Overall Care - Not a single food makes the difference.
Of the many stunning health advances in the 20th Century, one of the most significant occurred inside our mouths. When the century began, tooth decay, toothaches and progressive loss of teeth throughout adulthood seemed an inevitable fact of life. Today, with proper care, teeth last a lifetime.
This dramatic change came about when broad oral health strategies replaced a narrow focus on specific foods, like sugary snacks, as the best way to prevent tooth decay. Experts now know the picture is much more complex than any single type or group of food.
Public health initiatives including dental care education and fluoride treatment have had a major positive impact, reducing tooth decay without making people sacrifice foods they love.
Sugar and Enamel
It helps to understand what happens in the mouth after a bite of food. Any "fermentable carbohydrate" contained in that bite will start to interact with bacteria that exists in dental plaque on the teeth. These bacteria prefer sugars and starches, just like many people do. Sweeteners like aspartame that are not nutrients have no effect on teeth.
The mix of plaque with starch or sugar produces an acid that takes minerals out of the tooth enamel. If this demineralization process goes unchecked, the tooth will develop a cavity. But usually the natural flow of saliva neutralizes the acid, and then provides new minerals for the enamel.
In fact, saliva may be the most under-appreciated fluid in the human body. For tooth enamel, saliva performs the same functions that blood handles for the cells-bringing nourishment and carrying off waste. Saliva is also essential for maintaining healthy gums and other soft tissues of the mouth.
Different Effects
Not all carbohydrates affect teeth in the same way, and considerable research has been done to understand the differences. Studies have found that the frequency of eating and length of time a particular type of food stays in the mouth are key influences. Cooked starches that cling to teeth give bacteria more opportunity to produce acid. But the stickiness of food isn't an infallible guide. For example, saliva can wash away the soluble sugars in a jelly bean more readily than some breads and crackers. Repeated snacking, or extended consumption of a snack like hard candy, means that more carbohydrates are in the mouth for longer spells-which could be an invitation to tooth decay.
The mix of foods can matter, too. Interestingly, some foods seem to offset at least part of the acid triggered by carbohydrates. High fiber foods, for instance, stimulate extra saliva to wash acid away. Seafood, an alkaline food, counters acid. Foods with fat may help by forming an acid barrier on the teeth. Some studies suggest that a bit of cheese after a meal helps to offset the work of acid on enamel.
Strategies for Healthy Teeth
As the entry point for the whole body, a healthy mouth promotes overall health and well being. A good starting point is to minimize the opportunity for food and bacteria to interact for long periods of time, producing acid. That's why dentists and health experts encourage us to brush and floss our teeth. Nothing promotes healthy teeth more than a regular routine of brushing and flossing.
Brushing before bed really helps, because during sleep the mouth doesn't produce as much saliva as when we are awake and active. So any acid left in the mouth overnight will be working overtime. If a drink is needed during the night, a glass of water is best.
On top of daily dental hygiene efforts, periodic dental care is a vital part of oral health. Most dentists recommend twice-a-year check-ups unless an individual requires special care.
