Festive feasting and oral care – Waterpik
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 8th December 2019
Christmas is fast approaching, and with it, festivities and food. Unfortunately, seasonal treats and big meals can lead to lasting consequences for patients’ weight and teeth.
BMI is widely recorded to be increasing on average globally. However, the underlying mechanisms behind this are still far from completely understood. While increasing and decreasing energy intake should in theory increase or decrease weight, in practice the picture is far more complex. For instance, the average American consumes 3,790 calories a day, far beyond what the NHS advises for men and women (2,500/2000 respectively).[i] On paper, over-eating to this degree should result in an annual weight gain close to a 100 pounds! But in reality, the average weight gain per year is only around 0.8 lbs.[ii], [iii] While that still adds up over time, this demonstrates that there are compensatory mechanisms at play that keep sustained overconsumption from rapidly increasing body weight (the inverse also seems to be true to some degree). Periodic spikes in consumption may have a destabilising effect that the body is unable to compensate for. It has been suggested that seasonal weight gain, particularly around the Christmas holiday, may be contributing to long term BMI increases, with seasonal weight gain not being shed during the spring and summer months.[iv]
Humans are social creatures, and among many other things this impacts what and how much we eat. Studies indicate that people in groups consume substantially more than solitary eaters, an average increase in meal size of around 44% has been attributed to social eating.[v], ii Again the Christmas period tends to present many opportunities for people to group together and enjoy food socially: visiting friends and family and attending Christmas parties, etc.
Obesity is a risk factor for hypertension and type 2 diabetes (T2D), both of which result in systemic changes which in turn increase the likelihood of a number of health issues and complications. [vi] These changes can and do affect the oral cavity, with T2D notably increasing the risk of caries.[vii] Obesity is also associated with chronic inflammation and periodontitis.[viii], [ix] Indeed, general and oral health are deeply interrelated and tackling obesity and its associated health consequences requires a multi-faceted approach.
Education may help patients, if they understand the potential long-term effects of letting go over the holidays, and have a better grasp of where they may over-consume (eating in a social setting, restaurants and takeaways), it may help them control their diet. In terms of strictly dental consequences, oral hygiene is critical to prevent gum disease and tooth decay, even for those following ideal dietary recommendations. Tooth brushing with a fluoride toothpaste is essential, however, toothbrushes can be inadequate for cleaning hard to reach interproximal areas.
The Waterpik® Water Flosser can be a valuable aid to many patients. Many people neglect to use string floss, or where they do, struggle with the technique. Water flossing is an alternative that is easy to perform and comfortable, making it more likely that patients will continue the practice. Studies have demonstrated that Water Flossing can be more effective than dental floss or interdental brushes in reducing gingival bleeding and plaque, and is better for gingival health compared to brushing alone.[x]
The Waterpik® Water Flosser is available as a compact, cordless and countertop unit – whether your patient is travelling for the holidays or staying home, there is a solution that can accommodate their lifestyle and living arrangements. For particularly time-strapped patients a Waterpik® Cordless Advanced Water Flosser allows portability but is also waterproof, so patients can even use this unit in the shower as part of their morning routine.
Many foods and beverages can leave teeth stained. For patients eager to restore their teeth’s natural whiteness, the Waterpik® Whitening Water Flosser is the answer. By intelligently mixing the water with a gentle stain removal agent this model whitens teeth while tackling plaque.
The Waterpik® Complete Care range brings together a high-end oscillating or sonic toothbrush with a Water Flosser in one unit, all powered from a simple shaver socket. Patients can save space with this two-in-one unit while ensuring their getting the oral hygiene benefits of two top solutions.
For patients who want to bring together the benefits of water flossing and toothbrushing together with zero hassle whatsoever, there is the Waterpik® Sonic-Fusion®. This innovative model breaks ground as the first ever flossing toothbrush with a special head to brush and floss simultaneously.
Patients should be free to enjoy their much-deserved holiday time, by ensuring they’re equipped with the facts they can avoid making mistakes that could last long into the new year. By ensuring they have a great oral health regimen with proven, quality products, patients can keep their teeth and gums healthy all year round.
For more information on Waterpik® products please visit www.waterpik.co.uk. Waterpik® products are available from Amazon, Asda, Costco UK, Boots and Superdrug online and in stores across the UK and Ireland.
[i] What should my daily intake of calories be? NHS. 2016. https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/food-and-diet/what-should-my-daily-intake-of-calories-be/ August 22, 2019.
[ii] Benton D., Young H. Reducing calorie intake may not help you lose body weight. Perspectives on Psychological Science. 2017; 12(5): 703-714. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1745691617690878 August 22, 2019.
[iii] Mozaffarian D., Hao T., Rimm E., Willett W., Hu F. Changes in diet and lifestyle and long-term weight gain in women and men. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2011; 364: 2392-2404. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1014296 August 22, 2019.
[iv] Yanovski J., Yanovski S., Sovik K., Nguyen T., O’Neil P., Sebring N. A prospective study of holiday weight gain. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2000; 342: 861-867. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejm200003233421206 August 29, 2019.
[v] De Castro J. The control of food intake of free-living humans: putting the pieces back together. Physiology & Behavior. 2010; 100(5): 446-453. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2906406/ August 29, 2019.
[vi] Jiang S., Lu W., Zong X., Ruan H., Liu Y. Obesity and hypertension. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine. 2016; 12(4): 2395-2399. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5038894/ August 22, 2019.
[vii] Money S., Swetha H., Geeta I. Rate of progression of dental caries among type ii diabetic and hypertensive patients; a retrospective study. International Journal of Scientific Research. 2019; 8(5). http://worldwidejournals.co.in/index.php/ijsr/article/view/2365 August 22, 2019.
[viii] Martinez-Herrera M., Silvestre-Rangil J., Silvestre F. Association between obesity and periodontal disease. A systematic review of epidemiological studies and controlled clinical trials. Medicina Oral, Patología Oral y Cirugía Bucal. 2017; 22(6): e708-715. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5813989/ August 29, 2019.
[ix] Unamuno X., Gómez-Ambrosi J., Rodríguez A., Becerril S., Frühbeck G., Catalán V. Adipokine dysregulation and adipose tissue inflammation in human obesity. European Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2018; 48(9): e12997. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/eci.12997 August 29, 2019.
[x] Ng E., Lim L. An overview of different interdental cleaning aids and their effectiveness. Dentistry Journal. 2019; 7(2): 56. https://doi.org/10.3390/dj7020056 August 29, 2019.
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