title: An effective oral health promoting message?
abstract: This paper questions the effectiveness of current oral health promoting activities in reducing social inequalities in oral health. An attempt is made to address the needs of dental professionals and nutritionists in communicating an understanding of biological aspects of the aetiology of caries and erosion. With a clear understanding of the disease process oral health promoters can possibly reduce social inequalities in oral health. A clear common message which satisfies both dental and nutritional professionals is presented. The issues of commonality and ambiguity are fundamental to effective behavioural/teaching practice. Currently the evidence base suggests that dietary messages are inconsistent and ambiguous. Therefore, a clear common and unambiguous dietary message, based on science, could go some way to improving oral health inequalities.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sport and Science, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, CF37 1DL, UK. wrichard@glam.ac.uk
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Filipponi
mesh_terms: D001628:Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects; D001939:Bread / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004037:Diet, Cariogenic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000009:adverse effects; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D006293:Health Promotion; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D012923:Social Class; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D019422:Dietary Sucrose