The Impact of Diet on a Healthy Mouth

When meeting someone for the first time, often the first thing you notice is their smile. And the key to a beautiful smile is shiny white, straight teeth. If you are not happy with your teeth, they can physically and mentally affect your quality of life. Poor teeth affect your self-esteem, ability to socialise and enjoy food, along with your nutrition and overall health.

Throughout your life, your body is undergoing a process of continual change, and your teeth are no exception. Although your teeth have a strong, protective outer coating of enamel (the hardest, most impervious structure found in nature) they are not immune to the ravages of wear and disease.

While many do not realise it, diet plays a major role in the health of your teeth. It contributes to the development of enamel, as well as the degree of erosion suffered through acids (found in citrus, sugary drinks, etc.). Diet is a significant factor in the development of the following dental diseases:

*Dental caries (decay)

*Developmental defects of enamel

*Dental erosion, and;

*Periodontal (gum) disease

According to recent dental research, decay rates have reduced significantly over the last three decades. This is largely due to improved preventative measures (such as the incorporation of fluoride into toothpaste).

If you are not mindful of your diet, it can lead to the degenerative process of dental erosion. Dental erosion is the irreversible loss of tooth structure, which is chemically etched away from the tooth surface by acid. Unlike other dental problems, it is not associated with bacteria; rather, it is caused by overzealous oral hygiene and grinding habits.

Tooth erosion is caused by an over-ingestion of extrinsic acids (citric, phosphoric, ascorbic, tartaric and carbonic). These acids are commonly found in soft drinks, fruit juices, some fruits (when consumed frequently), as well as inside the body (intrinsic acids).

By far the best prevention is to maintain good oral health. To ensure strong, healthy teeth and periodontal (gum) health, you should brush twice daily (in the morning and evening) with fluoride toothpaste. The reason for this is fluoride is the best way to keep teeth clean and healthy, and most effective way to penetrate the surfaces of your teeth is with fluoride-rich toothpaste. Other methods of teeth cleaning such as: eating regular servings of fibrous foods, and crunchy fruit and vegetables are ineffective in cleaning the tiny pits and fissures of the teeth (where decay begins).