Tooth decay is easy to prevent yet caries is still the most common global disease even in fluoridated communities like Australia where over 11 million consumers (about half the population) develop a cavity each year.
There are number of health reform reports that barely merntion oral health and oral health reports that indicate how oral health can impact on general health but generally Oral health takes a back seat even at the Consumers Reforming Health Conference at the Melbourne Convention Centre from Monday18 - Wednesday 20 July 2011
All cavities occur from carbohydrate fueled demineralisation that exceeds saliva and fluoride remineralisation where food is frequently left on teeth.
Over 90% of child decay occurs deep inside fits and fissures on chewing surfaces where bushing cannot reach while saliva, fluorise and mouthwash have no access to dilute and carbohydrate like sugar, neuralise acids or remineralise tooth like on easy to reach surfaces where few cavities occur.
The Supertooth project has a glass model of a tooth that replicates how food is trapped under chewing pressure has forced sealant fillings inside pits and fissures of extracted teeth that were then dissolved in acid leaving an impression of where food is trapped even deep inside minute canals at the bottom of pits and fissures as in the photo.
Chewing the first few bites of a meal or snack, forces those bites deepest inside pits and fissures where demineralisation starts if carbohydrate is present so it is very important to share the message not to start eating with carbohydrate rich foods like sugar confection. Perhaps governments should provide incentives for confectioners and fast food outlets to provide sugar free confection or biscuits to chew before eating to reduce demineralisation.
Chewing fibre like celery after eating helps force saliva inside trapped food to dilute sugars, neutralise acids and remineralise demineralised tooth like on easy to reach surfaces wher far, far less cavities occur. This could also be as suggestion for fas food outlets, even to chew after eating at home and at school.
