cent of people in the survey correctly
identified dentists as those able to carry out the
treatment, Chief Executive of the British Dental Health
Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, issues a stern warning
to anyone considering tooth whitening outside the
dentist’s chair.
Dr Carter said: “There is no doubt tooth whitening is
becoming more popular due to the sheer number of
places you can now have it done. There is also no doubt
a vast number of these are operating illegally and pose
a significant health risk.
“Beauticians and those working in kiosks carry out the
procedure without the correct training, qualifications
or the expertise required. In many cases the tooth
whitening agent contains hydrogen peroxide above
the recommended limit, which can result in permanent
damage.
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ORAL HEALTH
SYSTEMIC
LINKS AN
‘UNKNOWN’
FOR BRITS
MILLIONS
IN DANGER
THROUGH
ILLEGAL
WHITENING
“If it is carried out by someone who does not have
the necessary qualifications, it can result in increased
sensitivity and damage to gums. Crowns, bridges and
denture teeth will not bleach, which is something the
unqualified will miss. If it is carried out by the dentist
they will use the time to examine for other problems.”
The clamour for whiter teeth has been driven by the
desire for the celebrity look, with many people seeking
the perfect smile. In fact, only last year the Foundation
revealed the stigma attached to stained teeth, as it was
voted second in a list of turn-offs in the opposite sex.
Dr Carter added: “There are a number of ways to stop
your teeth from becoming stained and discoloured,
reducing the need for tooth whitening. Smoking is
a major culprit. Many smokers have yellow teeth due
to the nicotine and tar content, and they can become
brown if you’ve smoked over a prolonged period of
time.
“Too much red wine, tea, coffee and blackcurrant can
also lead to stained teeth. Cutting down on these things
will stop your teeth becoming so discoloured you need
a tooth whitening treatment. Although whitening
toothpastes do not alter the natural colour of your
teeth, they are more effective at removing staining.
“If you are considering getting your teeth whitened,
there are now clear guidelines for everyone to follow
when it comes to the procedure. It must be done in a
dental practice. If you have any questions or need advice
on tooth whitening, don’t take the cheap alternative in
a kiosk. The Foundation’s Tell Me About leaflet offers
basic, easy to understand information on the topic. The
Dental Helpline can also field any questions you may
have.”
11
Research released today by dental aligner
brand Invisalign suggests Brits should ditch the
summer diet plan and invest in a ‘smile’ plan. The
National Smile Month sponsor discovered it’s
not wobbly body parts gnawing at a quarter of
the nation’s confidence, but their crooked smiles
– resoundingly beating concerns about bottoms,
legs, hair and chests!
Summer Romance
And if it’s romance you’re looking for this summer
a cracking smile could be the secret to success, as
research discovered that when it comes to attraction
three quarters of Brits rated a person’s smile as
important when first considering going on a date with
them. Crooked teeth would put 26% of people off
dating someone, a much bigger turnoff than wrinkles
and 50% of people surveyed believe that straight
teeth reflect how much pride you take in your overall
personal hygiene.
Faking it on a date is also a big no-no, with genuine
smiles (58%) rated as the top flirty signal we look out for
to tell if someone’s interested in us, versus eye contact,
sparking up a conversation or physical contact.
Personality and having a good sense of humour also
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FORGET WOBBLY
BITS – WHAT BRITS
ARE REALLY SCARED
OF FLASHING THIS
SUMMER IS THEIR
SMILE!
rated highly in the attraction charts.
Getting Ahead At Work
Lack of confidence in our smiles could also be holding
us back in our career, with 90% of Brits rating a sense of
humour important to making human connection with
colleagues – and its men that feel most comfortable
instigating humour in the workplace (34%), whereas
women tend to feel more comfortable using humorous
ice breakers in their social lives (31%).
The survey also discovered that people with straight
teeth and a great smile are seen as more successful
(32%), wealthier (23%) and more likely to get a job
(27%) than those with crooked teeth and a bad smile suggesting perception is everything!
Smile And The World Smiles With You
And as a nation who spends three quarters of the year
living under grey skies, it’s not surprising that almost
half of us are convinced we smile for less than one hour
a day, even though a whopping 75% of us wish we
smiled two hours or more, with a dreamy 22% wishing
they could smile all day long! And if you really want to
make Britain smile again, a compliment or a beaming
smile should do the trick – both topped as the key
drivers behind making us grin!
But watch out for the phoneys as 59% of us still feel
the pressure to ‘fake it’ – on average 2-5 times a day –
and are most likely to do it when meeting a stranger
or when the boss is around!
