“Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food” – Hippocrates

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  Posted by: Dental Design      19th September 2022

The importance of a good diet is not a newfound concept. For instance, back in 1330, Hu Sihui, a Chinese court therapist and dietician, published “Principles of Correct Diet”, which is considered the first ancient Chinese text to integrate food culture and nutriology. Indeed, in traditional Chinese medicine, food plays an immensely important role in the health of the body, so far so that the roles of food and medicine often overlap in their philosophy. Similarly, in the 5th-4th centuries B.C., the Greek philosopher Plato believed in a moderate and healthy diet, consisting of “cereals, legumes, fruits, milk, honey and fish”.[i] Meats, confectionery and wine, according to Plato, should only be consumed in modest quantities.

In the modern day, the benefits of consuming a balanced diet are widely known, so why are there still such worrying figures surrounding the health of the population? Despite these statistics, it’s still imperative to continue to aid patients in making more positive decisions and changes in their lifestyles, to help them live their lives free from the burden of disease and illness.

The psychology behind bad habits

A recent study[ii] set out to discover the association between restricting adverts of products with high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) content and the purchasing of HFSS products. The research showed that the restriction of HSFSS advertisements was associated with a relative decrease in the average weekly household purchases of HFSS products. This study was intended to provide support for policies that restrict HFSS product advertising as a tool for improving the population’s diet and preventing obesity.

This study exemplifies just one of the factors that can influence how we feel about food, as well as our eating behaviours. We live in a world where immediacy reigns supreme, illustrated by the accessibility to prepared and/or processed foods, either through fast food companies or takeaway apps. And they can make life easier at times; being able to eat something pre-prepared after a long day at work may seem a more attractive option than cooking a meal entirely from scratch (even though you’d certainly be saving money and eating better with the latter choice).

“Bad” foods, namely those high in fats, salt and sugar, seem to need high levels of willpower to be resisted; can science explain why we keep coming back for more? A psychological phenomenon called “sensory-specific satiety” (SSS), or dessert stomach in layman’s terms, describes the situation where we consume a large amount of a particular food flavour and eventually tire of it. When presented with a new flavour, we enjoy it more and thus continue eating. Situations where this occurs may be after a hefty dinner where there always seems to be room for dessert, or at an all-you-can-eat buffet, where there is a range of different foods and flavours and so we often end up consuming more. SSS can be important biologically, as it promotes the intake of a variety of foods; however, in a society where food is not only plentiful, but also often high in fats and sugars, it is easy to see how a poor diet can become a persistent bad habit.

Put the power back in the patient’s hands  

As you well know, a poor diet and subsequent lack of nutrition can increase the risks of obesity, heart issues, diabetes and even certain cancers.[iii] The effects of diet on oral health are also widely known. Kicking bad habits can be challenging, but implementing positive behaviours, such as a good oral hygiene routine, can help prevent common side effects of a poor diet from occurring. Dental professionals are in an ideal position to give patients valuable information on diet and health, in addition to how they can better care for their oral hygiene with correct techniques and reliable products.

Arm & Hammer™ harnesses the powers of baking soda to ensure a deep and thorough clean. This low-abrasion ingredient helps to balance the pH in the mouth, breaks down staining on the teeth and neutralises enamel damage. With patented Active Calcium™ technology, patients can boost their mouth’s natural defence, protecting their teeth from everyday wear and tear. The comprehensive Arm & Hammer™ range includes their new Arm & Hammer™ 100% Natural Whitening Protection and Arm & Hammer™ 100% Natural Gum Protection toothpastes, which contain 1450 ppm of fluoride.  

Bad habits are easy to adopt but harder to pack in. In moderation, guilty foods and drinks can be enjoyed, but consuming too much can soon put strain on the body and encourage the development of disease and illness. By equipping patients with invaluable tips on how to keep their body in tiptop shape, they can enjoy a long life of good health.

 

For more information about the carefully formulated Arm & Hammer™ toothpaste range, please visit https://www.armandhammer.co.uk/ or email: ukenquiries@churchdwight.com

Arm & Hammer™ oral healthcare products can now be purchased from Boots, Amazon, Superdrug, ASDA, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrison’s, Waitrose & Partners and Ocado.

 

Author: Susan joined Waterpik as a Professional Educator over 4 years ago. She is passionate about the work she carries out for the company delivering Lunch & Learn educational sessions to dental professionals.

Susan graduated from Eastman Dental Institute School of Dental Hygiene in 1988 and now has over 30 years clinical experience working in Harley Street, specialist and orthodontic practices. Susan has a particular interest in treating periodontal patients and regularly encourages her patients to use the Waterpik water flosser to help maintain their periodontal health.

Susan lives in Buckinghamshire with her husband and 9 year old son. She is a fitness fanatic and keen runner, having completed many marathons and half marathons.

 

 

[i] Skiadas, P. and Lascaratos, J. (2001). Dietetics in ancient Greek philosophy: Plato’s concepts of healthy diet. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, [online] 55(7), pp.532–537. Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/1601179 [Accessed 1 Jun. 2022].

[ii] Yau, A., Berger, N., Law, C., Cornelsen, L., Greener, R., Adams, J., Boyland, E.J., Burgoine, T., de Vocht, F., Egan, M., Er, V., Lake, A.A., Lock, K., Mytton, O., Petticrew, M., Thompson, C., White, M. and Cummins, S. (2022). Changes in household food and drink purchases following restrictions on the advertisement of high fat, salt, and sugar products across the Transport for London network: A controlled interrupted time series analysis. PLOS Medicine, [online] 19(2), p.e1003915. Available at: https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1003915&dm_i=6LRU,H18S,1PXXB0,22OIE,1 [Accessed 1 Jun. 2022].

[iii] Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (2021). Poor Nutrition. [online] CDC. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/nutrition.htm [Accessed 1 Jun. 2022].

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