What we eat and drink affects our mouth. This section gives you information on the role a healthy diet can play in maintaining good oral health and resistance to many diseases.
What Can Cause Problems?
The dental plaque on your teeth is mostly made up of bacteria, which feed on sugar from food and drink, producing acids as a waste product. The acids then erode the teeth by dissolving the minerals on the tooth surface.
Most people think that sweets and lollies are the main foods to blame for tooth decay but bacteria not only use the sugar in sweets to create acid but can also use any food that contains sugars and other carbohydrates. This includes fruits, peanut butter, biscuits, crackers, potato chips, dried fruit, snack bars, muesli bars and popcorn to name a few. Especially harmful can be foods like raisins and peanut butter that stick to teeth where they provide a constant source of energy for bacteria. Acidic drinks include all fizzy drinks (including ‘diet’ drinks and carbonated mineral water), all cordials and fruit juices.
It’s not practical to cut out these foods completely but it’s good to know the basic facts about tooth-friendly eating and have a plan to control any potential damage they might do.
How to Avoid Diet-Related Mouth Problems:
Brush regularly
Most dental problems can be avoided by brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste to remove any plaque that’s built up. Make sure you brush an hour after eating as the acid in food and drink temporarily softens your tooth enamel and brushing too early will harm it.
The role of saliva
Saliva provides a strong protective film to the teeth and helps to wash away and neutralise the damaging acids. It also clears the mouth of debris. Recent research shows that cheese is one of the healthiest snacks for your teeth as it stimulates the saliva glands. Chewing sugar free gum after you’ve eaten will also do this.
Only eat ‘safe’ snacks and drinks between meals
If you want to snack between meals try to avoid sugary or acidic foods and drinks. If you can’t avoid them, try and drink them through a straw to minimise the exposure to your teeth. Instead choose ‘safe’ snacks like fruits, vegetables, toast, nuts and cheese and wash it down with ‘safe’ drinks like milk and water (preferably fluoridated tap water).
Chew sugar-free gum
If it’s not possible to brush your teeth an hour after eating, chew sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva which will help neutralise acids and keep your mouth free of food debris.
BRUSHING
Sounds like a ‘no brainer’ but you’d be surprised how often people get this one wrong. Did you know that it takes two to three minutes to properly brush your teeth but most people only spend 30 seconds or less.
So why is it so important? Germs. Millions of them live on our teeth, tongue and gums and feed on the food that’s left behind after we’ve eaten. A by-product of these bacteria is acid, which is what attacks and destroys our tooth enamel leading to a filling.
How to Brush
Start with a pea-sized blob of toothpaste (you don’t need much) on a soft toothbrush
Gently brush the inner surface of your teeth back and forth using short circular motions. Then move to the outer surface and then the chewing surface on top. Pay particular attention to where the tooth meets the gum as this is where plaque builds up.
Use the tip of your brush to clean behind the front teeth – both top and bottom.
Remember don’t be too rough. It takes very little pressure to remove bacteria and food and too much pressure can harm the gums.
Replace your toothbrush every 2-3 months. If you leave it too long, the brush will not clean your teeth properly.
FLOSSING
The tiny gaps between teeth that a toothbrush can’t reach make a perfect hiding place for food particles and bacteria.
If they’re allowed to remain there for a long time, these bacteria can start to destroy gum tissue as well as the bones and ligaments that support teeth. Flossing removes bacteria and food particles from between teeth.
If you’ve never tried it before flossing can be a bit fiddly and, when you first start out, it can make your gums bleed a little but this will lessen or stop over time.
Floss is available in many different sizes, coatings and flavours. You can experiment with different ones to find a favourite. If you have trouble using the floss wrapped around your fingers, you can buy floss holders in most supermarkets and pharmacies.
How to Floss
Take about 30cm of dental floss and wrap one end around each of your middle fingers.
Using your thumbs and index fingers as guides, gently slide the floss between two teeth, using a saw-like motion.
Once at the gum line, wrap the floss to form a C shape against one of the two teeth. Slide it up and down against that tooth. Be careful not to snap the floss between teeth.
Next, wrap the floss against the other tooth and repeat the up-down motion.
Be very gentle and try not to scrape the floss too hard against your gums.
Repeat this wherever two teeth are touching.
DENTAL CHECK UPS
Getting around to visiting your dentist can easily be forgotten or postponed but it’s an essential step in maintaining a healthy mouth.
Regular check-ups are recommended where your dentist will be able to spot any dental problems that are developing.
Getting a professional clean will also keep your teeth and gums healthier between check-ups and prevent a problematic build-up of plaque. It’s then a matter of simple daily maintenance to keep your mouth problem-free until the next visit.
Of course, if you develop any ulcers, sores, lumps or red/white patches that don’t clear up within 14 days, this may be a sign of something more serious and should be checked out immediately.