Dental Health and Your Diet
Sugar is the main cause of dental decay when there are bacteria present. More
significant than the amount of sugar you eat is the frequency of consumption.
Probably the worst thing you can do to your teeth
is to drink a soda and have a sip every few minutes over a long period
of time; the same is true for snacking. It is recommended that if you
want to have a snack or soda or juice it is better to have it after
food, as dessert, or have it in one sitting. Eating or drinking
something sweet over an extended period of time creates a constant
supply of sugar for bacteria that causes tooth decay!
It is important to be aware of all the sources of sugar
that are out there. It is not just everything that is sweet, but anything that
can turn to sugar like pieces of bread. Cutting down your sugar intake is good
for cavity prevention, as well as your general health.
But what about when you have to have sugar? The best way to
avoid cavities is to prevent the sugar from staying next to your teeth. Brushing
after eating sugar, rinsing your mouth with Fluoride mouth wash, or chewing
sugarless gum can help. However, nothing has the effect of avoiding sugar!
Is there any kind of food that prevents tooth decay? Well,
not really. Some people believed that chewing foods like apples and carrots may
have some plaque removal effect, but they still contain some sugar so any
advantage is not clear.
Another group of food that causes significant damage to
teeth structure is acidic foods. If in frequent contact with teeth, things like
lime, lemon, and grapefruit can cause serious irreversible damage (erosion) to
your teeth.
If you have any questions about diet and dental
health and you live in or around West Covina, give us a call today!
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