Harmful effects of sugar on your teeth
Tooth decay is caused by bacteria in the mouth using sugar from foods and drinks to produce acids that dissolve and damage the teeth.
Sugar sweetened beverages have high levels of sugar and drinking these can significantly contribute to tooth decay.
Regular and ‘diet' soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, fruit juices, fruit drinks and cordials also have high acid levels that can cause tooth erosion.
Tooth erosion occurs when acid attacks the teeth to dissolve the outer surface of tooth enamel.
Regular loss of enamel can lead to cavities and exposure of the inner layers of the tooth that may become sensitive and painful.
Prevention of enamel loss is very important for the long term health of your teeth.
Each acid attack lasts for around 20 minutes. Every time you take a sip of the drink, the acid damage begins all over again.
How to fight tooth decay and erosion
Drink soft drinks only in moderation, if at all.
Use a straw so your teeth are less exposed to the sugar and acid in the drink.
Take a drink of water, preferably tap water that has been fluoridated, after a sugary or acidic drink to help rinse out your mouth and dilute the sugars.
Protect your teeth by using fluoride toothpaste. Also, after drinking sugary or acidic beverages, don't brush your teeth right away. Wait at least one hour so your teeth can recover and your enamel can re- harden before you take the brush to them.
Do not sip a sugary or acidic drink slowly or over a long duration. Doing so exposes your teeth to sugar and acid attacks for longer.
Never drink sugary or acidic drinks before you go to bed – if you do so, the liquid will pool in your mouth, coating your teeth with sugar and acid.
Drink water instead. It has no acid, no sugar – and no kilojoules.
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What's the best way to keep grocery shopping bills down?
We are still feeling the pinch and the weekly shop is no different. So we are after your cost-saving tips please, neighbours!
What’s the best way you've found to cut down on your grocery bill? Share below (and hear tips from others!)
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Share a photo below of your craft projects, recent DIY, or your hobby. You may just inspire someone else!
After a year in Australia: 'Honestly, this place is cheaper than NZ'
When I left NZ, it seemed I was part of an exodus. Little did I know that exodus was only going to intensify.
It seems every other week, another friend or colleague announces their move across the Tasman. And, look, the lure of Australia is undeniable – better pay, improved working conditions, and yes, the sunshine.
Watch Aziz's price comparison in full on TVNZ+
A year on, we now know more than 85,000 New Zealanders have flocked across the ditch. It seems while the ibis might be notorious for scavenging, the kiwi is now the one crossing the ditch in search of better pickings.
Here’s why.
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Let’s kick things off easy with housing. According to CoreLogic’s latest figures, if you’re looking to buy a home, Australia seems to have the edge (unless you’re planning to buy in Sydney, then good luck).
The median house price in Australia is, in NZ dollars, just over $880,000, compared to New Zealand’s $931,000, Even in the pricey cities of Sydney and Auckland, the numbers are comparable, with homes costing nearly $1.3 million.
If you’re renting like me, you’re going to be paying more though, especially if you’re living in Sydney. The average national Aussie rent is around $695 per week, while TradeMe says it’s slightly cheaper in New Zealand at $610.
But if you’re in Auckland, prepare to shell out about $660 weekly compared to Sydney’s eye-watering $820.
Utilities and Groceries
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When it comes to utilities, shock-horror, Australians again come out on top. Canstar Blue shows the average monthly electricity bill is $122, far cheaper than the $196 Kiwis pay. And in Australia, we pay our power quarterly.
Personally, because I live on my own here, my bill roughly hits $200-$250 every three months.
When it comes to groceries, prices are on the rise in Australia, with the latest figures showing they are actually the most expensive we’ve seen in a while. The kicker is we are spoiled for choice when it comes to our supermarkets.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics says the average Australian household spends about $208 a week on food, while New Zealanders are hit with a whopping $300 weekly bill (Source: Stats NZ).
It appears more competition and scrutiny in the Aussie market drive prices down, giving shoppers better deals.
Salaries: Show me the money
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The average weekly wage in Australia is around $2,094, adding up to nearly $109,000 annually (Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics).
Compare that to New Zealand’s $1,593 weekly wage, or about $80,000 a year (Source: Stats NZ), and the difference is stark.
This earning potential is a huge draw for Kiwis, especially professionals like nurses and police officers, as highlighted in my Great Brain Drain series. 1News revealed 322 New Zealand officers applied to work with Queensland Police in the last year, and our nursing sector has lost nearly 24,000 registered nurses to Australia. Those are only the ones we know of who have registered under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Agreement.
With a salary increase of almost 30% in some cases, the promise of higher pay and better working conditions is hard to resist.
A mixed bag of inflation and employment
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It is no secret Australia is also grappling with its own cost-of-living crisis, but there's a silver lining. Recent figures show a robust job market with low unemployment in June 2024 (Source: ABS).
Meanwhile, in New Zealand, inflation has dipped slightly, leading to a cut in home loan rates, but unemployment remains a concern as many Kiwis seek better opportunities abroad.
The overall picture
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Is the move worth it? For many, it seems the answer is a resounding yes.
But Australia does have its own cost-of-living challenges. People are struggling to pay their rent and keep their fridges stocked.
As a Kiwi who has just come here, I can say hand on heart the cost of living in New Zealand is just as bad as Australia, made worse by our lower salaries.
With that said, while it’s crucial to weigh individual circumstances and long-term goals, the grass does seem greener on the other side.
But I’m still holding out hope for New Zealand. Addressing these issues at home could help retain our talent and make our own patch of grass just as green.
After all, there’s no place quite like Aotearoa.
Sources:
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• Australian Median House Price: CoreLogic Australia
• Sydney Median House Price: CoreLogic Australia
• NZ Median House Price: CoreLogic NZ
• Auckland Median House Price: CoreLogic NZ
• Australia Rent: CoreLogic Australia
• NZ Rent: TradeMe
• Australia Power: Canstar Blue
• NZ Power: Canstar Blue
• Australia Groceries: Finder, Australian Bureau of Statistics
• NZ Groceries: Stats NZ, Wise Move
• Australia Salary: Australian Bureau of Statistics
• NZ Salary: Stats NZ
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www.1news.co.nz...
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