Oral health education

Health educators and promoters in the Nelson Marlborough Public Health Service encourage people to make healthy choices for a healthy smile.

One of the most important things you can do to prevent tooth decay and the loss of teeth is to avoid sugar-sweetened beverages. Water and plain milk are the best drinks for a healthy smile.

What are sugar-sweetened drinks?

These are drinks with added sugars, such as:

• carbonated (fizzy) soft drinks
• energy drinks and sports drinks
• packaged flavoured water
• fruit drinks and cordials
• fruit juices and packaged fruit-based smoothies
• flavoured milks and breakfast drinks.

How much sugar is in your drink? 

Why you should avoid sugar-sweetened drinks

Sugary drinks are different from food in that they are consumed in massive quantities, have no nutritional value, and are clearly linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes.  Additionally, unlike other foods with sugar, sugary drinks don’t make us feel full.  Sugary drinks are the number one source of added sugar in the NZ diet

Do sugary drinks harm teeth?

Sugary drinks contain large amounts of sugar which dramatically increases the risk of tooth decay.  All sugary drinks, including sugar-free or 'diet' versions contain acids that irreversibly damages teeth through the erosion of tooth enamel.

Is it OK to drink fruit juice?                     

Even unsweetened natural juices contain sugars and acids, so if you are thirsty, it's better to drink water.  The main problem with fruit juice is that it contains no fibre and is very high in sugar.  Eat your fruit, don't drink it.

What about sports drinks and energy drinks?

Energy drinks and sports drinks contain as much sugar as fizzy drinks.  The Ministry of Health and Health Promotion Agency state that energy drinks should not be consumed by children or adolescents and routine consumption of sports drinks should be avoided. 

Are diet drinks ok?                    

Although diet beverages contain no calories, they have a high acid content which harms teeth.  They have the potential to displace water and milk which are the best drink choices for children.  They also maintain a desire for sweet food and drinks.

How about sparkling water?

Unfortunately, sparkling water is acidic due to the carbonation which can combine with the water to form carbonic acid.  This means that sparkling water also has a high acid content which can harm teeth.

What are the other health effects of drinking too many sugary drinks?

The consumption of sugary drinks has been linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and hypertension.  For children and youth, an increase of one serving of sugary drinks per day increases the odds of being obese by 60%.  A can a day leads to a 26% greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with people who rarely consume such drinks.

Water is the best drink for a healthy smile

The human body is about 70% water so we depend on it for good health. Choosing water instead of sugary drinks is an easy way to make a healthy change. Water provides essential hydration that is sugar-free and virtually cost-free from a tap near you.

Community Oral Health Educators from Nelson and Marlborough work with schools, families and community groups to encourage people to make good oral health choices. 

Here are their top tips to protect your family's smile.

Caring for baby teeth

• baby teeth are important for eating, nourishment and speech development
• a healthy smile helps build a child's self-esteem
• baby teeth 'hold the space' for the permanent adult teeth waiting to come through
• start brushing baby teeth as soon as the first tooth appears (at around 5-6 months old)
• brush baby teeth twice a day with at least 1000ppm fluoride toothpaste
• don't let baby fall asleep with a bottle in their mouth
• if your baby has a bottle at bedtime it should contain only water
• help babies drink from a cup once they are six months old; no bottles after they turn one year old
• don't dip dummies in sugary drinks or put sugary drinks, fruit juices, sweetened milk or soy formula milk in bottles or pacifiers

Caring for children's teeth

• brush teeth twice a day for two minutes each time, after breakfast and before bed
• use at least 1000ppm toothpaste with fluoride; tap water in the Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough water is not fluoridated so it's very important to use protective fluoride toothpaste
• for babies and children under 6 years-old, use a smear of toothpaste on a small, soft toothbrush
• for children 6 years of older, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and a small, soft toothbrush
• use a short, scrubbing motion to brush
• spit the toothpaste out but don't rinse it out with water
• make brushing the last thing done before bed, with nothing to eat or drink after this other than water 
• be a good role-model; let children watch and copy you brush your own teeth
• children under the age of 5 need to have their teeth brushed by an adult
• children aged 5-8 should have their tooth-brushing supervised by an adult

Choose healthy sugar-free snacks & drinks

• water and plain milk are the healthiest drinks for teeth
• tap water is free
• avoid sugar-sweetened drinks such as fruit juice, fruit-based packaged smoothies, fizzy drinks, sports & energy drinks and flavoured milk
• choose and prepare snacks and meals that have no added sugar
• read food labels: 4 grams of sugar = 1 teaspoon (children should have less than three teaspoons of sugar a day)

Have regular dental checkups

• dental care is free for children from birth until they turn 18 years old 
• to enrol your child with a community oral health clinic, either call 0800 TALK TEETH (0800 825 583) or click here to contact your local clinic directly
• in between oral health clinic appointments, check your child's teeth for signs of decay by lifting their lip to look at their teeth