For more information and to find a practitioner near
The Invisalign® system is a clinically recognised, virtually
invisible orthodontic treatment that can straighten teeth
in both adults and teens, without the embarrassment
of traditional fixed braces. Working with over 2 million
people worldwide to transform their smiles, Invisalign is
dedicated to improving oral health and is proud to be a
ENDS
you, visit: http://www.facebook.com/InvisalignUK /
www.invisalign.co.uk or call 0845 644 5462.
Notes to editors:
**Survey conducted by Align Technology in the UK,
23rd – 29th April with 2,000 respondents (OnePoll
research).
sponsor of National Smile Month 2013.
13
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BRING OUT YOUR
SUPERSTAR SMILE
With today’s emphasis on
achieving the perfect look,
from top to toe, including that
big confident smile, Wrigley’s
Extra White has launched the
‘Bring out your Superstar Smile’
campaign to coincide with
National Smile Month. Fronting
the campaign is Binky Felstead,
of Made in Chelsea fame, who
is encouraging people to take a
look at their daily oral care habits,
knowing that taking care of your
teeth means a healthier mouth,
which brings a happier smile,
helping to unleash the superstar
in us all.
New research from Wrigley ,
revealed that consumers in their
teens and early twenties are the
demographic most likely to follow
‘unsatisfactory’ oral care routines.
Katie Codd, Extra Brand Manager
explains: “Our research shows that,
even though the oral care benefits
14
of gum are what drive the majority
of chewers, some of the younger
generation are still uninformed
about the importance of oral
care. This is why we are launching
our nationwide ‘Bring out your
Superstar
Smile’
campaign
throughout National Smile Month
to not only drive the importance
of oral care, but to remind younger
chewers that chewing Extra
sugarfree gum is a convenient
way to keep their teeth clean and
healthy, after eating and drinking.
Binky explains: “I think it’s only
natural that people have times
when they lack self-confidence
and can worry about how they
look – I certainly have. So when
Extra offered me the chance to
help boost people’s confidence,
and encourage them to bring
out their ‘Superstar Smiles’ with
their new Extra White Bubblemint
flavour I couldn’t resist!”
She continues: “When I’m on set
filming, I want to look and feel my
best, so by chewing Extra White
Bubblemint I know that my mouth
is clean and healthy, and it helps
to maintain my teeth’s natural
whiteness - which gives me the
confidence to smile!”
A fruity addition to the sugarfree
range, Extra White Bubblemint
will play a prominent role in the
UK’s largest oral health campaign
- National Smile Month (20th
May - 20th June). Just like the
existing Extra portfolio, Extra
White Bubblemint is sugarfree and
accredited by the British Dental
Health Foundation. Look out for
new packs instore now or visit
Facebook.com/extraofficialUK
to find out how to get involved
in the Extra White ‘Bring out your
superstar smile’ campaign.
Binky and Wrigley’s Extra
launching Superstar Smile
as part of National Smile
Month 2013.
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KEEP
SMILING
AND YOU
MAY FEEL
HEALTHIER
TOO...
Studies into smiling, laughter and generally feeling happy suggest
they can have a positive effect on your physical and mental health.
The nation’s annual reminder about the importance of maintaining good
oral health, National Smile Month runs until June 20. With around a third of
adults and children in the UK still suffering from preventable tooth decay,
and around ten million people admitting they only brush their teeth oncea-day, the UK still has much to do to improve its oral health habits.
But the simple act of smiling and laughter may also have other hidden
health benefits. The scientific study of the effects of laughter – called
Gelotology – can be traced back to the 1960s and has regularly pointed to
positive mental and physical health benefits associated with being happy.
Clinical studies by some researchers have confirmed that the body
changes when people laugh. The pituitary gland releases its own opiates,
which suppress pain; the production of immune cells increases and the
levels of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which are chronically
high when an individual is under long-term stress and which suppress
the immune system are reduced dramatically. At the same time, healthy
hormones such as endorphins and neurotransmitters are increased.
Laughter also provides a physical workout for stomach muscles, the
diaphragm, and even the heart. Some researchers also theorise that
smiling and laughter improves mental performance by accelerating the
heartbeat, helping to increase the oxygen supply to the brain.
16
17
As pupils across the country settle into the new
term, revision for SATs, GCSEs and A-Levels might
not be the only cause for stress.
health has been proven to stave off a number of nasty
bugs, many of which if you caught them would seriously
hamper your ability to give your best during exams.
A recent scientific study has suggested academic stress,
often as its highest during exams, could cause tooth
decay, with younger students at greater risk than older
students.
“Many students also choose to snack during revision
sessions, not to mention consuming sugary energy
drinks ahead of exams. While these may give you a
short-term boost, the long-term effects on oral health
could end up being a failure.
The study looked at the oral health of 73 students
before, during and after their exams. Results showed
that students under stress had higher levels of tooth
decay than students with a low stress level. It also found
18 year old students were almost twice more likely to
develop tooth decay than 22 year old students.
The research also highlighted that women were more
likely to suffer tooth decay when under academic stress
than their male counterparts.
The findings are food for thought for the 2.5 million
students in higher education. While plenty of information
is readily available about how to combat exam-related
stress and anxiety, keeping a good oral health routine is
one piece of advice seldom associated with stress.
Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation,
Dr Nigel Carter OBE, said: “Exams are a stressful time
for anyone, regardless of age. There is often quite a lot
resting on them, and it is only normal for students to
experience some degree of stress and anxiety over their
results.
“However tired you may feel, ensuring you brush your
teeth for two minutes twice a day using a fluoride
toothpaste - first thing in the morning and night - is
really important for a number of reasons. Good oral
18
“Every time we eat or drink anything sugary, teeth are
under attack for up to one hour. Saliva plays a major role
in neutralising acid in the mouth, and it takes up to an
hour for that to happen. If sugary items are constantly
being consumed, the mouth is constantly under attack
and does not get the chance to recover. The key thing
to remember is that it is how often sugar is consumed,
rather than how much sugar, which heightens the risk
of tooth decay. That is why one of the Foundation’s key
messages is to cut down on how often you have sugary
foods and drinks.
“Practical solutions such as chewing on sugar-free gum
can help to speed up the time that is takes for the saliva
to neutralise plaque acids and lessen the damage
that these can cause. By chewing sugar-free gum for
around 10 minutes and keeping to a good, healthy
balanced diet during the revision and exam period
will not only be beneficial to your overall health, but
it will help to maintain your oral health. Snacking on
sugary sweets may get you through a night’s revision,
but repeating the practice night after night is harmful
to your oral health. Consider foods such as cheese and
nuts to graze on, while water or diluted juice drinks are
an excellent alternative to sugary energy drinks.”
myMagazine
WordofMouth
myMagazine
WordofMouth
COULD
EXAMS
CAUSE
TOOTH
DECAY?
SEAL OF
APPROVAL
WORKS FOR
CUSTOMERS
We are a nation seeking approval on the oral
healthcare products we buy.
That is according to new research that reveals four in
every five (80 per cent) would look for the Foundation’s
‘Approved’ logo before purchasing an oral hygiene
product. Reassurance over healthcare appeared to
top most people’s agenda, as more than one in four
people (28 per cent) would most look for accreditation
on those products, closely followed by food and drink
(22 per cent) and electrical goods (20 per cent).
The survey questioned more than 2,000 people ahead
of National Smile Month, the UK’s largest oral health
campaign. Running until 20 June, the campaign is the
annual reminder for everyone to take care of their oral
health.
Since the accreditation scheme was established
more than 20 years ago, over 700 products have
been approved by the Foundation. The Foundation
evaluates consumer oral healthcare products to ensure
that product claims are clinically proven and not
exaggerated. An independent panel of internationally
recognised dental experts study all the claims carefully
to make sure they are true, and backed up by reliable
scientific evidence.
Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation,
Dr Nigel Carter
OBE, said: “Our
accreditation
scheme is one of
our many success
stories
and
is
continuing
to
grow into new
markets. In the UK,
our logo is being
used by some of
the top retailers of oral healthcare products. Some of
the biggest brands also use the initiative, and during
National Smile Month you will hopefully see a number
of our products carrying the logo in supermarkets up
and down the country.
“We know from previous research people are confused
by the array of ingredients and product claims made by
manufacturers and retailers. That is why the campaign
is a great chance for people who may have overlooked
their oral health to seek out our logo on products.
“Our scheme helps to give re-assurance to the
public buying oral healthcare products that the
manufacturer’s claims are clinically proven and not
exaggerated. You wouldn’t put food or drink in your
mouth if you didn’t know what was in it, and oral
healthcare products are no different.”
19
zine
WordofMouth
myMag
SUPPORTERS OF
NATIONAL
SMILE MONTH
The British Dental Health Foundation would like to
thank the following sponsors who are helping to
make everyone smile in 2013 with their educational
grants and generous charitable support.
SPONSORSHIP IN 2014
If you would like to support or sponsor National Smile Month in 2014, please contact Simon
Howell at the British Dental Health Foundation at [email protected] for a sponsorship
pack.
21
Smile...
...i
t’s
N at
i o n a l S m il e M
h
t
on
Smileline
0845 063 1188
www.smilemonth.org