Wouldn't it be great to know that you could
enjoy candy, especially chocolate, without feeling guilty about the damage it
could do to your teeth? Here is some information that will ease that guilt!
The bacteria that cause tooth decay must have
food to create the acid necessary to break down your tooth's enamel. There are
many factors that may contribute to tooth decay, but the length of time that
food residues remain in contact with your teeth is probably the most important.
What is the food made of and how often is it eaten?
Sugar is not so bad as we once thought because
it can be cleared from the mouth by saliva very quickly. How fast foods clear
from the mouth is an important consideration in snack selection. If food remains
on a tooth for more than twenty minutes, the decay-causing bacteria can use the
food to make enough acid to begin breakdown of the enamel. A little bit now and
a little bit later, over and over again, will eventually result in a cavity.
Saliva plays a big part in removing food
residues from teeth after you have eaten. Foods that are cleared completely from
the mouth in less than twenty minutes are considered to be better snacks in
terms of decay. Some foods are easily removed by saliva. White bread, raisins,
apples, bananas, hot fudge sundaes, and chocolate ordinarily clear from teeth in
one minute! Gummy bears and fruit roll ups clear within minutes. Like chewing
gum, they stimulate the production of saliva too. A high flow of saliva helps to
clear foods and keeps the oral environment less acidic.
Starches such as salted crackers, cookies,
salted chips, and other foods that you may find stick to your teeth are foods to
avoid unless you can brush soon after eating. Foods that remain on the tooth
surface longer than twenty minutes should be avoided.
Look for sugarless gum sweetened with xylitol.
Xylitol has been shown to reduce decay.
Juices should be saved for mealtime. If you
read the side of a juice carton, you will find that it contains 100% sugar.
Constant exposure of primary (baby) teeth to juices will cause decay. A piece of
fruit would be a better choice.
The combination of acid and sugar in soft
drinks will cause enamel breakdown. Read the label on a soft drink. You will
find phosphoric acid and sugar. Lemon drinks and eating lemons often will cause
enamel erosion (break down).
Combining fat and protein makes for a great
snack for a child. Peanut butter is a good example of this combo. When the teeth
are developing and erupting (coming in), foods high in calcium and phosphorus
should be a big part of a child's diet. Cheese, milk, yogurt, broccoli with
cheese, and fish are some foods high in calcium and phosphorus.
When the permanent teeth first erupt, the
enamel is not completely calcified (hardened). The final phase of calcification
occurs in the mouth. Milk, not juices and soft drinks, should be flowing over
those brand new incisors (front teeth).
Now for the best news of all -- chocolate does
not cause decay! The tannins in chocolate make the bacteria stick together
instead of on the tooth surface. Chocolate is a source of magnesium and protein.
A little plain chocolate will satisfy hunger longer and will clear from the
teeth in less than a minute. Chocolate is a snack that both you and your teeth
will love!
