Comments Policy

Comments Policy New approaches are needed to address the entrenched causes of poor oral health as a major contributor of general ill health and reverse the trend of rising chronic oral conditions like tooth decay, our most common disease affecting 11 million Australians every year. Children need to learn the skills to prevent and to reverse this demineralisation every day and Easter means more carbohydrate fuelled episodes of acid demineralisation of teeth which involves over 90% of senior adults. All cavities occur from acid demineralisation that exceeds saliva, fluoride or other remineralisation like Recaldent, where carbohydrate rich food like sugar confection is left on tooth surfaces with resident plaque bacteria. While a drop of food dye on teeth helps show most plaque bacteria can be seen at gum margins of accessible tooth surfaces and most food is left trapped between teeth, over 80% of cavities occur inside pits and fissures on chewing surfaces where brushing cannot reach while saliva and fluoride toothpaste have no access to neutralise acid and remineralise demineralised tooth like on other more accessible surfaces. While chewing sugarless gum after eating is helpful, gum does not absorb or expel saliva. Chewing fibre like celery after eating forces saliva inside trapped food to dilute carbohydrate like sugar, neutralise acid and remineralise demineralised tooth. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day morning and night is important to protect accessible tooth surfaces, but brushing cannot reach inside pits and fissures on chewing surfaces so it is very important to chew toothpaste before brushing but HOW?? If you agree, contact your local member to request that health ministers initiate an evidence based Oral Health Promotion Reform project like SupertoothNDK with Good Food Friends. www.supertoothndk.org

Easter and Tooth Decay

Easter means more carbohydrate fuelled episodes of acid demineralisation of teeth which leads to 11 million Australians to develop a cavity every year. Tooth decay is our most common disease and children need to learn the skills to prevent and to reverse this demineralisation every day for a healthy life head first. All cavities occur from acid demineralisation that exceeds saliva, fluoride or other remineralisation like Recaldent, where carbohydrate rich food like sugar confection is left on tooth surfaces with resident plaque bacteria. While a drop of food dye on teeth helps show most plaque bacteria can be seen at gum margins of accessible tooth surfaces and most food is left trapped between teeth, over 80% of cavities occur inside pits and fissures on chewing surfaces where brushing cannot reach while saliva and fluoride toothpaste have no access to neutralise acid and remineralise demineralised tooth like on other more accessible surfaces. While chewing sugarless gum after eating is helpful, gum does not absorb or expel saliva. Chewing fibre like celery after eating forces saliva inside trapped food to dilute carbohydrate like sugar, neutralise acid and remineralise demineralised tooth. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day morning and night is important to protect accessible tooth surfaces, but cannot reach inside pits and fissures on chewing surfaces so it is very important to chew toothpaste before brushing but HOW?? If you agree, contact your local member to request that health ministers initiate an evidence based Oral Health Promotion Reform project like SupertoothNDK with Good Food Friends. www.supertoothndk.org

brushing cannot reach where cavities occur

Tooth decay is easy to prevent, yet even with fluoridation, decay is our most common disease affecting every family including 11 million Australians every year.


Over 80% of cavities occur inside pits and fissures on chewing surfaces where food is left trapped after every meal or snack and brushing cannot reach.

Current toothbrushes cannot force fluoride toothpaste inside pits and fissures to remineralise demineralised tooth like on easy to reach surfaces where few cavities occur.

Heath ministers have a responsibility to initiate a review of Oral Health Promotion as in recent health reform recommendations.

Ministers for innovation, industry and trade should provide incentives to develop a toothbrush to force fluoride toothpaste inside pits and fissures.

Over 80% of cavities occur where brushing cannot reach.

Over 80% of cavities occur inside pits and fissures on chewing surfaces where food is left trapped after every meal or snack and brushing cannot reach.


Current toothbrushes cannot force fluoride toothpaste inside pits and fissures to remineralise demineralised tooth like on easy to reach surfaces where few cavities occur.

Heath ministers have a responsibility to initiate a review of evidence based Oral Health Promotion as in recent health reform recommendations.

Ministers for innovation, industry and trade should provide incentives to develop a toothbrush to  force fluoride toothpaste inside pits and fissures.

New help to prevent tooth decay

Tooth decay is the most common global disease affecting around half a population a year including over 11 million Australians mostly teens and young adults because fluoridation has made teeth more resistant to acid demineralisation.

However the rate of acid demineralisation resulting in cavities still depends more on how often carbohydrate like sugar is in the food that we eat not how much, mainly because very little food is left on teeth.

Even though most food is left trapped between teeth, over 80% 0f cavities occur inside pits and fissures on chewing surfaces where brushing cannot reach and saliva has no access to dilute any sugar, neutralise acid or remineralise demineralised tooth like on other easy to reach surfaces.

The first bite if food fills that small crack in the tooth where brushing cannot reach and temporarily blocks access for other food.

While it is important not to often consume carbohydrate rich sweet food and drink, never start any meal or snack with sugar rich food. Always carry with you some carbohydrate fee food like nuts, cheese or a special preparation like a calcium rich soy biscuit that is easy to chew before eating meals or especially snacks that tend to be carbohydrate rich.

This may not totally prevent all acid demineralisation, so it is wise to also chew about a 100 mm stick of celery after eating to force saliva inside trapped food to dilute sugars, neutralise acid and remineralise any demineralised tooth like on more accessible surfaces where few cavities occur
except where frequent consumption virtually excludes saliva access and does not allow sufficient time for remineralisation.

Because most people do not heed warnings to avoid frequent consumption of sweet treats, it is not likely that this message will mean much unless Government take steps to bring all stake holders together like dentists commerce and the community representation to improve Oral Health Promotion as recommended by recent health reform reports.

If everyone was to write to their local member requesting health ministers initiate a review of personal tooth care advice, perhaps we may see some action, even sweet makers may find ways to help prevent tooth decay.

Tooth decay is preventable yet even in fluoridated communities, caries is our most common disease affecting every family including over 11 million Australians each year, escalating health budget and waiting lists for treatment.

Over 80% of cavities occur inside pits and fissures on chewing surfaces from acid demineralisation where food is left under chewing pressure after every meal or snack and brushing cannot reach while fluoride toothpaste and saliva cannot gain access through trapped food to remineralise demineralised tooth like on other more accessible surfaces.

Costly sealants placed over chewing surfaces, block food being trapped and halt the caries process before more costly fillings, root canal treatment, crowns, bridges, extractions or dentures are necessary.

Fissure sealants can be forced deep inside pits and fissures of all upper and lower chewing surfaces on one side of the mouth at once, greatly reducing chair time, cost and early loss of the sealants because of better retention inside the fissures as can be seen in the photo below when the tooth is dissolved in acid leaving an impression that shows where food is trapped under chewing pressure and where fluoride toothpaste can be forced deep inside pits and fissures before brushing to remineralise demineralised tooth where brushing cannot reach.

This evidence clearly supports recent health reform reports that oral health promotion needs to be improved and government should lead the way and call for a review of personal tooth care advice and preventive treatment where necessary to prevent more serious and costly professional dental care.

Share easy skills to prevent DK

All cavities occur from demineralisation that exceeds saliva, fluoride and other remineralisation where food is left on teeth and plaque changes carbohydrate like sugar to acid.
Over 80% of cavities occur inside pits and fissures on chewing surfaces where food is left trapped after every meal or snack and brushing cannot reach and saliva has no access.
Fissure sealants placed over chewing surfaces, block food being trapped and halts the dk process.
Few cavities can occur where brushing and saliva have easy access.
Can you suggest how onyone can best to improve tooth care