Tooth friendly food and drink
Did you know
...keeping sweet treats and drinks to mealtimes reduces your risk of tooth decay?
Scientific evidence shows that eating sugar and sugary foods contributes to tooth decay. The more frequently that sugary food is eaten, the higher the risk of tooth decay.
In our mouths, plaque bacteria are present which attach themselves to the surface of the teeth.
When sugary foods/drinks are consumed, the plaque bacteria change the sugar into acid. This acid is harmful to the teeth and immediately begins to attack the outer surface of the tooth and cause a process is known as demineralisation.
Once the consumption of sugary foods/drinks is finished, the saliva in our mouths (Saliva also contains fluoride) acts as a buffer for the acid and begins to repair the damage done to the surface of the teeth. This process is known as remineralisation and may take up to an hour to complete. If sugary foods/drinks are consumed again before the saliva has finished repairing the tooth, then damage may occur to the tooth and a hole could form in the tooth structure; this is then known as tooth decay.
However decay is not the only issue to be aware of. Unfortunately dental erosion is becoming increasingly common, especially due to greater consumption of fizzy drinks - including 'diet' brands.
What is dental erosion?
Dental erosion is caused by acidic foods and drinks 'dissolving' the surface (enamel) of the tooth.
Erosion process:
Acids in the mouth can dissolve away tooth surfaces. As previously discussed, given the chance, teeth will repair themselves, using minerals from saliva. But if acid is in the mouth too often, (e.g. constant consumption of fizzy drinks) then the teeth cannot repair themselves and the hard tooth surface (the enamel) becomes thinner - this is called 'erosion'. The teeth can then become extra sensitive to hot and cold food and drink. Eroded teeth will also be more vulnerable to decay.
The main cause of erosion is frequent consumption of certain kinds of food and drink. All fizzy drinks (including 'diet' brands) all 'sports' drinks, all squashes and all fruit juices are acidic to varying degrees. Pickles and citrus fruits are examples of acidic types of food.
People with certain illnesses (such as eating disorders) may suffer from erosion because of frequent vomiting, as stomach acids also erode teeth. For this reason, dentists may ask about eating disorders if they see teeth that are very badly eroded.
Because acids temporarily soften the tooth surface, don't brush your teeth immediately after eating or drinking something acidic. Leave brushing for at least an hour (however a regular routine of tooth brushing with a fluoride toothpaste should still be carried out at the appropriate times).
Your dentist can identify erosion, pinpoint the causes and give advice on preventing further damage. The advice of limiting fizzy drinks or squash to mealtimes should be followed.
It is important to remember that it is the frequency of sugar intake that is harmful rather than the amount; this is why sugary foods/drinks should be consumed all at once and at mealtimes only. Sugar free snacks and milk or water should be eaten/drunk between meals.
For further information on diet and tooth decay go to:
• www.dentalhealth.org.uk