Us Brits love nothing more than afternoon tea and cake, but could all of the excitement generated by our favourite baking programmes like The Great British Bake off have kick-started an epidemic of sweet munching by our desks?
OK, we all know what it’s like when we’re under pressure in the office and sometimes it’s easier to go for the simple option and chow down on our favourite snacks when we’re running against the clock.
For one, it makes us feel better and it saves us time. Flying to the local shop on our break to pick up a sugar boost and caving in when someone brings a birthday cake into work are all scenarios we can relate to.
But according to our very own Dr. Ewan Bramley, a leading Newcastle dentist, our desire and over indulgence for sugar could be causing a lot more harm than good.
In the past, our snacking habits and interest in iced treats may have been confined to leaving events and special occasions, but now it seems any excuse will do! I bet we’ve all let ourselves go for things like ‘Dress Down Fridays’ and ‘Happy Mondays’ but our willingness to forget our oral health is seemingly leading to tooth decay and a whole host of oral health issues.
Ewan Bramley explains: “It’s natural for office managers to reward their colleagues and celebrate special occasions at work, and cake and sweets are of course a common gift when people come back from their holidays this time of year.
“But in many cases, it seems our primary source of sugar intake is in the office could actually be a driving force, or certainly a contributing factor, to the nation’s declining oral health and increasing obesity levels.”
According to the stats, tooth decay in the UK is reaching critical proportions. Almost 44% of us here in England are suffering from it and the figure is even higher in Wales and Northern Ireland.
Snacking on starchy and sugary food and drink while we’re at our desks, especially in between our main meals, is extremely risky and allows bacteria – present in plaque – to feast on those carbs and produces the acid which can dramatically increase the chances of tooth decay.
Although we’re not quite at the level where legislation has to come into play, it may now be a time for office managers to take a look at the issue. Remember, the more sugar we consume, and the frequency with which do it, will make your mouth acidic and allow teeth to weaken and soften. It’s time to let those pearly whites recover people!
“When we go to buy sweets and cakes at the shop,” adds Ewan, “we need to consider purchasing much smaller quantities and make them available only with our lunch. You should also consider alternatives like cheese, nuts, and fruit.”
Are you concerned about your oral health? Get in touch with Ewan Bramley Dental Care for advice and guidance.
Explore our website today for more information about our services and if you’d like a free consultation to see can discuss your oral health call us now on 0191 259 6506 or CONTACT US HERE. We are open Monday – Thursday 8am – 8pm, Friday 8am – 3pm and Saturday 9am – 3pm.
