Local Hygienist Educating Patients with Sugary Drinks Display

RDH Wendy Carpenter in front of her sugar in drinks display.

For 22 years, Registered Dental Hygienist, Wendy Carpenter has worked for the dental office located at 126 East Main known as Currey Dental until becoming LaRock Dental in 2013. This June, she created a display on her bulletin board that has received more reactions than any other display she’s created.

Carpenter walked down the street to the gas station and asked if she could photograph some of the drinks that are available there. She then noted grams of sugar in each drink, went back to the office and weighed out corresponding amounts of granulated sugar for each drink, bagged it up, and hung it next to the photo of the drink.

It takes 2 bags to hold the 169 grams of sugar found in a 44 oz Mountain Dew.

The display has been shocking for some of Carpenter’s patients. She has had people take photos while they were there, other hygienists bring in their patients to show them the display and patients come back after their appointments to bring other people in to show them. She stated that the one that surprised her the most was green tea. She, like many others, viewed green tea as a healthier alternative. She also likes to point out the amount of sugar in a box of 100% apple juice to parents, as many parents don’t worry about the amount of sugar in 100% juice because it’s all natural.

This chart lists amount of sugar and acidity of many drinks including those not up on the bulletin board.

Next to the main display is a smaller chart with information on acidity, which also plays a role along with sugar in causing cavities. But when it comes to dental health, what’s most important is actually frequency of sugar. Carpenter has designed a new display incorporating Halloween candy that conveys this idea but has been asked to leave the current display up longer because of the impact it is having. She hopes to use another bulletin board in the office for the second one.

Carpenter was inspired to do this display after seeing a similar idea at the Michigan Dental Association annual session last spring called “Rethink Your Drink,” although she expanded on it and chose popular drinks available in Manchester.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.