Cockcroft not a happy bunny over Easter egg consumption

More than 80 million Easter eggs will be consumed in the UK this weekend, prompting a warning about tooth decay.

Chief Dental Officer, Barry Cockcroft, has issued a reminder for people not to forget to clean their teeth properly during this annual choc-fest, offering advice for protecting teeth while indulging in sugary treats.

He said: ‘My top tips for healthy teeth include trying to keep sugary foods like Easter eggs to after meal times, brushing twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste and visiting the dentist periodically.’

While the nation certainly has a sweet tooth, oral health has dramatically improved over the past few years.

In 1968, around 37% of adults had no teeth compared to about 6% in 2008.

Barry Cockroft added: ‘Twelve year old children have the lowest rate of tooth decay in Europe but there are particular areas of the country in which oral health still needs to improve.’

In the Ask Our Expert section of www.timesonline.co.uk today, a reader writes: ‘My children have four Easter eggs on the shelf already and I’m worried about the amount of chocolate they’re going to eat over the Easter weekend – do you have any suggestions?’

Their advice? ‘You’re not alone, but remember that Easter only comes round once a year and providing your children eat healthily the rest of the year then a weekend of indulgence isn’t going to make a huge difference.’

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