They say you are what you consume, and as far as dental health is considered, one of the chief contributors to oral health is diet and dietary habits.
“Mouths that insist on sweet things will hardly escape the bitter experience of dental disfiguring.”
― Vincent Okay Nwachukwu
The negative impact of snacks and cold drinks:
- The nature of carbohydrate consumed and frequency of in-between-meal snacks significantly influences the caries index among the masses.
- As found in our staple diet, rice, and roti, complex sugars like starch take time to be digested by the enzymes found in the mouth. However, simple sugars, which we mostly find in snacks like candy, refined sugar, and pastry, are a favorite among the oral bacteria responsible for various oral ailments like bad breath, caries, poor gum health, and calculus deposition.
- These sugars get easily fermented by the oral bacteria, resulting in acid formation, which causes tooth decay and erosion.
- Experiments show that within 30 minutes of consumption of glucose solution, the pH drops from 6.5- 7 (neutral to alkaline) to 5 (acidic) and again reverts to normal after an hour.
- However, with repeated consumption of snacks in-between meals, especially sticky candy or sweets, it might take longer for the oral pH to return to its normal state. It increases the caries risk.
Certain food items have higher pH levels which play a pivotal role in causing tooth erosion and cavity formation.
- Food items that promote tooth decay:
- Mineral water (still) pH 7.6
- Milk pH 6.9
- Cheddar cheese pH 5.9
- Lager pH 4.4
- Orange juice pH 3.8
- Grapefruit pH 3.3
- Pickles pH 3.2
- Cola pH 2.5
- Red wine pH 2.5
- Vinegar pH 2.0
- Fruit juices are considered beneficial to health for being a rich source of vitamins and other micronutrients. However, juices of citric fruits like grape, orange, and lemon might lower the pH of the oral cavity, thereby further promoting a bacterial attack.
TEN RULES TO GOOD ORAL HEALTH
1. Break the total number of meals into 3 per day instead of having 7 -8 snacks throughout the day
2. Use a straw while having citrus juices to avoid erosion
3. Try to have juices during meals
4. Avoid carbonated drinks
5. Rinse mouth after having food
6. Avoid sticky candies
7. Brush after meals
8. Go for low sugar content snacks like cucumber
9. Avoid snacks in between meals
10. Use mouthwash for rinsing the mouth after having food
- Do we stop having our favorite chocolates and sweets?
The answer is no.
With a definite knowledge of food that might cause tooth damage and precautionary and preventive measures, we can easily maintain good oral hygiene. Researches show that it is not the quantity but the nature and frequency of food intake that matters.
