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Dentistry
Nobody wants their child’s summer fun to be spoiled by tooth pain or cavities.
However, many iced treats popular in summer contain lots of sugar that causes decay. Because taste buds don’t work as well when they get cold, manufacturers often add extra sugar to ice lollies to guarantee a sweet taste. But saying no every time the ice cream van approaches might feel unnecessarily harsh – especially if you have fond memories of enjoying the occasional lolly when you were young.
So how can you say yes to an ice lolly without hurting your child’s teeth? First, it’s helpful to understand why too many iced treats could spell dental pain or decay…
Sugar!
Sugar and bacteria work together to create acid that can cause decay and tooth pain.
A lolly may list sugar as an ingredient, but other ingredients commonly in lollies are sugar by another name. Popular iced lolly brands sometimes contain fruit juice concentrate, glucose syrup, fructose and dextrose, which all do the same work as table sugar on the teeth. Other natural sugars like honey and fruit juice should also be eaten in moderation. A sweet treat is considered low sugar for adults if it’s less than 5g sugar per 100g. 22.5g per 100g or more is high sugar for adults, and is more than most children should have in a whole day!
Do a little maths…
The NHS suggests that 30g of sugar is OK for adults per day. But children are much smaller, so the healthy amount of sugar for them is also lower. Children aged 7 to 10 should have no more than 24g per day. Aged 4 to 6, this falls to 19g. Children aged 2 to 3 should have no more than 14g natural or added sugar per day. That’s 3 and a half sugar cubes. The amount of sugar in lollies really varies, so it’s good to read the label to check.
And watch how you chomp the ice…
Although eating a lolly more quickly means less exposure time to sugar, it’s good to be aware of the damage that can be caused by biting or chewing fully frozen ice. The crystals in ice can scratch away children’s soft enamel. Ice can also damage fillings and can even fracture teeth.
Even little fractures or small scratches can allow bacteria to get into your teeth, causing decay.
Some delicious alternatives
If your child isn’t fond of sugar-free lollies, you can make your own treats. Many kitchen shops sell home lolly kits, or you can just make small lollies by freezing fruit juice and lolly sticks in ice cube trays. Although fruit juices do contain sugar, they contain nutrients. If eaten after meals, the acid from the fruit, as well as the sugars won’t have such a strong effect.
If children visit the dentist regularly, brush their teeth twice a day, eat healthy food and drink lots of water, there is no reason their teeth can’t last them a lifetime, even if they do enjoy an ice lolly now and then.
🚗 If you’re visiting Evolve Dentistry today, please allow extra travel time
There are major traffic issues in the area this morning, and journeys to Portishead are taking longer than usual.
If you have an appointment with us today, please leave plenty of time to get to the practice safely. If you’re running late, just give our reception team a call and we’ll do our best to help.
Stay safe, and we look forward to seeing you soon.
50km… and counting! 🚲💪
Our Clinical Director, Dr Carol Somerville Roberts, has just completed her longest training ride yet — an incredible 50 kilometres — as she prepares for a life-changing charity cycle from the base of Kilimanjaro to the Ngorongoro Crater in February 2026.
Carol is taking on this huge challenge to raise funds for Bridge2Aid, a charity providing vital emergency dental care and training in Tanzania. The money raised will help run an outreach and training programme where eight Dental Therapists will be trained and around 2,000 people will receive essential dental treatment.
For someone who hasn’t been on a bike in years, months of training in all weathers is no small feat — and we couldn’t be more proud of her determination.
If you’d like to support Carol and help make a genuine difference to communities with little or no access to dental care, you can donate here:
👉 https://www.justgiving.com/page/carol-somerville-roberts-1
Every donation, big or small, will have an immense impact.
Thank you for cheering her on! 💜
You were expecting a big before-and-after reveal, weren’t you? 😁
Here’s the truth: the best way to save money at the dentist is simple — floss! 🦷
A few seconds a day can help prevent costly treatments later.
#EvolveDentistry #DentalCareMadeSimple #FlossForTheWin #Portishead
Thinking about improving your smile but not sure where to start? 😁
In this video, our dentist Richard Ford talks about SmileFast — a modern, minimally invasive way to transform your smile quickly and beautifully. ✨
SmileFast combines the latest digital technology with composite bonding to deliver natural-looking results in as little as one appointment. It’s perfect for patients who want a confident smile without more complex treatment. 💚
Watch to find out how SmileFast could help you love your smile again.
#EvolveDentistry #Portishead #SmileFast #CosmeticDentistry #ConfidentSmile #SmileTransformation
Claire used to feel really self-conscious about her stained teeth and often hid her smile. After having veneers at Evolve Dentistry, she now smiles confidently — and can’t stop! 💚
Her story is a wonderful reminder of how transforming your smile can transform how you feel, too.
Watch Claire share her journey 👇
#EvolveDentistry #Portishead #Veneers #SmileTransformation #ConfidentSmile #CosmeticDentistry#ConfidenceBoost #beyourbestself #Northsomerset #multiawardwinning #patientsatisfaction #patientsfirst #newpatients #healthysmiles #acceptingnewpatients #nailsea #clevedon #portisheadmarina
Meet Kayse, one of our brilliant dental nurses here at Evolve Dentistry! 💚
Kayse is an important part of our team, helping to make sure every patient feels comfortable, cared for, and supported during their visit. 🦷✨
We’re so proud of the friendly, compassionate team we have here at Evolve — they’re the heart of everything we do.
#EvolveDentistry #Portishead #DentalNurse #BestTeam #PatientCare #BehindTheScenes
