Type 2 diabetes ‘timebomb’ prompts call on government to ‘take dentistry seriously’
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- Published: Thursday, 27 October 2016 07:48
- Written by News Editor
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England looks set to reach five million type 2 diabetes diagnoses by 2020 – five years earlier than previously thought – prompting dental hygienists to call on health ministers to ‘take dentistry seriously’. Michaela O’Neill, president of the British Society of Dental Hygiene & Therapy, says these shocking figures should serve as a warning to the government who must now invest time, money and energy into raising awareness of the importance of dental hygiene.
According to new analysis of the first six months of 2016, the number of prescriptions of type 2 diabetes medications was already up by more than 8% compared to the same period in 2015. At the start of this year, 3.5 million UK adults were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. If the trend continues, this will rocket to five million by 2020.
Michaela O’Neill believes dental teams are well placed to halt this predicted hike in the figures. She said: ‘Oral health education is the cornerstone of preventative dentistry and can have a positive impact on not only the health of the British population’s teeth and gums, but on their overall health, too. With a growing body of evidence illustrating links between oral health and other inflammatory diseases and beyond, now is the time for the government to take dentistry seriously.'
She added: ‘Regular dental examinations offer the opportunity for dental teams to detect early signs and predictors of systemic disease as well as dental disease and can also open up communication between clinician and patient about lifestyle risks, such as heavy alcohol use, smoking and poor nutrition. By investing time, energy and money into educating the British public on the importance of regularly attending a dental examination – and by empowering them to do so – the government will ensure everyone has an equal chance to both understand and address any poor health choices.’
Additionally the Sunday Express has recently reported that British children have been hit by super virulent type 2 diabetes due to unhealthy diet. More than 200 under 14s in the UK – some as young as five – were treated for type 2 diabetes last year – a disease normally only associated with the over 50s. Doctors say the situation will only get worse unless children eat more healthily.
Dentistry's Prevention can include Diabetes preven
It makes complete sense and a good fit, for Dentistry to play a major role in Diabetes prevention!Stopping or reducing the 'sweet-tooth' effects from an early age to screening and advising patients later in life, improves the Holistic care and importance of Dentistry's role in Society's health improvement and prevention.
The Mouth is in the body and frankly if Pharmacist assistants can do this, then Dental Teams have the context and competence to step up to the plate and help Holistically.
It will also help to communicate and realise our wider role and appreciation from the whole population, by helping prevent problems and improve Quality of life, from birth onwards !!!
Yours synergistically ,
Tony.
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