Review of evidence
Evidence-based Oral Health Messages for the Australian Public
In November 2009 this Clearing house on Oral Health Promotion at the Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health (ARCPOH), the University of Adelaide conducted a two day workshop to develop a consensus on the key oral health messages for Australia based on scientific evidence. Eminent researchers, scholars and practitioners in the field of oral health participated from all over Australia. The result was a set of 11 key oral health messages on diet, tooth cleaning, mouth rinses, chewing gum, safety and protection, age of first oral health visit, frequency of oral health visits and smoking. The consensus was published as an article in the Australian Dental Journal in September 2011. The text of the article including the 11 oral health messages has been reproduced with permission from the Australian Dental Journal.
Messages and Background Papers(Literature reviews)
The following are the papers presented during the workshop on each of the oral health messages and form the evidence base for the above mentioned paper. Other papers will be available shortly. Please check back soon.
Diet
1. Breast milk is best for babies and is not associated with an increased risk of dental caries.
2. After 6 months of age, infant feeding cups rather than infant feeding bottles are preferred for drinks other than formula or breast milk. Sugary fluids should not be placed in infant feeding bottles. Comfort sucking on a bottle should be discouraged.
3. Follow the Australian dietary guidelines. Focus on:
• drinking plenty of tap water;
• limiting sugary foods and drinks; and
• choosing healthy snacks, e.g. fruits and vegetables.
Papers
- Breastfeeding - Morris C and Taylor Matisson J
- Soft drinks and sports drinks - Crocombe LA
Tooth Cleaning
4. Brush teeth and along the gum line twice a day with a soft brush.
5. People over 18 months of age should use an appropriate fluoride toothpaste.
Papers
- Interdental cleaning - Crocombe LA
Mouthrinses
6. Fluoride mouthrinses can be effective in reducing decay. Speak with your oral health professional about whether fluoride mouth rinsing is appropriate for you.
Papers
- Mouthrinses and thier role in the prevention and control of caries and periodontal disease - Blinkhorn A
Chewing gum
7. Chewing sugar free gum can reduce dental decay.
Safety
8. Mouthguards should be worn for all sports where there is a reasonable risk of a mouth injury. This includes football, rugby, martial arts, boxing, hockey, basketball, netball, baseball, softball, squash, soccer, BMX bike riding, skateboarding, in-line skating, trampolining, cricket (wicket keeping), water skiing and snow ski racing.
Age of first oral health visit
9. Children should have an oral health assessment by age 2.
Papers
- Age of first dental check up - Miller J
- Frequency of, and Age of First, Health Check-ups - Spurrier NJ
Frequency of oral health visits
10. Everyone has different oral health needs and risk levels which should be reflected in the frequency of check-ups. Talk with your oral health professional about your risk level and how frequently you need to visit for an oral health check.
Papers
- Frequency of dental check ups - Spencer AJ
- Frequency of, and Age of First, Health Check-ups - Spurrier NJ
Smoking
11. Quit smoking to improve oral and general health. You can ask your oral health professional about quitting.
Papers
- Smoking and general health - Edwards D
- Smoking and oral health - Do LG
Evidence-based oral health promotion resource (2011)
The resource summarises the most effective health promotion strategies for prevention of oral health problems. It will assist health professionals, policy makers, planners and health promotion practitioners to further promote oral health in Victoria.
