Questions and Answers: New Concepts on Diet and Dental Health
The following is an excerpt from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Public relations Manual:
Q: My daughter Audrey wants candy in her lunch box, but I tell her that candy is the number one cause of tooth decay. Right, Doctor?
A: I congratulate you for making good oral health a priority in your family. Audrey is lucky to have a parent who cares so much about her smile. It’s true that we used to see candy and other high-sugar foods as the biggest enemy of healthy teeth in our children. But new research shows us that candy is not necessarily bad for teeth
Q: But doesn’t sugar cause tooth decay?
A: You’re right, it does. But more sugar in food doesn’t mean more cavities. The cavity causing bacteria in the mouth cant tell the difference between a small or a large amount of sugar. It takes only a low concentration of sugar to get them started. Sneaking a tiny bite of frosting or eating a whole cake can cause the same amount of damage to your child’s teeth.
And sugar isn’t just in candy. Milk, fruit, and other foods contain sugars. Although many of these foods offer great nutritional value for your child, they also offer the potential of cavities.
Q: That doesn’t make sense!
A: It’s surprising to learn that even a minuscule amount of sugar can start the tooth decay process. Here’s an analogy: Your car will start whether you have a large or small amount of gas in the tank. So will the bacteria start whether you have a large or small amount of sugar in the mouth. The bacteria in plaque use sugar and cooked starches to produce acid. The acid leads to loss of tooth mineral, which leads to tooth decay. So, the more frequently your child eats, the more frequently acid attacks the teeth, and the more likely cavities will form.
Q: I read that potato chips are as dangerous for teeth as sugar candy. Is that true?
A: Potato chips, corn flakes, crackers, bread and pasta, are all examples of cooked starches. Research today shows that cooked starches and sugars have an almost equal potential to cause tooth decay. In fact, starchy foods are especially harmful to the teeth. It takes several hours for starches to break down into sugars that then dissolve and clear the mouth. The acid attacks continue until this process is complete or the teeth are cleaned.
So you see, almost every meal or snack can lead to acid attacks on your child’s teeth. When we give our children a bread crust or a small taste of what we’re cooking for dinner, we don’t think of it as a meal or a snack. But even one bite can start the chain of tooth decay.
Q: Should I still discourage my child from eating sticky sweets?
A: How sticky a food feels when you chew it does not relate to how long that food remains in the mouth. For example, a caramel feels sticky, but it dissolves quickly and clears the mouth in minutes. In contrast, a starchy food such as a potato chip doesn’t feel sticky, but it can remain in the mouth for hours. Starches must be broken down into sugars by enzymes in the saliva. Only then can they dissolve and clear the mouth.
Q: It sounds as if no foods are safe for a child’s teeth. What’s a parent to do?
A: Since we’ve learned that almost all foods have cavity-causing potential, we need to focus more on the frequency of snacking than on the type of snack to protect our children’s dental health. The good news is, as parents, we can choose snacks based upon nutritional value and our children’s preferences, as long as we limit the number of snacks and encourage good oral hygiene.
First, I recommend snacking in moderation, no more than three to four times a day. Second, your children should brush at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Third, provide a balanced diet. Good nutrition builds strong bones, decay-resistant teeth and healthy gums.
Q: You said, “Almost all foods can cause tooth decay.” Are there any good foods for teeth?”
A: Yes! In fact, some foods have anti-cavity power. For example, certain cheeses – including aged cheddar, Monterey Jack and Swiss – do not promote tooth decay. Further, cheese can help protect against cavities. If cheese is served as a snack or after a snack, it can stimulate the flow of saliva and eliminate the protection of harmful acids that cause tooth decay. Even better, new research suggests that cheese plus good oral hygine can heal small breaks in tooth enamel where a cavity is about to form.
Other “friendly foods” are chocolate, licorice and peanuts. Licorice acts much as cheese does. It can help heal early injury to tooth enamel. Peanuts, chocolate and other cocoa products can block the build-up of plaque on the teeth.
Q: What about sugared soft drinks and chewing gum?
A: Chewing gum, whether sugared or sugarless, stimulate the flow of saliva and helps o clear cavity-causing bacteria from the teeth. So, sugarless or sugared gum after a meal or snack would do more good than harm. Sugarless gum in place of another type of snack would be an even better choice.
Sugared soft drinks get the cavity-causing process started in the same way as any food containing sugar or cooked starch. However, soft drinks do wash out of the mouth faster than cooked starches. So, if you cant brush afterward, any sweetened drink is safer for teeth than potato chips, crackers or pretzels.
Q: I hate to say this, but when a doctor’s advice changes so much, it makes you wonder what to believe. When will dentists make up their minds?
A: I understand how frustrating it is to do your best for your child’s dental heath, and then discover the rules have changed. Thousands of dental researchers all over the world are working to find out more about how to keep your child’s teeth healthy and attractive. My job is to stay current with that research and pass it on to you.
The prevalence of cavities is declining, and our children’s teeth are healthier than ever before. It’s new research, passed on by doctors and followed by parents, that has made these gains possible.
Im not recommending that your child eat candy. I’m simply saying that almost every time your child puts food in her mouth, she runs a risk of tooth decay. But if she snacks in moderation and brushes twice a day, she has a good chance of staying cavity-free for a lifetime.
Q: Has the new research changed your advice on baby bottle tooth decay?
A: No, my advice on preventing cavities for your baby still holds true. Tooth decay is a special concern for parents who put their babies to sleep with a bottle. If your baby wants a bottle as a pacifier, give her only water. Milk, formula, fruit juice or any sweetened drink can cause rapid attack tooth decay in a child who sleeps with a bottle.
Q: So what’s the bottom line?
A:
- Snack in moderation – three or four times a day
- Brush twice a day with an ADA-approved toothpaste
- Visit our office regularly
- Get enough fluoride through drinking water, fluoride products or fluoride supplements
- Have sealants applied to the chewing surfaces of permanent back teeth soon after the teeth come in.
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