Role of the Diet in Good Oral Care

Proper nutrition has an important influence on oral health from conception through old age. A diet rich in all essential nutrients (vitamins, minerals and protein) is required during pregnancy so that the fetus develops normally. The quality of body tissues formed in the developing child depends on an adequate supply of the building blocks of life. For teeth and bones, this means sufficient amounts of protein and minerals. On their own, these substances cannot create healthy bodies. A variety of vitamins and trace elements are required to facilitate incorporation of basic nutrients into developing tissues. The primary or baby teeth begin developing before birth. From birth to the early teens, permanent teeth form and gradually replace the primary set. This process continues the need for good nutrition. Once teeth are formed and calcified there is no bodily process which will cause a tooth to "soften", demineralize or decay. Tooth tissue destruction comes from outside factors. Frequently women will comment to their oral care providers that "my teeth were fine until I started having children but the babies robbed the calcium from my teeth and they decayed." While many women may experience an increase in dental disease during pregnancy, it is not the fault of the fetus. Tooth decay and gum disease are not inevitable side effects of pregnancy. If you can take care of your teeth during pregnancy then there is no chance of your teeth being affected due to pregnancy. Once the tooth crown is fully formed and it emerges into the mouth it is vulnerable to decay. Again, diet plays a pivotal role. Three things are required to decay a tooth - bacteria (which live constantly in the mouth), food (required by bacteria as well as people) and the tooth itself. Effects of Carbohydrates and Sugars on Teeth Many popular foods are made of carbohydrates (sugars and starches) and proteins. As far as oral bacteria are concerned, they prefer to skip the proteins and go straight for the sugar. When colonies of bacteria consume sugar, the acid waste is held tightly against the tooth where it removes minerals from the enamel surface. Organized bacterial plaque is not easily penetrated by saliva or other fluids. It is, however, easily penetrated by sugar in solution. After eating any meal or snack containing carbohydrates, it takes the saliva about 20 minutes to penetrate the bacterial mass and neutralize the acid. Meanwhile, the acid has been eating away at tooth enamel. Every time sugar is eaten, an "acid attack" occurs. Simple math indicates that the more often sugary foods are ingested, the longer teeth are bathed in decay-producing acid. As far as oral care is concerned, frequency of sugar exposure is more harmful than the amount eaten at any one time. The form of sugar can contribute to the length of the acid attacks as well. A sweetened beverage drunk relatively quickly causes the sugar to pass through the mouth and the saliva can begin to neutralize the acid in the plaque. If a sweet drink is sipped over prolonged periods, the acid level in plaque remains dangerously high. Prolonged acid attacks also occur when carbohydrates in sticky form such as toffee or dried fruit are eaten. Some people routinely suck breath mints, cough drops or other slowly dissolving sugary items. Carbohydrates are a necessary part of a balanced diet. Most people are also very fond of them. You can have your cake and keep your teeth too by restricting the intake of carbohydrates to three or four times per day. This is one way to modify a diet to improve dental health. Nutrition in a Nutshell For adequate general and dental health your daily diet should consist of: 1. Adequate high quality protein from: meats, fish, eggs, cheese, milk, tofu, legumes and nuts. 2. Balanced amounts of carbohydrates from: whole grain breads and cereals, rice, fruits, vegetables and small amounts of sugar (as unrefined as possible, i.e. honey, maple syrup and brown sugar). 3. Appropriate amounts of fat from natural sources such as: fish, dairy products and non-hydrogenated vegetable oils. 4. Adequate amounts of micronutrients (vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals) found in unprocessed foods such as fruits and vegetables, preferably raw or lightly cooked. For good dental health, carbohydrates should be restricted to three main meals per day. This restriction limits the decay-producing acid attacks to a total of one hour. Our defense system (the mineral content in our saliva) has 23 hours to re-mineralize any minor tooth enamel damage which has occurred.