Oral Health Charity Blasts ‘Smoothie Extra Healthy’ Advice

By: The British Dental Health Foundation
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The UK’s leading independent dental charity has criticised claims that fruit smoothies could be twice as healthy as first thought – warning that if consumed too frequently they could cause an ‘erosion epidemic’.

Speaking ahead of the launch of National Smile Month 2008 (May 18-June 17) the Foundation said that while fruit smoothies undoubtedly hold some benefits by aiding the consumption of fruit, the damage they could do to teeth could fair outweigh this.

Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, commented: “This is a very important issue and one that often gets overlooked.

“Fruit smoothies are becoming increasingly popular and the fruit content can make them seem like a good idea. However, they contain very high levels of sugar and acid and so can do a lot of damage to the teeth.

“Dental health is often considered to be of secondary importance to other health issues, but the latest scientific research has found strong links between oral health and a range of serious health conditions including heart disease, heart attacks, respiratory disease, strokes, diabetes and low birth weight babies.

“The message is clear – good oral health means good overall body health!”

The comments are backed by the results of the National Dental Survey 2008, conducted by the British Dental Health Foundation and Oral B, which found that more than 30% of people think that fruit smoothies are actually good for the teeth.

Dr Carter continued: “While fruit smoothies can be a good way to get people to consume more fruit, the high concentration of sugar and acids means that they can do real damage to the teeth if sipped throughout the day.

“Every time you sip on a fruit smoothie your teeth are placed under acid attack for up to an hour, so constantly sipping on these drinks can cause the protective enamel to erode, causing pain and sensitivity. It can also lead to decay.

“This is a particular risk for children. Parents often provide their child with fruit juice drinks thinking they are doing them good but, in reality, it is far better to keep them to mealtimes where possible. Currently around half of children under five suffer with decayed teeth.

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