All the CE (Continuing Education) courses I've taken on Caries Risk Management and Nutrition acknowledge these 3 steps.
Carbs (1) are fermented by bacteria (2) that produce acid
(3).
However, all their recommended "risk management" is targeted at Steps 2 and 3.
- Attack the bacteria with antibacterials (this is like taking antibiotics daily to control your gut bacteria).
- Attack acid with fluoride (if it drops your IQ a few points, at least you won't know any better).
Why not attack the chain at link 1?
Why not AT LEAST mention low-carb?
Every CE program I take is
the same.
After discussing carbohydrate's role in initiating the decay process, they are afraid to touch it.
Instead, they recommend:
"Eat a healthy, balanced and nutritious diet."
This has become synonymous with
high-carb diets.
A high-carb diet is the biggest risk factor for the most common disease in the world.
Instead the last course I took proclaimed:
"The biggest issue related to success of the caries treatment is compliance with the chemical therapy, especially when it is home use.”
But fear not, the sponsor of the program has an in-office fluoride varnish product to save the day!
The biggest issue isn't a lack of some chemical therapy, it's that the cause of the problem isn't even given lip service.
Corporate interest.
Provider ignorance.
Patient's problem.
What cavities tell us about healthcare:
