RDH News: Worst Easter candy for teeth, ADHA holds firm on fluoridation commitment, the uncertain future of cosmetic dentistry
Don't eat this-Easter candy with the highest sugar content
Halloween isn't the only holiday that threatens dental health. Easter is less than a week away, which means gift baskets will be brimming with Peeps, Cadbury eggs, and other candy with a high sugar content.
A study conducted by Dr. Arash Ravanbakhsh of Inglewood Family Dental analyzed the sugar content of some of the most popular Easter candy in America. Data revealed that small, color-coated candies are most deleterious as they can stick to teeth or dissolve slowly. This prolongs sugar contact time with teeth.
Dr. Ravanbakhsh also noted that "Sour candies are a double threat because they combine high sugar content with acidity that further weakens enamel."1
The highest offenders were as follows:1
ADHA is committed to fluoridation despite pushback
The American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) vows to support community water fluoridation despite the recent efforts to remove it from US drinking water. In a recent press release, ADHA president Erin Haley-Hitz, RDH, BSDH, MS, said "Removing fluoride from drinking water poses a significant risk to public health. The evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of fluoride is robust, and the potential consequences of increased dental decay and related health issues are alarming."2
It's important to note that many who rally against fluoridation cite data connecting high levels of fluoride with lower intelligence scores in children, but current US water systems employ a much lower, safer level: 0.7 mg/L.
Fluoride is proven to reduce tooth decay by about 25% in both children and adults, but the oral health of the US population isn't the only thing at risk following this ban; higher cases of caries and other dental issues nationwide would financially burden low-income families and healthcare systems already stretched thin."2
To learn more about the ADHA's response to the fluoride ban, click here.
Are cosmetic dental trends going too far?
With the rise of veneers and over a million videos on TikTok tagged with the hashtag #teeth, the field of cosmetic dentistry is booming. Many social media users are relentlessly chasing the flawless visage of "Instagram face" perpetuated by celebrities and influencers. Natural-looking procedures are in; we have entered a culture predominated by undetectable beauty treatments. But what does this mean for dentistry?
According to Alex Peters, senior beauty director at Dazed, "Wealthier people, people with more access to healthcare, will be able to get either dental work or veneers and you won't be able to tell. That will be the next trend after this cycle that we're seeing now."3
To execute this natural look, many clinics are developing thinner veneers, also known as "no-prep" veneers, which are placed directly over the teeth instead of grinding them down.
Veneers may also be used as a way to reshape and sharpen jawlines, creating the effect of a lower facelift. "In my office," said Dr. Joyce Kahng of Orange County, "We utilize veneers to open the bite back up and rebalance the way the teeth come together, which gives structure back to the lower face almost instantly."3
Dr. Brendan Nejati, cofounder of Nejati Dental Clinic, is bringing skincare procedures into the world of dentistry, including UV and LED light and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. He also plans to utilize stem cells in dental treatments to aid regeneration and combat infection or inflammation. In fact, the global tooth regeneration market is expected to grow from $4.5 billion to $8.2 billion by 2033.3
Click here to read the full article on the future of cosmetic dentistry.
Resources
1. Easter candies with the most sugar revealed. Inglewood Family Dental. April 14, 2025. https://www.inglewoodfamilydental.ca/
2. ADHA supports community water fluoridation amid recent challenges. American Dental Hygienists' Association. April 9, 2025. https://www.adha.org/newsroom/adha-supports-fluoridation-despite-challenges/
3. Maguire L. What will our teeth look like in 2045? Vogue Business. April 14, 2025. https://www.voguebusiness.com/story/beauty/what-will-our-teeth-look-like-in-2045?utm_source=chatgpt.com
