Diet plays an important role in dental health. The type of food you eat and the frequency of consumption plays an important role in shaping your oral health. Food choices and dietary patterns are often found responsible for tooth decay in children and young adults.
How Diet effects Dental Health?
Tooth decay or dental caries is brought about by the interaction of saliva, oral bacteria and fermentable carbohydrates. When food containing sugars is ingested, bacterial plaque acts on it and produces acid. This acid acts on the tooth and causes tooth decay. Hence, what we eat impacts our oral health considerably.
Food + Bacteria (in mouth) = ACID
Acid + Tooth = TOOTH DECAY
All the foods containing sugars can contribute to tooth decay.
Choice of Food
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Carbohydrates: Fermentable Carbohydrates are effectively utilized by bacterial plaque to produce acid and hence food high in sugar content must be limited. Sticky food rich in carbohydrates tend to provide a haven for oral bacteria as it is retained in the mouth for a long time and lets bacteria thrive on it.
- Protein: Oral Bacteria cannot utilize dietary protein and produce acid and hence it acts as a buffer against demineralization.
- Fat: Dietary fat is responsible for quick clearance of food from the mouth hence reducing the exposure time of food to the oral bacteria.
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Water: Water plays an important role to prevent tooth decay. It increases salivation and improves food clearance.
Dietary Patterns
The frequency of eating also plays a role in dental health. Frequent eating increases the risk of developing dental caries. This is because each time you eat, you give an opportunity to oral bacteria to act on the food in the oral cavity. Sipping on drinks for long periods is very hazardous. Snacking between meals is another bad habit to stay away from.
Some Tips to remember
- Eat a balanced diet with moderate consumption of variety of foods.
- Do not frequently snack as this makes the oral environment more acidic which is more conductive for caries formation.
- Do not sip on beverages for long time.
- Increase intake of water as it improves salivation which acts as anti-cariogenic agent.
- Limit intake of refined carbohydrates such as chocolates and cookies and if must eat, make sure you rinse your mouth after consumption.