The Federal Australian Dental Association (ADA) has congratulated the AMA in calling for an immediate tax on sugar as one of its pillars to improve the nation’s overall health.

“The ADA has called on the government to introduce a tax on sugary foods and drinks for many years because our 17,000 members see the results of high sugar diets on the oral health of Australians every day,” said Dr Mark Hutton, ADA President.

In a speech to the National Press Club (Wednesday 9 June) the AMA President backed the introduction of a sugar tax as part of the strategy to fight chronic diseases including obesity and tooth decay.

Australia is already lagging behind 45 other countries which have implemented such a tax, with successful results including reductions in obesity, Type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases such as tooth decay.

A sugar tax of soft drinks has so far been sidelined in Australia by a voluntary pledge from the soft drinks industry to reduce sugar sold in beverages by 20 per cent over a decade.

ADA surveys show that 47% of Australian adults consume much more than the recommended amount of six teaspoons per day to prevent tooth decay. Many are not aware that a 250ml container of soft drink contains on average ten teaspoons of sugar alone.

“The best option is for drinks manufacturers to wear the extra cost imposed by a government-mandated sugar tax, and the suggestion that the tax is based on the sugar content of the drink is a good one. Whether that cost then gets passed on to the consumer would depend on the manufacturer.

“If for consumers, drinking sugary soft drinks is disincentivised by making them more expensive, it will go some way to reducing sugar consumption and its disastrous knock-on effect for oral health and whole of body health.”

The ADA has suggested over the years that a sugar tax be used to contribute to the funding of its Australian Dental Health Plan.(ADHP).

“Given that the Aged Care Royal Commission has recommended that the ADHP be used as a model for treating older Australians, it would be great to see the revenue from the tax used to provide dental care for this vulnerable group.

“The Australian Dental Association cannot see any real roadblocks to this being embraced and acted upon by the Commonwealth Government.”

    Brush twice per day with fluoride

Clean between your teeth daily with floss or interdental brushes

Eat nutritious diet low in added sugar

Visit your dentist regularly

Cracking a tooth can be a scary experience for many people. It does not only cause a financial loss, but it also impacts your oral health. Our experienced Smiles Plus Dental team knows that even if you have healthy diet and lifestyle, you can still experience tooth breakage. That's why it is vital to know what to do when you break a tooth to prevent further dental damage from reoccuring over time. The good news? We're not just here to fill in the cracks of your teeth; in this blog, we're filling you in on what to do when you break a tooth and how you can avoid further harm to your teeth with our emergency dental and preventative dentistry services.

​Common causes:

• Damaging or cracking a tooth during a fall or physical activity
• Chipping from food getting stuck between the teeth
• Biting an object that is too hard or using too much force while chewing
• Poor oral hygiene and tooth decay

What to do

A chipped or broken tooth should be taken care of by a dentist as soon as possible. Although it sounds scary, a chipped or broken tooth is considered a dental emergency and, if left untreated, can turn into a much bigger problem. But don't stress! You're in good hands at Smiles Plus Dental. Our experienced, friendly team will ensure you are looked after, confortable, and well-informed for any emergency dental procedure.

In the even of you experiencing a cracked tooth and you're unable to get to our practice right away, here are several things you can do to relieve any pain and help protect your oral health in the meantime.

These include:

• Holding a tea towel or cloth over the area until it stops bleeding
• Running cold water over the broken tooth for five minutes to numb it

Preventative Dentistry

Although it is common to experience chipped or broken teeth in everyone's lifetime, you can avoid potential dental injuries like a cracked tooth with healthy habits and proper dental care.

There are many ways to prevent a cracked tooth, including:

• Wearing a mouthguard to avoid injury while playing sports
• Visiting your dentist regularly for a check up and clean
• Wearing a splint while asleep to prevent symptoms of bruxism
• Brushing and flossing twice daily
• Staying away from hard foods such as boiled candy
• Using toothpaste with fluoride

Emergency Dental in Sydney

Your dental health and well-being are our top priorities. Our staff at Smiles Plus Dental will treat emergency patients the same day or as soon as possible the next day. We always strive to schedule you with another dentist on their first available appointment.

For more information surrounding our dental services or if you experience a dental emergency outside of our business hours, please phone 02 8814 6514 to leave a message, or book the first available appointment online here.

Look at the sugar content per 100g serving - if it's more then 15g you should consider looking for an alternative with a lower sugar content. Ideally, look for food and drinks with less than 5g per 100g.

Using the 100g coloumn allows you to make comparison betwwen products - essentially it lets you compare 'apples with apples.'

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Almost 50% of Australians are consuming too much sugar, which is a major cause of tooth decay. I often get asked "How do I get holes in my teeth"? To explain this simply, bacteria in the mouth uses sugar from foods and drinks to produce acid that dissolves and damages our teeth. Regular loss of enamel can lead to cavities and exposure of the inner layers of the tooth that become sensitive and painful. So make sure you limit your intake of sugar by opting for healthier snacks and drinks.

You can't overestimate the importance of good oral hygine, not only for dental health but for overall wellbeing. In fact, gum disease is the major factor for the development of serious health conditions, including heart disease and diabetes.

From the time we're young, we're taught that using a toothbrush regularly is one of the best ways to keep our teeth and gums healthy. But which toothbrish is best?

Manual toothbrushes:

One of the main benefits of manual toothbrushes is that there's a wider variety of options. You can get large, medium or small toothbrush heads, as well as a handy tool on the back of the head to help keep your tongue clean.

Manual toothbrushes can make you feel like you have more control over the brushing process, including how hard the pressure is on the teeth. This can be particulary helpful for people with sensitive teeth and gums, who are able to respond to twinges of discomfort by applying less pressure.

Manual toothbrushes are also significantly cheaper than electric toothbrushes, making them much easier to replace. As they're smaller, they also pack more easily when you are travelling, so you never have to go a night without ensuring your teeth are sparkling clean!

Electric toothbrushes:

One of the mani benefits of electric toothbrush is that they do a lot of work for you, with power rotation that helps to loosen plaque. This can be a huge benefit for people with arthririts or other conditions which limit dexterity.

The range of variable speed can also be helpful for people with sensitive teeth and gums, and some of the higher rang electric toothbrushes even have warning lights that act as an alert if too much pressure is being applied.

Electric toothbrushes are great for kids who are reluctant to brush their teeth, as electric toothbrushes can seem more fun for them to use.

Many electric toothbrushes also include an in-built timer to make sure you're brushing your teeth for atleast two minutes, and give guidance about where in the mouth you should be brushing, to help ensure you brush all four quadrants of you mouth.

In summary, both standard and elecrtic toothbrushes can be used just as effectively to keep the mouth clean and your teeth healthy. The key is to brush and floss everyday regardless of the kind of brush you prefer. Both types of toothbrushes have their advantages but both types sill get the job done if used properly.