Health insurance news - Controlling children's diets can maintain oral health
Health insurance policyholders have been advised to ensure that their children's sugar intake is controlled in order to prevent bad oral health later in life.
Periodontics specialist Philip Greene said that because it is not always practical for children to brush effectively it is up to parents to ensure that a balanced diet is implemented to stop tooth decay.
Mr Greene said periodontal disease can be prevented by taking steps to control the amount of plaque that has contact with teeth.
"The best way to prevent decay for children is to control their diet, to reduce the number of dietary intakes which contain sugar because plaque turns sugar into acid that dissolves the tooth enamel," he said.
Mr Greene added the diseases that cause bad oral health are dental caries (dental decay) and gum disease.
If plaque is allowed to collect over time and dissolve the tooth enamel it can create cavities.
