Tooth Decay: Food To Embrace Or Avoid

Consumption of varieties of food can result in tooth decay. It is not just candy that can cause tooth decay buy other carbohydrate rich food like potato chips, peanut butter, fruits and juices.  The saying “you are what you eat” is particular to food and your teeth. Frequency of consumption of these foods and the time they are taken are factor that causes foot decay. Sipping a bottle of carbonated drink for the whole day is more harmful than drinking plenty soda with a meal without taking another one for that day. Dentist believe that people that take a lot of soda with little nutritional beverages are tends to have tooth decay and later with different complications like osteoporosis and diabetes. They advise to take nutritional beverage like milk and also to take soda from a can instead of bottle with replaceable cover to avoid prolonged exposure as it can cause damage. Drinking highly carbonated drinks can result in erosion of tooth enamel and cavities which will lead to pain and teeth sensitivity. Nerve infection may result from teeth sensitivity.

How does starchy and sugary food affect my teeth and gum?

When you consume sugary or starchy meal, as you are enjoying the sweetness, the bacteria are been fed and they enjoy as well. These bacteria cause teeth plaque. Plague is an invisible thin sticky bacterium and other coverings on the teeth surface.  When plague comes in contact with sugar and starchy food, there is formation of an acid that attack teeth for about 30minute after eating. Frequent attack will result in breaking down of the hard teeth enamel and tooth decay results. Over time, it can break down bones, gums and other teeth structures.

Food You Should Avoid

Many people complain of teeth problem and when you ask them what they eat, you will realize they eat what they don’t know to cause tooth decay. If you eat food that I listed here regularly, there are likelihoods that you will have tooth cavities. These foods are not nutritious as they lack vitamins and minerals required for teeth and gum that is healthy.  Avoiding food that are denatured and toxic goes a long way to limit and cure tooth problems. Take vitamins and minerals supplement as they help in balancing the gap in the poor meal.

Most organic packaged foods have under grown a lot of processing and heating. Some are over-sweetened and thus have lost the original form and cellular structure. These organic packaged foods can contribute to infection and sickness in the body. Example of these foods includes packaged rice, breakfast cereals, and soy milk labeled ‘organic’ or not.

Others include

Flour product- examples include crackers, bread, cookies, cake, breakfast cereals, pastries, sandwiches, biscuits, puddings, and muffins.

Sticky sweets and candies - they stick to teeth and get trapped between them.

Hydrogenated oils- these include low quality margarine and vegetable oil like Crisco, soybean oil and sunflower oil.

Carbonated soft drinks, coffee, sport drinks, artificial flavored drinks or sweeteners 

Cigarette and alcohol should be avoided as it dries out mouth. Avoid beers and wines

Ice cream, jam, ketchup-type sauces, and sweet syrups

Suggested foods:

It is of great relevance to remember that fresh fruit juice, dried fruit and honey all have sugar that can result in tooth decay, although some sugars are naturally present in food like fresh fruit and milk, it is not necessary to cut down all sugar types.

Food rich in fiber and vegetable are suggested as they have cleansing effect in the mouth. They increase flow of saliva in the mouth. Saliva is alkaline and thus reduces the acid effect of bacteria. Saliva restores minerals as it contains calcium and phosphate. Parts of the teeth that have lost minerals to bacteria effect get restoration from saliva. Calcium in dairy product like cheese, milk and plain yogurt restores teeth minerals as well. They are also saliva maker.

Green and black tea contain polyphenols that kill or prevent bacteria thus reduce teeth-bacteria interaction.  It prevents bacteria from acid production.

Sugarless chewing gum is also a saliva maker and it cleans the mouth by removing food remnant in the mouth.

Fluoride containing food- fluorinated product or water also helps the teeth.

Suggested tips:

Eat sugary foods with meal as mouth produce more saliva during meal and thus cleanse the mouth and reduce the effect of acid.

Drink a lot of water. Tooth decay can be prevented by taking fluorinated water.

Brush your teeth twice daily 

Floss once daily