Diet

Why is Diet important?

Apart from the risks to your general health, controlling your diet is very important. Every time you eat or drink anything sugary, your teeth are under acid attack for up to 1 hour. This is because the bacteria will feed on the sugars and produce harmful acids. These acids are the cause of tooth decay.

What advice can you give me on sugar intake?

• Foods containing sugars should be minimised where possible
• Sugary food should be limited to only meal times as in between meals, sugars cause the pH in your mouth to stay low (acidic) that increases the exposure to decay
• Do not eat sugary foods before you sleep at night
• Avoid eating sticky sweets such as toffee as these stick to your teeth for longer and making them more vulnerable to bacterial attack and tooth decay
• Avoid drinking fizzy drinks such as Coke. These contain a very high amount of sugars and acid as well
• Use a straw when you drink fizzy drinks as this helps the drink to go to the back of your mouth and reduces the acid attacks on your teeth

What foods can cause decay?

All sugars can decay. Sugar can come in many forms, for example: sucrose, fructose and glucose are just three types. These sugars can all damage your teeth. Many processed foods have sugar in them, and the higher up it appears in the list of ingredients, the more sugar there is in the product. Always read the list of ingredients on the labels when you are food shopping.

When reading the labels, remember that ‘no added sugar’ does not necessarily mean that the product is sugar free. It simply means that no extra sugar has been added. These products may contain sugars such as those listed above, or the sugars may be listed as ‘carbohydrates’. Ask your dentist if you are unsure.

Can I eat sweets?

The main point to remember is that it is not the amount of sugar you eat or drink, but how often you do it. Sweet foods are allowed, but it is important to keep them to mealtimes.

To help reduce tooth decay, cut down on how often you have sugary snacks and drinks and try to choose sugar-free varieties. Confectionary and chewing gum containing xylitol may help reduce tooth decay.

Sugary foods can also contribute to a range of health problems including heart disease and being overweight.

What about fruits and fruit juice?

Although fruits and natural juices are good for you, excessive intake can make your teeth weak. Fruits, especially oranges contain a high amount of acid which can dissolve teeth and cause tooth erosion.

Below is a list of some pH values of some foods and drinks. The lower the pH number, the more acidic the product. Anything with a pH lower than 5 may cause tooth erosion.

‘Alkalines’ have a higher pH number and neutralise the acid effects of sugars. pH 7 is neutral.