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Foods To Avoid If You Don't Want Rotten Teeth

by — 2015-10-16 in Nutrition & Dieting
Our diet plays a very important role in the development of dental diseases. Here are some of things that you and your family should avoid (or eat as less as possible!) to make sure you don't have to see the dentist too often.

Nearly everyone has experienced tooth decay — one of the most common kinds of dental diseases, its prevalence has actually increased all over the world in recent times. Though people tend to have better oral hygiene habits now, their diets are still so terrible that their teeth rot away.

Treating tooth decay may come in the form of a simple filling, but it may also consist of a root canal treatment procedure or even an extraction, depending on the degree of damage. 

So why is it that so many people suffer from tooth decay? The main reason is that the micro-organisms which cause tooth decay exist in everyone's mouth and there is nothing we can do about it. They form a part of the natural ecosystem of micro-organisms and cannot be completely eradicated. 

These bacteria remain harmless until they find the conditions that suit their proliferation and then start to grow in numbers large enough to start causing tooth decay.

How Does Food Cause Tooth Decay?

The conditions which favor bacterial growth are multi-factorial, but the two most important modifiable tooth decay risk factors are oral hygiene and diet. 

Diet, in particular is very important since some foods act as a better fuel source for decay-causing bacteria than others, and so by avoiding their intake we can minimize the likelihood of tooth decay occurring. There are some common and recurring themes on the list of foods that are bad for teeth. Most of them are rich in sugar, difficult to clear from the oral cavity, sticky or are acidic in nature. Decay-causing bacteria breakdown sugar from our food into acids which act on the surface of the teeth and destroy small parts of it. These small niches then get populated by more bacteria which destroy more of the tooth. 

The same cycle repeats itself over and over, causing the cavities we see in the teeth. Here are some things that you should be avoiding to help minimize tooth decay.

1. Candy

It's no surprise that candy tops the list of things that you should avoid if you want pristine teeth. Candy is loaded with sugar and often has caramel that sticks to the surface of your teeth and gets stuck between small crevices making it quite difficult to remove. Candy is also often eaten in between meals, which results in the oral environment shifting towards the acidic and thus promotes demineralization of the teeth. Hard candy in particular is sucked on for minutes on end and also carries the additional risk of causing minor cracks or fractures to the teeth.

READ How To Straighten Your Teeth Without Braces

The best thing to do is to avoid candy completely, however if you must have it then have it at the end of a meal and not in between. Also, make sure that you brush your teeth soon afterwards so as to minimize the amount of time the bacteria have to use this candy as a fuel source for their growth.

More Food That Hurts Your Teeth

2. Processed Carbohydrates

These include things like bread, potato chips, pasta and crackers. These are usually made from white flour which are broken down into simple sugars extremely easily thus acting like an ideal growth medium for the decay causing micro-organisms. In fact, these food articles can be equally as harmful as candy for the teeth.

The trick is to include complex carbohydrates that are not broken down as easily in the oral cavity or reduce their intake as much as possible.

3. Soda

This is probably one of the single worst things you can drink for the health of your teeth. All sodas (in fact most packaged drinks) are loaded with sugar and are extremely acidic in nature. This causes a weakenimng of the enamel of the teeth and boosts the pathogenic micro-organisms in the mouth. Even diet sodas, which do not have sugars that can be metabolized by the body, are extremely acidic in nature. These sodas also contain caffeine which reduces the salivation and dries out the mouth. A decrease in salivation is bad for the oral health since the saliva helps neutralize the acids and bring the environment back to neutral.

A good tip is to have a glass of water after you have a soda or at the very least rinse your mouth so that the harmful effects can be minimized.

Sports drinks as well are also loaded with sugar to provide an immediate boost of energy. Some people substitute them for water and believe that they are better for hydration, however all that is just advertising. Chose a drink that is low in sugar and have some water alongside.

4. Citrus Foods  

These are not strictly foods to be avoided; however under certain situations they can worsen the strength of the teeth. Lemons, Tomatoes, and even oranges have a high content of citric acid in them which can wear away the enamel of the teeth. As an ingredient in various food articles there is absolutely no risk to the teeth, however there are some people who have the habit of sucking on lemons or eating a large amount of tomato and pasta sauce which can be harmful to the teeth.

People who are suffering from sensitivity, or have developmental disturbances which make their enamel inherently weaker should be careful not to take too many of these citrus containing foods.

5. Alcohol

Alcohol is a dehydrating agent and thus reduces the flow of saliva in the mouth. This allows the bacteria to release their enzymes and stick to the teeth with more efficiency than normal. Also, too much of alcohol intake is associated with poor oral hygiene habits and behavioral changes that further contribute to the occurrence of tooth decay. Certain medicines also have a dehydrating effect on the body.

READ Grinding Your Teeth At Night? Thankfully, There's A Simple Solution For Sleep Bruxism

People with less salivary flow are advised to use sugar free chewing gums or artificial salivary substitutes so that their oral cavity remains hydrated.

Conclusion

The increase in the amount of packaged and processed food is directly related to increase of incidence of tooth decay. Just a little bit of common sense and intelligent food choices can help decrease dental problems by a significant amount. 

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