Bite-sized fun facts about penguins' mouths
20th January 2021
January 20th is usually a suitably chilly day in the northern hemisphere for us to think about those natives of… read more
Earlier this month, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) published a report advising parents not to worry about screen time. Screen time itself is not a bad thing, the report suggests, so long as it’s under control.
Undeniably, time spent using a screen is very much part of modern life. Yet as parents we may have hoped for more guidance. We’d have appreciated more detailed advice to help monitor and manage the amount of time our children interact with social media, games and videos. Even welcomed strict guidelines to quote to our kids. Or some help to enforce restrictive rules and curfews. Instead, the report encourages a common-sense, responsible-parenting approach. This means that from one household to another, however, how screens are used and the boundaries set will be as varied as the devices themselves.
With only limited research available, it’s perhaps too early to assess the full impact of screen time on our young population. There are negative associations, but that does not mean that screen time can’t be a positive experience. While the range of issues to consider is extensive, from toddlers to teenagers, cartoons to pornography, there are young people who use screens responsibly to research their homework, watch TED talks, or access on-line tutorials.
The daily challenge, however, is that modern parenting now includes monitoring access to screens and supervising content. Rather than being prescriptive about screen use, Dr Max Davie, Officer for Health Promotion at the RCPCH, says we need to “let parents be parents”. This means that parents need to set expectations and boundaries for screen time.
- Is screen time in your household controlled?
- Does screen use interfere with what your family want to do?
- Does screen use interfere with sleep?
- Are you able to control snacking during screen time?
We need to tackle snacking. When 95% of tooth decay is preventable, why are so many children admitted to hospital for unnecessary extractions?
It’s the mindless munching through whatever’s in the cupboard that’s the problem. While games can keep both hands busy on a console, watching cartoons or videos does not. Most parents worry about the negative impact of screen time on children’s health. Although snacking is mentioned last on the list of four questions, it is a major concern – unhealthy snacks are a problem. Setting screen time limits may also help reduce snacking.
In fact, the report concluded “there is moderate evidence for an association between screentime, particularly television screentime, and higher energy intake and less healthy diet quality including higher intake of energy and lower intake of healthy food groups”.
As parents, then, screen time can make it harder to take the children shopping. Requests for high sugar/low nutrition products advertised on-screen can be a source of disagreement or submission. And once the snacks are in the trolley, it’s easy to eat too many of them during passive screen time.
As part of the Childhood Obesity Plan, current government research investigates a ban on advertising food and drink high in salt, sugar and fat . If agreed, it needs to protect children across all media, not just television and print. It would be a help.
Then, if children eat healthy snacks, or don’t snack at all while they’re using a screen, it’s better for their health.
The report has one clearly stated recommendation based on scientific research:
Suggestions to encourage positive screen experiences include:
Parenting decisions can be hard, and modern life is presenting all kinds of challenges that are hard to keep up with. Discussion and communication are key. For screen time to stay healthy, families need to establish clear expectations, including routines for eating and socialising together.
Sometimes it can help to talk to professionals too, and seek support. For example, if you’re worried that your child is snacking too much, your dentist can spot signs of dental decay during an examination. As well as recommending healthy eating, the dentist can strengthen tooth enamel by applying fluoride.
To support government initiatives to help children to have healthy teeth, parents or guardians may call three of the SpaDental practices to register children as new NHS patients:
Or why not try the live chat button on your screen?
SpaDental Whitchurch dentist is accepting new private patients. A new patient testimonial After the closure of my local dentist in Whitchurch I telephoned Spa Dental who made me an appointment. Unfortunately I had an abscess on my tooth before my appointment date, for which I was given an emergency appointment. I am a very nervous patient and it took a long time to build confidence with my old dentist , therefore my nerves were bad and I…
More TestimonialsKind words from our patients mean a lot to us. Thank you! We're very happy to read reviews that commend the Plymouth team and the dentists "excellent care" and "professional service". Recent patient reviews commend our excellent care: "In safe and caring hands - Without exception the treatment I have received has been outstanding. From the reception staff through each of the individuals involved, their focus is on you and you're fully involved in any…
More TestimonialsWe very much enjoyed reading the lovely Saltash patient reviews we've received in response to our recent request for feedback. On behalf of all the staff, thank you so much for your lovely comments. We sincerely appreciate your kind words, and will also use your recommendations in our planning. SpaDental considers your review comments carefully. We read them all, and use the information we gather to guide our practice so we can keep on improving…
More TestimonialsA very appreciative thank you to our patients from the clinicians and staff at SpaDental Chard. It has been a pleasure reading your comments because if our patients are happy, then we're happy. Feedback about the team and treatment from SpaDental Chard reviews "Everyone in the practice is efficient, professional and knowledgeable." - HCG "5 Star Dental Care - Being in the centre of Chard, [the SpaDental] surgery is easily accessible for most patients. The…
More TestimonialsSpaDental Plymouth sincerely thanks everyone who responds to our request to review the practice. We love reading all your positive comments. That said, we also take on board the suggestions you make. Because we take Plymouth patient reviews seriously, we read them carefully to see if anyone is less than satisfied with their experience and we use that information to guide our practice. Our review rating of 4.7 stars (out of 5) highlights Plymouth patient…
More TestimonialsThis last week we asked our patients who have visited the practice in the last few months to submit their comments online. We truly appreciate your kind comments. Thank you from all of us for your lovely reviews. Read about our new treatment for patients who have breathing difficulties while they're sleeping. Your opinion is important. Amongst other questions, we ask patients whether or not they would recommend the surgery to their family and friends.…
More TestimonialsA glowing testimonial for Dental Surgeon - veneers SpaDental Whitchurch Shropshire. Veneers SpaDental Whitchurch Shropshire "Excellent treatment! Absolutely delighted! Dr Jindal replaced two veneers for me, providing throughout brilliant treatment. He advised me of the options for the veneers and I opted for the better quality ones. The whole process was methodical and precise, keeping me informed step by step during the whole procedure. Great attention to detail was given to myself and the implants…
More TestimonialsDental Surgeon and her assistant are helping anxious patients to manage dental visits more easily. High praise for the team! We know that it can be hard for people to come in to see the dentist. Here's one message: "I just wanted to say a huge thank you for your care at my recent dental visit. Lucy, I know because of your care and attention to my needs I feel so much better attending an…
More TestimonialsWe really appreciate all the reviews we're getting from patients who visit SpaDental Plymouth. Your feedback helps us feel confident we give good advice and offer a great dental service to Plymouth patients. Thank you! Here are some recent reviews: These two reviews highlight the importance of regular examination of the soft tissues in the mouth. "I feel... grateful to [my dentist] for referring me to Derriford hospital for a lump to be removed from…
More TestimonialsAt SpaDental Ledbury we're enjoying reading your reviews! In April, we asked you to share your experiences with us. We've been emailing our patients to ask you to fill in on-line forms so that we know how your appointments went. It's been heart-warming to read the kind things that you've said about us in your reviews. Thank you! Here are a few of the comments that we've received: "Very professional. Always polite and helpful. Easy…
More TestimonialsJanuary, 2021
During the current restrictions we're here to help you receive the face-to-face care you need from your dental team.
Access our free remote advice and triage service:
Thank you
Patients often ask: