Set them on the right path – Michael Sultan
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 7th April 2018
Now we have settled ourselves into 2018, many of us are probably looking forward to having a bit of a detox. Indeed, the most common New Year’s resolutions generally concern our health and wellbeing – with about 12 per cent of people in the UK resolving to drink less alcohol throughout the year. As dental health professionals, this is certainly a lifestyle change that we can get behind, since, as we know, alcohol can have an adverse effect on our oral health, as well as, of course, our general health.
Research has shown that serious conditions such as oral cancer are approximately six times higher in those that drink compared to non-drinkers. Gum disease and dental decay are also risks associated with alcohol consumption. In the UK, over half of the adult population drank within the last year, while around 19 per cent of men and women admitted to drinking alcohol at least five days a week.
But recent research shows that it is not only adults who may be drinking too much. Indeed, in a study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, it was revealed that as many as one in six parents had allowed their children to drink alcohol before the age of 14. What’s more, in a survey of over 100,000 children around 14 per cent admitted to having drunk alcohol when they were only 11.
The issues with this behaviour are twofold. Not only does it increase the risk of oral and general health complications in a child’s still-developing body, but it can also pave the way for bad alcohol habits in later life, which may ultimately cause more serious health issues in the future.
However, many parents believe that by letting their children drink alcohol when they are young will teach them how to drink responsibly – but the research seems to suggest that there is no actual evidence to support this claim. Indeed, almost all research showns that hose who start drinking early are more likely to do badly at school, have behaviour issues, and develop alcohol problems in adulthood. And this, in turn, often leads to complications with their oral and general health.
This is further exacerbated in the UK by the well-known deficits in children’s oral healthcare, as well as the general lack of education surrounding the importance of maintaining a good oral health routine from a young age, and the current concerns around sugar consumption and its effects on children’s oral health.
Separately, these problems are enough for the dental profession to compete with, but combined they have become almost insurmountable. If the trend continues, and children begin drink alcohol at an increasingly early age, the problems will eventually become overwhelming for the professional health community – and we will likely see the dire consequences in the next generation of patients.
As with other children’s oral health issues, the best way to reduce the risk of alcohol related complications in younger people, is to support parents through education and advice. By making them aware of the potential problems allowing their children to drink may cause, they will be better able to adapt their behaviour. It is also important to address their own habits during their own routine check ups, to ensure that they do not set a bad example for their children through their own behaviour.
Time and time again we are told that it is up to us, as dentists, to solve the nation’s oral healthcare problems – and quite understandably, we blanch at the enormity of that task. But I think many of us misunderstand that directive. We cannot possibly improve oral health on a national level through treatment – and we shouldn’t attempt to do so. The best way for us to move forward is to encourage our patients to take their oral health into their own hands. Only in this way can we make a significant difference. Of course, as we all recognise, we too need support to be able to do this, but we can make the first steps now, and easily. So we should talk to patients, discuss these issues openly and honestly and be prepared to offer our advice and expertise when it is needed. That way, we can address issues early on. With alcohol consumption and children’s oral health, certainly, early can make all the difference. As such, the best New Year’s resolution for 2018 is to ensure children are set on the right path for the future of their oral health.
For further information please call EndoCare on 020 7224 0999
Or visit www.endocare.co.uk
EndoCare, led by Dr Michael Sultan, is one of the UK’s most trusted Specialist Endodontist practices. Through the use of the latest technologies and techniques, the highly-trained team can offer exceptional standards of care – always putting the patient first. What’s more, EndoCare is a dependable referral centre, to which dentists from across the country send their patients for the best in specialist endodontic treatment.
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