The Best and Worst Foods for your Teeth

GOOD FOOD BAD FOOD VS. FOR YOUR TEETH YEAH YEAH YEAH, DON'T EAT SUGAR, BLAH BLAH BLAH Wait a second, there's more to it than just sugar. Plaque is a thin, invisible film of sticky bacteria and other materials that covers all the surfaces of all your teeth. When sugars or starches in your mouth come in contact with plaque, the acids that result can attack teeth for 20 minutes or more after you finish eating. Repeated attacks can break down the hard enamel on the surface of teeth, leading to tooth decay. Plaque also produces toxins that attack the gums and bone supporting the teeth. Learn the difference between different foods and help protect your entire mouth from the bad stuff! THE GOOD GUYS THE BAD GUYS FIBRE-RICH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. STICKY CANDIES AND SWEETS. Foods with fibre stimulate saliva flow, which, next to good home dental care, is your best natural defense against cavities and gum disease. About 20 minutes after you eat something containing sugars or starches, your saliva begins to neutralize the acids and enzymes attacking your teeth. Because saliva contains traces of calcium and phosphate, it also restores minerals to teeth. If you eat sweets, go for those that clear out of your mouth quickly. So thumbs down for lollipops, caramels and cough drops that contain refined sugar. Surprisingly, thumbs up for chocolate, which, because its sugars are coated in fat, slips easily out of your mouth. MILK, YOGURT, AND DAIRY PRODUCTS. STARCHY FOODS. Cheese is another saliva generator. The calcium in cheese, and the calcium and phosphates in milk and other dairy products, help put back minerals your teeth might have lost due to other foods. Avoid anything that can get stuck in your teeth. They can be missed by brushing and flossing and well. Soft breads, potato chips and popcorn should be avoided when possible. GREEN AND BLACK TEAS. CARBONATED SOFT DRINKS. Black and green tea contain polyphenols that interact with plaque bacteria. These substances either kill or suppress bacteria, preventing them from growing or producing tooth-attacking acid. While we're at it, be sure to add sports drinks to this list. Besides being laden with sugar, most soft drinks contain phosphoric and citric acids that erode tooth enamel. FOODS WITH FLUORIDE. ANYTHING THAT DRYS OUT YOUR MOUTH. Fluoridated drinking water, or any product you make with fluoridated water, helps your teeth. This includes powdered juices (as long as they don't con- tain a lot of sugar) and dehydrated soups. Commercially prepared foods, such as poultry products, seafood, and powdered cereals, also can provide fluoride. Alcohol and many medicines can remove the saliva that helps clean and protect your teeth. If medications are causing dryness, consider talking to your doctor about getting a fluoride rinse, or a fluoride gel with which to brush your teeth. BEST PRACTICES THE ADA OFFERS THESE TIPS TO HELP REDUCE TOOTH DECAY RISK FROM THE FOODS YOU EAT: W Consume sugary foods with meals. Your mouth produces more saliva during meals, and this helps neutralize acid production and rinse food particles from the mouth. O Limit between-meal snacks. If you crave a snack, choose wisely. Consider chewing sugarless gum afterward to increase saliva flow and wash out food and acid. A Drink more water. Fluoridated water can help prevent tooth decay. If you choose bottled water, check the label for the fluoride content. O Keep up with your oral hygiene. Brush your teeth twice and floss once a day. See a dentist twice a year for cleanings and checkups. rdaty smile http://www.yalemedicalgroup.org/stw/Page.asp?PagelD=STW001565