- Monday Huddle
- Posts
- A swipe file from the socials
A slightly different format today.
Let me know what you think.
#1š¤Ø
Ultra processed food research in the news again
As dentists, we have a responsibility to educate and support our patients to achieve better health, with the starting point for us being from the point of view of their oral health.
Our conversation, instead of focusing on sugar and acid needs, to be broader and leaning into the messaging around ultra processed food.
As we know, UPF can result in inflammation so we need to start reading these papers and updating our messaging.
It is notable that this article does not reference oral health so we need to work on integrating ourselves into the wider messaging of the medical profession.
āConclusions Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes. These findings provide a rationale to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of using population based and public health measures to target and reduce dietary exposure to ultra-processed foods for improved human health. They also inform and provide support for urgent mechanistic research.ā
#2š„±
Meanwhile we need to pay more attention to sleep
Poor sleep is another aspect of life that can lead to inflammation and have direct impacts on oral health and your patientsā general health.
This week marks the release of a series on the impacts of poor sleep on health.
Not only does this series feature a dentist as part of the team, but it also features two colorful characters from parliament house, Barnaby Joyce and Jackie Lambie.
Dentists can play an important role in identifying and assisting in the treatment of sleep issues. This may be identifying problems in children and helping them be assessed and treated early or with our adult patients.
You may not provide sleep appliances as part of your practice but, as dentists, we have a responsibility to be informed about sleep disorders and have the ability to make appropriate recommendations and referrals. You might just save a life. Find a course and get educated.
SBS 7.30 Wednesday or on demand
#3 š«£
Fluoridation differences continue
In the UK there is still advocacy for water fluoridation. Every little thing will help in a nation suffering a workforce crisis that will be a long time being fixed.
Iām still trying to process the Huberman podcast on oral health and the ābalancedā approach to fluoridation and fluoride toothpaste use in California or perhaps the whole of the US.
My recent exposure to the differing culture around fluoridation in the US versus the UK versus Australia is continuing. We all read the same research in the same language, however the nanny state seems to have our teethās best interest at heart and we take water fluoridation for granted in most of the (coastal) parts of this great nation.
#4 š²š©āš³
ā¦ and in Beverly Hills we have pediatric dentists creating videos on how to make toothpaste at home
Have a great week!
Rosie
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