Sound advice for pearly whites

How important is it for personal development?

GOOD oral health is central to overall heath. The health of your teeth and gums can affect your overall physical, psychological and social well-being. Also, things like toothache and dental problems can have a debilitating effect on your overall life – they can effect sleep, work and mood. Poor oral health is painful and costly and evidence suggests oral health conditions can contribute to other health problems, including diabetes and heart disease.

What kinds of diet and nutritional guidelines would you recommend for healthy teeth?

THE key thing – avoid sugary drinks like sport drinks and fizzy drinks, and minimise

What is your advice to people who may struggle to afford dental treatment?

TAKE care of your teeth now so you can minimise problems later. If possible, visit different dentists so they can discover which would be cheapest for you. Dental treatment options aren’t always hugely expensive and can be staged to suit your budget in most cases.

In terms of affordable dental care, what options are there for people who might be financially disadvantaged?

IT’S true that accessibility and affordability can be a problem for disadvantaged patients and those living in regional areas. I believe that dental health should be a much higher priority for government – it should be part of the primary health care system and be adequately funded. The Commonwealth should increase funding to better meet the needs of people who currently use public dental schemes. The Australian Dental Association NSW has called for both of these areas to be better managed.

There are also public oral health voucher schemes which people may be eligible for. These can offer discounted treatment. Visit the Health NSW website to discover more information and check eligibility.

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule offers subsidised treatment under Medicare for children aged 2-17 for a range of different services. This is a great scheme which offers assistance to eligible children. We would encourage people to jump online and find out more about this or visit www. adansw.org.au.

Above:

Dr Sophie Halpin checks the healthy teeth of James Lewis.