The Role of Diet in Promoting Healthy Teeth
Carole Palmer, Ed D ,R D, Tufts University School of Dentistry, Tufts University School of Nutrition, Boston, MA
With the improvements in children's oral health, brought on by the widespread use of fluoride and other dental advancements, there is often a tendency to ignore or over look the role of diet as
an important balancing factor in oral health. Yet diet can still play a pivotal role in the dental health of each and every child.Dental decay occurs when plaque bacteria feed on the carbohydrates in food (sugars, starches), changing them into acids which can destroy teeth. Fluoride serves as a protector against this onslaught in several ways. However, as with any balancing act, if the food aggressor is too strong, the protective effects of fluoride may be overwhelmed, with dental caries (decay) as the result.
Rather than "throwing out the baby with the bath water" by ignoring the diet entirely, the potential role of poor eating habits in causing dental caries must be considered as part of any plan for ensuring children's dental health.
The following helpful tips can go a long way in helping ensure that children's diets protect against, rather than promote, tooth decay:
- Anything that helps to clean the mouth will encourage saliva and minimize the contact of dentally- destructive foods, and should be encouraged, such as:
- snacking on crunchy vegetables, fresh fruits, and low fat cheeses instead of sweets, between meals;
- saving sweets for after meals when saliva and brushing can help counteract their effect; and
- chewing sugarless gum and raw vegetables to help promote saliva flow.
- Since the most important food factor is the total time that harmful foods are in the mouth, the following should be discouraged:
- use of slowly dissolving sugar-containing foods, such as hard candies and lollipops;
- constant use of "bet you can't eat just one" items, such as small bags of candies;
- snacking on dried fruits like raisins or banana chips or other "natural" foods which can be just as dentally-destructive as candy since they stick to the teeth;
- sipping on sweetened beverages slowly and/or frequently; and
- snacking frequently on sugar-starch combinations like cookies or cake.
Correcting the misconception that the "amount of sugar" is the major dietary risk
factor, keeping decay-promoting between-meal snacks to a minimum, and focusing more on nutritious snacking, are all healthful suggestions that can help educate families on how to promote good nutrition while minimizing the risk of developing caries.