NUTRITION FOR HEALTHY TEETH

Crash dieting can affect your teeth more than your figure. BT tells you why

DR SHANTANU JARADI

Every morning we rush through the routine of brushing our teeth and rinsing our mouth, but after a hard day's work we are so tired that we just crash after dinner, without bothering to clean our teeth. So how do you keep your teeth healthy and our smile, beautiful? Here are a few tips.
    The right diet and nutrition play an integral part in ensuring strong teeth and healthy gums. Avoid sugar as it is your teeth's deadliest enemy and is the prime cause of tooth decay. Retentive sticky foods (such as raisins, caramels, toffees, slowly dissolving hard candies, etc) that are not quickly diluted by saliva also pose a major risk in the formation of dental cavities. Harmless wafers/chips when retained on the tooth for a long period of time and eventually broken down into carbohydrates and sugars lead to decay.
    Bread, pastries, aerated drinks, doughnuts, sweet rolls and processed cereals, one of the biggest causes of tooth decay, should be avoided. Beverages like lassi, buttermilk and home-made squashes should be encouraged.
    The longer food remains in your mouth, the greater the chance for decay. Rinse your mouth immediately after eating, especially if you've just had something sweet, to prevent the formation of plaque. Remember, rinsing after meals and brushing teeth at least twice daily is essential to keep tartar and plaque at bay. Use effective, clinically tested toothpaste that provides long time protection between brushings.
    Crash dieting can affect your teeth more than your figure. Teenagers have been known to start that Monday morning crash diet without ever realising that this may in fact be the incorrect way to diet. These crash dieters who excessively fast, or diet on an on and off pattern, tend to have a lack of, or decrease in certain vitamins, most notably Vitamins D, B-12 and calcium. They also tend to lack certain minerals and proteins in their diets. These are very important vitamins especially for the health of the teeth and gums. Dieters also tend to take diet pills that may cause a decrease in saliva flow as a side effect. This decrease in saliva flow tends to increase the acid levels in the mouth, which may cause an increased level of cavity formation. What may be recommended is that dieters consult with their health care provider or nutritionist to determine what type of diet they should be on. Vitamin levels and a balanced diet with all food groups should be evaluated. As always, sound oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist help decrease oral health problems.
    Supplements, together with good oral hygiene, can aid in decreasing the incidence of dental cavities, bad breath and gum disease. Vitamin C is vital for the production of collagen — the main protein building block for fibrous framework of all living tissues — which, in turn, makes it more resistant to bacterial penetration. Vitamin C also promotes healthy capillaries, which aids oral tissue in staying healthy. Insufficient consumption of Vitamin C may lead to oral health problems like swollen and bleeding gums and even loss of teeth.
    Tongue cleaning is very important. It helps to reduce bad breath and improve oral hygiene status because a large number of bacteria reside in the rough corrugated surface of tongue. Most dental professionals advise that poor oral hygiene, such as not brushing, not flossing, or not rinsing enough is the leading cause of gum disease and tooth decay.
    Smoking, chewing beetle nut and tobacco are also factors that adversely affect oral hygiene. These habits can cause bad breath, decay, gum disease, damage to tooth enamel, eventual tooth loss and in many cases even lead to oral cancer.
    Try these healthy snacks that don't attack your teeth:
    Celery and carrot snacks with hommous or avocado dip
    Vegemite crackers with cheese
    Plain yogurt, fresh fruit and nuts
    When you do eat or drink a high-sugar snack there are tricks to minimise the damage to your teeth. After your snack, rinse your mouth with water, eat a small piece of cheese or chew some sugar-free gum. Cheese provides calcium to replace the minerals lost by the bacteria produced acid, and helps to even up the bacterial balance in your mouth. Chewing gum stimulates the flow of saliva. If you choose to have a soft drink, use a straw. This will limit the amount of sugar touching your teeth.
    The best drinks for teeth are plain water or milk. Drinking coffee and tea will stain your teeth and dry your mouth out. Drinks high in caffeine inhibit your saliva's ability to combat tooth decay. Acidic fruit juice, such as orange juice, can also attack your teeth. To avoid damaging your teeth, remember to wait at least an hour after consuming acidic food or drink before brushing your teeth.
    With a little awareness and knowledge on the subject of oral care, there could be some prettier smiles around the world and less misery from tooth decay. (The writer is an aesthetic dentist) For brighter, whiter teeth
Drink plenty of water Eat a variety of healthy foods from the five major food groups Cut down on snacking in between meals Limit snacks and drinks especially those high in sugar Brush twice a day with the correct technique which can be learnt from any dental professional. Avoid aggressive brushing. Floss daily Visit your dentist for regular check-ups and professional clean ups. Recommended at least once every six months. Simple preventive steps can prevent the further complicated treatment processes. Rinse thoroughly after every meal. Get all existing dental problems like bleeding gums, missing teeth, cavities, etc, treated immediately as they lead to further complications.

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